The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-03-14
Life for Life.

Among them was a little irish ltd
by The name of Terry O'Brien. He
ever failed to be at his class, and 1
used to look forward to the Sunday
when / would see his merry face,
smiling at me a welcome from the
church door.
His father and mother were hard
working people, but seemed to
accumulate much. Bridget, Terry's
mother, worked for my parents, and
many a dainty have 1 sent to Terry
by his good natured mother, who
mystified me one day by r~emarking
that she did moi think Terry's father
liked him, and cried dispairingly
over it..
Well, one cold winters night when
the snow was falling fast and the
little stars winked, blinked and went
out overcome by the Snow King, ]
heard a rap at my window and on
opening it was surprised to see Bridget
standing there cold, wet and crying.
"Why what is the matter" l cried
somewhat alarmed. ..Ohl Miss Dee
my little boy, my Terry, that's dying
this minute" she answered. "And
he's calm, yes all the time, and SO
/ tried to get Mike to come and get
yes, but he wanted Terry TO have the
priest, and he wouldn't come; but |
would for my poor boy, my poor
Terry" And the poor cried
as though her heart would break.
Quickly DOMINIC a heavy dress and
shawl, then going to fathers study to
tell him my mission, we then started.
The snow was falling in great white
sheets, packing on the earth so gen.
thy, that no sound came to my a r
but the low sobs of the desolate moth
err. Onward and onward we went,
It'll on reaching a low hut with a
candle cleaning from t~he,window we
entered. A sad scene met our gaze,
Terry flushed, yet with theswhiteness
of death on his little face had his
fathers hand pressed in both of his
wee ones and they were praying to-
gether. At the sight of this Bridget
cried out, 80, Mike you do love him
don't your" and then kneeling beside
him they offered up a simple but elo-
quent prayer for the life of their little
son.
l asked if they had sent for a doctor
and was told that he had been there,
but said there was no hope unless he
went into a natural sleep to sleep off
the balefull decease. oh how glad
he looked when l went to his side and
with a joyful cry he stretched out his
little arms to me and in broken
whispers told me to sing thei"Gypsy
Child" In one instant his head was
pillowed on my arm and | was sing
ing as only a person a when they
think a dear child is going so quick
ly. The second verse was just ended
when l heard a long sigh and saw
that my little listener had gone to
sleep. o joyful word for sleep meant
life.
Softly laying him down on his
snowy pillow, l made a cup of tea for
the sorrowing parents; but when they
saw that their childIwas sleeping tea
vas forgotten in their unbounded Joy.
And with what Joy did that humble
cottage re-echo w~hen!after an hours
rest Terry awoke with, no-not death
but life shining in his eyes. Of how
glad / was and how l wept with the
half crazed parents over their new
found joy.
Every day l went to seei my little
patient, who kept improving till at
last he could come and see me, which
told that he was we'll. But trouble
had spread it's wide wings over that
cottage, for one sad day when Bridget
was at our home, news was brought
her that Mike, her aver faithful hus-
band, had received injuries in the
mine that would prove fatal. She
hurried home but Terry and her we're
just in time to say goodbye" for
Mike then passed away. They buried
him in the Greenwood cemetery
under the waving naples and started
life anew.
One evening shortly after Terry
came to my home, and with tears in
his eyes thanked me for saving his
life. "For now that fathers dead"
he said "who would care for mother,
and l shall always feel indebted to
you till God sees fit to cancel the
debt of gratitude 1 owe you, Miss
Dee"
Time passed and Terry was almost
a man. How happy he was to work
for his mother in the day time and go
to night school. He said his debt was
not yet Cancelled, but it soon was.
One day while out making my usual
call among my little friends my horse
became frightened at some unseen
object and started down the street at
a fearful pace. On l sped faster and
faster until l thought death would be
my doom. But no, a form dashed out
from an alley and seizing my horse
by the bit stopped it only to be kicked
down a crushed and bleeding mass.
Kind hands assisted me from the
oarriaua and when I hant ovar tho