Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-08-09

" %$$#$&e,f&N 40 you thlhk papa
NN%# 'SeB will ever be well
again, just as well as he used to be?'
at 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.
ut will be hard for him to be a Grip
rle, 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, a minute
later, I've beaten them all; they just
had to let me take care of you. They
couldn't hatch up another excuse to pre-
vent it. That's what comes of persist
ence. The doctor said you mustn't talk,
but he didn't say mustn't; neither did
he forbid my kissing you, just once.
There!"
shell do" said the doctor to himself,
rs he started off. He had been playing
eavesdropper, to find out if it were real
ly safe to leave a 1G-year-oId 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
rcned from school, because they
thought he was dying. The old doctor
had feared that she would make a
scene," when she did see him. Dut the
wife was tired, the sick man would have
no strange nurse, and he had been cali
ing for Marcia, so it had been thought
best to try her.
IF that bright-eyed girl had only
been boy, there would be little
brighter outlook for poor Norris"
unused the doctor, as he rode towards
the next patients house, "for then there
would be prospect OF help at some
future time; but now it certainly looks
very dark for him"
1t surely did look dark, and the sici;
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 cothe 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 ofdhe house Forever unfit
for labor, the outlook is far from pleas
ant. The Norris family We're 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
10 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 wcll-mcant advice
and suggestions as to the best way for
the troubled family to earn their daily
0read.
why can't work, if I'm not q boyP"
demanded Marcia.
why, you can, of course" was the
answer, "but what will it amount to?
iirls get so little for their work; but
With boy it is different. A boy Of lG
s capable of earning very good wages"
"Never mind, girls" Marcia would
iay, turning to her three younger sis I,
ers, tive won't cry because we're girls
ill we're very sure that girls are no
rood, will we? believe we can help
papa and mamma just as much rs if we
Hcre 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
md see now Marcia is getting along in
Ter new role Of nurse.
"As said before, papa. you mustn't
ak, but there is no reason why you
houldn't listen. At least the doctor
lidn't say you shouldn't. I've been
linking of something for two or three
lays, aud now my mind Is made up to
ry it, IT you are willing. That is one
feuson why was SO determined to take
are Of you all by myself. haven't