The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-01-21

N-Ssa hospital, Tor boys love run, out
in the environment of sickness there
must De the other side as well. There
is boy who has been in bed forty
eight long days; such brave, patient.
hopeful boy. They will not let him sit
up in bed even, and the WEAKNESS of
forty-eight days on ones back-a boys
back. too-may be imagined. But this
boy has been very i'll, and he wants TO
get we'll: so despite the wearineSS he
obeys the doctors orders. He is going
TO get over this, he viii see them all al
home yet; so he lies there with cal
endar before him and counts the days,
courageous and perSeyaring IN his fight
for health.
Just outside the big ward, near the
door that leads from the yeranda, on q
narrow cot, in tiny room, lies one
who braved death, not through a pat
riOtic sentiment, but because of a warm
heart; the big heart of a little woman.
a mere girl in years. At the time when
every available nurse in Honolulu had
been procured for the Military Hos
pital. and still there were not enough.
when the boys were dying for lack OF
the care so necessary in typhoid cases,
when distressing stories were Sadden-
ing Honolulu, stories of lives sacrificed
becaue of inefficient men nurses, or
else TOO few and Over-WOrked women.
Mrs. Hughes volunteered to help at the
Military Hospital, and the services Of
this sWeet-faced little woman were
gratefully accepted.
Mrs. Hughes came to Honolulu for
her health, having had an operation
some months ago which, although a
cure, had left her nerves in a weak
ened condition. 1t took a great deal OF
persuasion to induce her to leave her
husband, for she was happily married
and as they were not we'll off it meant
a separation for the young couple. But
the doctors insisted on a sea trip, and
at last she came. Alone, with no re-
straining home ties, with health
completely restored, Mrs. Hughes saw
no reason why she should not go to the
boys who needed help. Once at the
hospital, she threw herself into her
work, heart and soul. One of her pa
tientS was Granville WelleS, in whose
case so much interest was felt. For
days he lowered between life and
death, while Mrs. Hughes scarcely left
his side for her meals. When night
came and the other nurses went home
for we'll earned nights rest, Mrs.
Hughes stayed with her helpless boys
was beyond human help, and his de-
voted nurse could not save him in spite
Of constant and tender care, but the
sicker he grew the more untiring was
her work over this patient in whom she
had grown to take mothers interest.
When he died Mrs. Hughes was eX-
hauSted in body and mind, but there
were other boys almost as sick and her
untiring efforts helped other young
lives to pull through"
At last her boys were we'll; and then,
though not before, Mrs. Hughes gave
up. She had been working with high
temperature and dangerous symptoms
which she had persistently disregard
led. When she could be spared she went
to bed. But it was too late. They call
it nervous prOstratiOn and gravely
mention complications, but worn OUT
is the every day diagnosis of this
nurses case; and the best of doctors
would have difficulty in finding the
cure Only those who remember the
supernatural strength lent by her ten
der heart can understand that ex-
hausted nature has at last rebelled and
laid her low. Far away from home
| husband, friends; alone, helpless, sick
| in body, heart-sick, home-sick. But
| she helped the soldier boy
There have been many devoted
nurses to soOthe and minister to the
| boys when, i'll and suffering, they
| lOnged, with a longing that amounted
to actual pain, for home and mother
| There was one girl who left her ward
| with a CHEEKY word and a bright smile
and wept her soul out, when the boys
could not see her, because there was
not enough milk for her cases. 4 must
| have milk for them, my poor boys she
moaned, Il can't go back without
milk
And the boys are appreciative; they
know that in many instances good
nursing has saved them. They talk OF
Mother Noses" the present matron
with tender infection on the mother
and they have an affectionate remem-
brance of Mama Lemon" who was
| matron Of the hospital on King street
and who helped to care for the boys
when nurses were scarce.
My Honolulu Lady" was one boy
pet name for his nurse. Il owe my life
| to My Honolulu Lady he would say
gratefully. He had been in danger for
many days; finally he grew even worse
tent outside where his rawlings would
not disturb the other patients, and
there My Honolulu Lady" nursed him
| and watched him until she snatched
| him away, out of the very jaws OF
| death. When he was better they sent
| him to the PunchbOwl Hospital. And
one day he came back to where he had
| been so i'll, to thank his Honolulu
| Lady" for what she had done for him
| She looked at her boy with pride. He
| had been so sick, so helpless, so pitifu
| in his weakness. Now he was begin
ming to look we'll and strong; soon he
would be safe at home. Her eyes wert
| full Of happy tears as she gazed a
him; and as for her boyle winkeC
| fiercely for a few moments, but boy:
don't cry. She went back to her duties
with renewed energies. and the boy re
turned to Punchbowl. Two days afte
he was dead. His Honolulu Lady
work had hppD in vain. he had caugh