The sea coast echo., 1898-07-02

1t was several weeks later that tht
minister came in late one night ant
went over to the medicine shelf. His
face was pinched and blue, and his
hands shook among tho bottles His
wife ran across to him.
''What is it, dear?" she cried.
He leaned against the shelf, fight.
ing the chill that was upon him.
"Cassock's little girl" he said, ''she
is very sick. / am going to carry
him some quinine; I told him
would.
The woman's face sharpened with
fear. "You can't" she cried; you're
sick yourself; you can't Ngo out
again.
He seemed to struggle with the
words before they became clear to
him; then he tried to smile down at
her. 'I must" he answered
She put her thin hand in his and
drew him to the fire, and pushed
him down into chair before it. She
spoke soothingly, as if to a child.
"I'll send the medicine" she said;
'it will be all right. But you must
get over this chill; you can't go out
again"
Only half comprehending, the man
huddled over the fire, shaking from
head to foot. His wife hurried into
the otiter room; three children were
there, the oldest girl of ten. Her
mother called her softly: "Come
here, Ruth"
The child obeyed her wonderingly.
She was q sensitive little thing, and
the voice smote strangely upon her.
Her mother leaned down and caught
the child to her as il she could never
let her go. Then she held her away
and looked steadily into the little
serious face.
Ruth" she said, "you have al
ways been Mammals help, and now
she wants you to do something hard
for her, Will you do it and not be
afraid?"
"I'll-try," answered the child,
with quick breath.
Her mother, crushing back the fear
in her own heart, spoke with quiet
cheerfulness.
"It won't take long, DEAR" she
said. Little Manic Cassock is very
sick, and Papa was going to take her
some medicine; but Papa is sick him
self and cannot go. SO you must
carry tho medicine to Deacon Gar
nett's and tell him about Papa, and
ask him to send it to the Cassocks'
Tell him that it must get there to-
night or Mamie may not live. Can
you remember? 1t must go to-
night"
Yes" answered the child. Her
heart was beating painfully; but she
said no word, and stood perfectly still
while she was being wrapped up.
Then her mother set the lamp in the
window and went to the door with
her, and held her for a moment SO
tightly that it hurt her.
'Now go, DEAR" she said-''go, and
don't be afraid. Remember that you
are not alone, and that Mother will
be praying for you every minute till
you get back"
AS the door closed behind her
mother the child ran back to the
threshold with cry of terror. She
was timid little thing, and she had
never been alone before. Then she
turned sharply. Her mother had told
her to be brave---she must be brave.
The tears rolled silently down her lit
tie white face and waves of fear beat
up in her throat; but she did not fall
ter, she went steadily on into the
darkness and emptiness saying over
and over her one little prayer: "God,
don't let anything hurt me-help me
to be brave; don't let anything hurt
me--help me to be brave" And
gradually Gods tender hand hushed
the fear of the timid little child-heart,
and she went quietly on under the
golden stars
In fifteen minutes she reached Dea-
con Garnett's and stood knocking at
the door; there was no answer. She
knocked again; then as the truth
dawned upon her she beat at it in q
fierce terror; but nobody came, and
the sounds seemed to thunder nightly
about her in the still. sharp air. She
was very cold now; but she sat down
ON the step moment to think. There
was but one thing to do; her mother
had said that the medicine must get to
Cassock's that night; she must go to
the town herself Choking back her
sobs she struggled to her feet; even
the few minutes on the doorstep had
made her stiff. She stood a moment
looking pitifully back at the home
light; then she turned away and ran.
ran into the shadows of the great
night.
Nearly an hour later man, hurry
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