The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-11-26

Eren while they wept and talked
John was lying IN one OF the Washing
ION hospitals He had been terribly
wounded. and after many delays Wa
brought there with one leg ampuTaIed
ard lis right arm disabled. His nurse,
Q bright little oma IRON Maine,
tried in every way TO arouse him
! believe he want TO die she said
20 the surgeon lean hardly persuade
him 10 eat.
Probably he does, replied the
weaTy-eyed man. He had a magnif-
cent physique. and such = fellow feels
that he cannot face life manned in this
fashion. I've often had such cases. If
you car only get him past This first
shock
The busy man hurried away without
finishing his sentence. but the nurse
understood.
A lew nights later a loT OF boxes ar
rived in response 10 the urgent call for
hospital supplies, and Johns nurse
eagerly claimed some Of their precious
contents. = need blankets n nv
ward" she said. and oh. here is a
beautiful quilt. This viii cheer my
poor boys like . bouquet q flowers"
The nurS from Maine was one Of the
hes il the hospital. and no one oh
ltc1ed when she carried away the Quilt
and placed il gently over her tavorite
Patient.
Perhaps il viii keep his eyes OF 7b-
blank wall she said 10 herself. with a
sigh
When the first morning light >hone IN
through the long. narrow windows.
The Young soldier opened his eyes. al
most ~resen1ing the knowledge that he
lad slept better than usual. A he
looked ~laECuidly 20 see Il his nurse had
gwen him al extra blanket. lie saw
the new quilt. and Al the same moucn
Was conscious OF 4 faint perfume Of
rose leaves. perceptible even in that
sickening atmosphere.
He closed his eyes and saw the bushes
under The parlor window al home.
laden with great red roses. as they had
been the morning he left Eden. He
had started out that morning with a
bud in his bu1tonhole. and another be
tween his lips-decked for the sacri-
fee he thought with a spasm Of bit
TerueSs.
With his left hand he pulled the quilt
nearer. Il was made OF many. many
small triangles, Mothers dress" he
murmured. placing his finger upon a
brown bit. with a tiny white spray in
il ~Her1y." and a wave Of color rose
TO his pale face. as he caressed a tn
angle Of pink.
For the first time since he was placed
upon tina. cot, great tears rolled down
his cheeks. The spell Of despair was
broken. Life was sweet after all.
Mother and He1ty won't mind II !
am a poor one-legged fellow he
sobbed.
All the bitterness and rebellion
melted ont OF his heart as he lay there
quietly CRYING: and when his nurse
came in he greeted her with q smile
that TRANSPORTED his face.
This j. Aunt Eina'S quilt" said he.
y don't know how il got here. buti1is.
Now, nurse. bring on YOUR broth, Tor
In going 10 get Well"
IFS better than medicine. the de-
lighted woman declared to the doctor.
Hes given me his address. and I've a.
ready written TO his mother.
and I've shown that quilt 10 all nv
boys. and told them about The dear Old
maid who counted all the stitches and
thought SO much OF her '~love-guilt. and
how hard il must have been 70 give il
up. They're all brighter and betIerfo-
il. Why they say. do the folks at
home think 80 much Of Us as 1ha1:.
Years have passed since hat day.
and John and He1ry are elderly people
now, with boys and girls growing up
around them. John found that his
brains could 90 better service Tor him
Than even physical energy and has be
come a successful and conscientious
lawyer. In their busy. happy lives they
have never forgotten the oma whose
sacrifice meant so much 10 them. and
when Memorial day ONE round. and
the veterans gather TO decorate their
comrades gTayes. John and HetTy re-
serve the choicest flowers OF their gar
Gen for Aunt Bina's humble resting
place.
And the quilt? Through The thought
fulness of the nurse from Maine. il was
returned 10 the generous donor. who
bestowed il. as she had intended. upon
her young friends. If you had the
privilege Of examining the contents of
a certain chest in the Thurston home
stead. YOU would find q soldiers cap
and suit Of faded blue. and very near
ii. carefully wrapped in tissue paper,
Aunt Bina's quiIt.-Youth's ComPan-
ion
What Our Simplicity Stands For.
Not long ago l read in a French
newspaper that Emperor William,