The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-15

inc tho vast Soudan had always an eye
for the brown-faced. bright-eyed boys OF
Arab extraction. Edward. or Little
Ted" (fOr that was the name we chiieu
MIN b,1 was indeed very dangerously III.
At first I thought he could not I've
through the night. then gradually nope
dawnod. and although the boy had a
severe struggle for life. the vital spark.
though 10 nickered. did not. as reared
70 would. at once 90 out In the iran tehe-
mont Of Little Ted's worn and emaciated
body. lie fingered on. got better OF MS
pneumonia. and 7 began 20 hope that
be- would perhaps live. And so ne did-
long enough to make MS all love nina. J
delighted TO go over to the hospital whom
could spare time to sf by his side TOT q
few moments while his worn little nand
was stretched out and placed IN NINE
which he held and firmly cuns 10. ON
these occasions we did not say mucn' FOR
10 hurt Little Ted TO speak iomiiy' as ne
had 90 do. on account OF my DEAFNESS.
But our friendship was very real, ana
7 knew how 20 distinguish the dlrereht
touches Of his hand. and the frech tsoh-
rs OF his grips. ] could tell by looA' AT
his face whether Little Ted was happy
or had something he wanted me TO kno"
or was restless longing as he some
times said he was. 20 be mp and out ana
Bt work Bless his poor heart AT work
meant selling matches. TO be "up and
out" meant 10 be IN tho streets once
more. and to know the oxcitment Of
the chances whether he would earn
lodging for that night or not. But Little
Ned was never 10 go out again; that
seemed decrecd.
As have said, We an loved him dearly.
There was one. however whose ahec-
;ion was greater than mine, and that was
ihe nurse wha had special charge Of him.
Nurse Jones" we called her: soft
handed. warm-hearted, loving woman,
who never felt more in her element than
when with gentle words she was COM
forting some poor child who had drifted
under her care into the hospital. ] often
came in and found her sitting down by
Little Ted bed grooming to him some
familiar tune. while he. with eyes half
closed. strokod her hand lying on the
counterpane. Nurse Jones found from
the night nurse that Little Ted did not
sleep very we'll: that especially towards
morning he became restless, and would
toss from side to side; and although her
hour for dlty I'm the was not until seven,
she often came down an hour beforehand
90 comfort Little Ted.
And how he watched for her. how the
great dark eyes that were now getting so
sunkcn kept "A wfstful watch on the door
opposite his bed, where the welcome face
of nurse might first be seen. At the
sight of her a look Of love and glad
ness. and satisfaction. and complacency.
and content and an pleasurabie feelings,
huttercd like glimpses of sunlight across
mis- worn features As for Nurse Jones,
she was perhaps as much attached 10 the
boy as he was 10 her. one morning Little
Ted looked particularly IN and weak. She
had heard OF his spending a bad night.
and. coming over, she caught the wistful
look iu the eyes OF the little waif who
had never known home life or n mothers
love. and irresisubly overcome she
stopped down and kissed the child. In
stantly the great eyes OF the poor boy
locked up at her with "a wonder greater
than ne had ever known. Nurse.
piped his little squeaky voice: Nurse.
why did YOU kiss me2" Before the an
swer could be given. he himself repeat
ed. eft was nice. but why did you.
Nurse?' And the good woman. who had
been trying 10 keep the tears back. sim
ply stopped down and whispered TO him:
Dear Little Ted. you are an alone. you
visit YOU and TO love YOU But / love you.
that is why and she kissed him again.
The child's worn face became irradiated
with a light of love 20 which il had
hitherto been u stranger, But presently
the boy. looking AT his nurse. heaved
deep sigh sigh that was heard all over
the ward. and that came from little sad
but glad heart which could not Danish
memory, And then he exclaimed in
voice, as II he must tell Nurse that he
understood and was not ungrateful: But
BUT 0here was q butt nobody ever
kissed me afore," explained the little
chap: and then his eyes were closed
again. and his hands clasped firmly the
kind hand OF his new-found friend.
Not much in the Incident some one
will say who reads these simple lines.
But very much TO us who live and labor
amongst the waits and strays OF the
streets How these few words OF the
dying street boy told out the tragedy Of
a young life which had never known
love. but which had infinite capacity FOR
the knowledge il was ignorant Of! Little
Ted sIumbered on peacefully. still hold
ing his nurses hand; and only few
davs after that. he closed his eyes YEARLY
forever Yet IL was something 10 have
soothed his pain and smoothed his pillow
even for a while and TO have whispered
I'm his ears during abe last few weeks OF
his barren life. OF the great love OF the
Heavenly Father a love that earth fin-
not dchle. that is unending and that
awakcns human love as nothing else can.
Dear Little Ted. peace be 10 thy
ashes, May every memory Of thee urge
rs who survive to truer and mnre diligent
iabors on behalf OF the crowd Of home
less waits who so ignorant as thou vert
Of even human love. and who. knowing
nothing Of IT, can know hardly anything
~ the heavenly love. so infinitely brighter
and so much more enduring,-Stepney
Causeway, London. f.. In Night and
Day"