Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-04-01


again. just as well as he used to be?"
1T will be long time before he will
be, and he may never be, but hope he
may be quite strong, and able to get
much enjoyment out of life, even if he
must spend the rest of his days as a
cripple"
Marcia WINGED little at that word,
and the tears filled her eyes, but she
bravely forced them back. She did not
intend that the doctor should see her
crying; she was afraid he would think
she was not womanly enough to help
take care of her father.
1T will be hard for him to be Grip
Tie, and hard for US to see him helpless,
but it is so much better than for us not
to have him at all, that can't feel any
other way than thankful about it."
Even as Marcia spoke, her voice trem-
bled with suppressed feeling, but her
lips smiled as pleasantly as usual, and
that was very pleasant.
Papa" she said, cheerily, minute
later, 1--WE beaten them all; they just
had to let me take care of you They
couldn't hatch up another excuse to pre-
ence. The doctor said you mustn't talk,
but he didn't say I mustn't; neither did
he forbid my kissing you, just once.
Therei"
She'll do said the doctor to himself,
as he started off. He had been playing
eavesdropper, to find out if it were real
ly safe to leave 16-year-old girl in
charge of his very sick patient. Marcia
had only seen her father once before.
since he had fallen from the high build
ing on which he was helping to build
chimney, and she had been hastily sum-
ElCned from school, because they
thought he was dying. The old doctor
had feared that she would make a
scene," when she did see him. But the
wife was tired, the sick man would have
no strange nurse, and he had been call
ing for Marcia. so it had been thought
best to try her.
If that bright-eyed girl had only
been boy, there would be a little
brighter outlook for poor Morris"
unused the doctor, as he rode towards
the next patients house, "for then there
would be a prospect of help at some
future time; but now it certainly looks
very dark for him."
1t surely did look dark, and the sick
man, in spite of the repeated injunction
not to worry, could not help wondering
over and over again what was to become
of them all, and how they were to keep
out of the poorhouse. A workingman,
with family to feed and clothe and edu-
cate, and who has only his own hands to
depend on, can generally manage to lay
up but little for the proverbial "rainy
day" But when the rainy day has not
only put in its appearance, but has rem
dered the head of the house forever unfit
for labor, the outlook is far from pleas
ant. The Morris family were fortu-
nate in having their little home all paid
for, and enough money to help them
through the first weeks of their great
trouble; but, in the eyes of their neigh
bors. they were unfortunate in having
no boys in the family. IF Marcia had
only been boy, and could go to work."
had been said in her presence over and
over again, when sympathetic friends
had dropped in with well-meant advice
and suggestions as to the best way for
the troubled family to earn their daily
bread.
why can't I work. if I'm not boy?"
demanded Marcia.
why, you can, of course" was the
answer, ''but what will it amount to"
Girls get so little for their work; but
with a boy it is different A boy of 16
is capable of earning very good wages"
Never mind, girls" Marcia would
saw. turning to her three younger sis
tiers. 1--WE won't cry because we're girls
till we're very sure that girls are no
rood, will we? / believe we can help
papa and mamma just as much as if we
were boys"
$50 do l." answered each one of the |
sisters, who always believed everything
Marcia did.
But let us go back to the sick room
and see now Marcia is getting along in
her new role of nurse.
AS said before, papa, you mustn't
talk, but there is no reason why you |
shouldn't listen. At least the doctor |
didn't say you shouldn't. I've been |
thinking of something for two or three |
DAYS, and now my mind is made up to |
try il, if you are willing. That is one |
reason why 1 was so determined to take /
care of you all by myself. haven't
said a word about it to mamma yet, for /
she is so perfectly distracted that she |
can't think of anything else but just |
vou. But I'm more heartless, thank for
tune! 1 specialized on what you were
thinking about, and was sure it was |
money. You've been worrying about |
.hOw,vEe were going to live. haven't your