The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-22

his own troubles, it seemed, put grew
quite anxious to amuse Joe, ana nau
consultations almost every day WITH
the matron which resulted IN the eA-
pressman often stopping to denver
wonderful packages for the child, VINO
soon had picture books and toy ponies
and all sorts of things to dellght MIN.
who was so nice as to send me
them John?' said Joe.
Il guess your nanny" said John'
with pleased smile.
But nobody sends anything to you
John-poor john"
Il amt good enough, Joe.
..Rut you're nice. John said the
child.
In the long lonely days md ever
incs the boy would ash; for stories,
and John would tell wonde~it. ,lunSs
of strange seas and strange peoples, but
often in the dim light of the nightlamp
Joe would tell John stories, all very
strange and wonderful to the sailor,
of fairies and angels and stars. Very
often, when the child, out Of pain,
fell asleep after telling story. John
would lie awake, so that the little
nurse coming round in the night
would find him looking ont Of die
window at the night, Joe's !lttl, hand
in his. and tears. salt as the seas.
upon the sailors checks.
Joe would not 90 to sleep without
first saying his prayers, and ut first
John was dreadfully worried. when
the matron came at nightfall to hear
the child repeat them, and ask for
blessings upon father and mother and
the matron and the nurses and all
sick people and dear John. But one
night when they were both gerv weak.
John asked Joe to give him his hHnd
while he prayed.
II never was taught to pray myself,
num-" he whispered to the matron,
but | want to be counted in"
So the summer went on, and very
few patients came to the little hoepi-
tai. and John and Joe were all alone
save for the nurses who grew In dread
the time that was soon to part the
friends.
At last they told the sailor that
there was no hope at all for him a
clergyman came TO prepare him. lie
took the news very calmly, but in
stantly whispered:
And the little fellow, Joe?"
Don't tell him. said the minister,
she is so innocent. he needs nc prer:i-
ration. But you?''
For days the poor sailor was III
much trouble. and one niglI, he Whis-
pered to his little companion:
Joe, say you was rich as Wander
bilt, and was going a long sail, would
you leave me behind?'
mo, john" said the child, very earn
estly. L 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 on a fine big ship,
see me busted to pieces on the rocks"
joint" said the child, Il would
jump out and pull you to my ship, L
would"
Good old joe" said the sailor, and
said nothing more until prayer time,
when he squeezed Joe's hand and
whispered:
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
search light of the big night boat
which ran between two great cities on
the river When the steamer turned
point, it's light flashed for an instant
full on the front of the little hospital.
Joe and John, hand in hand, very,
weak now, would lie and watch for it.
Joe had made a story that it knew
they were there and smiled in on pur-
pose 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 smothered groan.
That's nice"
And they would lie very still or
gradually 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 a
very low husky whisper, while Joe's
little hand rested on his. But the
bows eyes were wide with q strange
light.
1T didn't say good night john
he whispered. and tried to squeeze his
friends hand. 1T said good bye"
The sailor tried to rise in the bed,
but was unable even to call out. He
saw the river but he could not see the
other side. 1t was dark. He was
afraid. His fingers closed around the
child's feebly.
'How-do- you-feel tonight, dear
John? said little Joe's voice very soft
ly and tenderly.
There was a moments pause. The
sailors voice rang out with glad cry.
First rate. joe"
That's nice,' said the child.
And the little nurses, running in
found the friends had gone together.
"No family can afford to be without