Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-09-05

seemed always first awake and ready
TO have his hands and face washed by
the nurse lie could not turn about to
see the other patients, but he learned
all their names. and as soon as he
heard them moving he always asked
very politely:
"And how do you feel, Mr.. Smith"
And Mr. Smith would always an
swer because it pleased the child:
"First rate, joe"
"That's nice" said Joe. And SO he
would ask each in turn, and to each an
swer, always the same, he would reply
cheerfully, '"That's n!ce.'
And when they asked him how 1t
went with him he always said, though
sometimes with an effort, "Pm pretty
we'll, thank you" Then everybody
would say with real pleasure, "That's
nice, Joe"
So the summer went on, and very
few patients came to the hospital. and
John and Joe were all alone, save for
the nurses who grew to dread the time
that was soon to part the friends.
was no hope at all for him. A clergy
man came to prepare him. He took the
news very calmly, but instantly whis.
pered:
"And the little fellow, Joe?"
Don't tell him." said the minister.
"He is so innocent he needs no prepa-
ration. But you"
For days the poor sailor was in much
trouble, and one night he whispered to
his little companion:
Joe, say you was rich as Vanderbilt
and he was going long sail, would
you leave me behind?"
"No, john" said the child very ear
nestly; II would want you to come
too"
"Would you feel sorry, Joe, to sail
away and leave me on the wharf, Or
or If you was safe in a fine big ship,
see me busted to pieces on the rocks"
"John," said the child, II would jump
out and pull you to my ship, would"
"Good old joe" said the sailor, and
said nothing more until prayer time
| when he squeezed JOes hand and whis-
pered:
'Pray hard, Joe. Pray hard for me
to come along. Pray for two, joe"
| And little Joe prayed for two.
! The two used to watch for the
searchlight of the big night boat which
ran between two great cities on the riv-
| err. When the steamer turned a point,
! its light flashed for an instant full on
the front of the little hospital. Joe and
| John, hand in hand, very, very weak
now, would lie and watch for it. Joe
had made story that it knew they
were there and smiled in on purpose to
say "Good night" Always he piped
"good night" in return and John also.
Then Joe, squeezing the once powerful
hairy hand, would feebly ask:
"How do you feel, John, tonight"
"First rate, joe" poor John would
answer, with a smothered groan.
"That's nice"
And they would lie very still or grad
ually go to sleep.
And so one night the steamboat came
up the river and turned the point and
cast its light upon the little hospital.
"Good night" said the sailor in q
very low, husky whisper, while Joe's
little hand rested on his But the boy S
eyes were wide with a strange light.
ut didn't say good night john" he
whispered and tried to squeeze his
friends hand. ut said 'goodby."
The sailor tried to rise in bed, but
was unable even to call out. lie saw
the river, but he could not see the 9th
er side. 1t was dark. He was afraid.
His fingers closed round the child's fee
bly,.
"How-do-you-feel tonight, dear
John?" said little Joes voice very soft
~ and tenderly.
There was moments pause. The
sailors voice rang out with glad cry:
"First rate, joe"
'"Thats NICE" said the child.
And the little nurses, running in,
found the friends had gone together.-
Los Angeles Times.