Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-08-16

doctor who called an hour later re-
garded with grave attention.
While the doctor was attending to
Carl and Mrs. Ward was anxiously
standing by HIM, Barbara slipped
down into the dlning-room, and found
matters in confusion as she had ex-
peoted. The breakfast dishes were
still on the table, the kitchen fire
had gone out, and all the rooms
downstairs were in disorder. She
quickly set to work to restore order;
and, when the doctor had gone and
Mrs. Ward had come down, Barbara
had cleaned up the dishes and the
dining-room, and had begun to set
the Kitchen to rights.
MIRA Ward stepped ut>into the
kitchen; and, as Barbara was NOV
ing into the dining-room for some-
thing, she suddenly threw her arms
about her, and cried: "You don't
know what it means to me to have
you back again. We have had three
miserable days. Carl is very sick
child. am all worn outl" She then
sat down and cried nervously.
Barbara felt embarrassed at first
in the role of comforter. But she was
quick to see how dependent Mrs.
Ward had become. 1t was, after all.
as woman to woman that they were
related now in their common anxiety
for Carl And Barbara tried to cheer
the mother by every word Of encour-
agement she could think of while she
busted herself with the necessary de-
tails of the kitchen work.
In the afternoon she went over to
her mothers and told her what her
decision was. Mrs. Clark sadly con-
sented, and did not make 80 strong
an objection as Barbara had feared.
So the little trunk was carried again
to the old room, and Barbara real
lied that her career had received q
new beginning in some sense, she
hardly knew how. One thing she felt
very strongly, however. And that was
that under the stress of need at the
Wards she was doing exactly the
right thing in going back to her life
Of service there. Whatever the days
might have for her of opportunity
in the future for large service in the
greater problem, it was to her mind
very clear that her immediate duty
lay within the circle of this one fam
lily that needed her.
She realized this more and more
strongly as the next few days
brought to her and the family now
and sad experience. AS Carls con-
dition grew worse, she spent more
and more of her time with him. Mrs.
Ward secured good nurse, but Carl
cried in his delirium for Barbara, and
she sat with him many hours Of every
day. She was with him when the
end came which they had all come to
know was inevitable. 1t will always
be one of the comforting thoughts of
Barbara's life that she won and held
the love of this child. All that came
to her long after. But, as this little
life slowly breathed itself out in
the early gray of that morning, with
the weeping father and mother and
the two boys as they gathered
around the bed. she felt a tender
sympathy tor them all as il she, too,
he'd been one of the members of the
family. Carl had Insisted to the very
last on clingfng to his mother and tc
Barbara. Each woman held hand
as the child's soul went ont of the
frail body to God who gave it.
| Mr.. Morton, who had been a FIRE.
| quent visitor at the house during the
trouble that had come upon it, was
sitting by Mr.. Ward that morning
When the end finally came, he
kneeled down by Mr.. Wards side
and Barbara was conscious that the
minister's strong, right hand was aid
in compassion on the bereaved fe,
theirs hand as he prayed for conso
lation.
80 our Father" he cried, and his
voice brought a relief even in that
moment of sharp sorrow to the fam
lily, "mercifully reveal to us the hap
piness of the soul Thou hast Just
caughtupinto Thy bosom. We known,
is safe in Thy arms. Comfort us with
the comfort which earth does no,
have to give; take us also into the
embrace of love which gave an only
begotten Son for dying and mourn
ing world. The God of comfort bless
this household In the name of Christ
Amen"
Two days later, after the funera
service, at which Mr.. Morton wa.
present as pastor and friend, Mrs
Ward broke down completely ape
went to bed, leaving the care of tn,
house and the family upon Barbara
The girl bore up under the respon
sibility bravely. She was conscious
OF the fact that she was necessary Il
the comfort of a home. The bonds
Of her service rested lightly on her
because she knew she was Of use il
the kingdom of God.
Vhe relation between Mrs. Ward an,
Barbara during those days of grie
became very close and affectionate
Through all the older woman's nery
GUS and even irritable illness Barbara
nursed and attended her with ad
mirable patience, giving her the bes
possible care and trying to reliev
her OF every possible anxiety as t.
the affairs of the house itself.
"You have been like daughter t
me, Barbara" Mrs. Ward said to he
one day three weeks after Carl
death. II do not know what woul
have become of US if you had no
come back" Barbara was arrangin
her pillows and, as she stopped dow.
over her, Mrs. Ward put an arr