Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-02-08
THAT FREE BED. I
ny EsTELLE WENDELL AMoRY.


Well, we must try to help her bear hel
misfortune" was Ellen DORIS practical re
mark, as a number Of school girls stood on
the corner, commenting upon the accident
OF the morning
IF her old father d been tending TO hi.
business, t wouldn't have happened, oh
served one OF a group Of boys, as they passed
I the girls.
@Pily twan't him stead Of Alice-he's ne
count
AT the ladies' aid the matter was also be
ing discussed.
Mrs. Nolan's just heartbroke. Sic set
great store by .ilice's teaching this spring
Shes almost Wasaei ner life away to keeI
her stuuying.7
"Weli, I'd sever let her carried such )
big basket Of clothes on such slippery walks
as this morning Why didn't old man
Nolan take emtnat bout all he's ever
been good for.
"0n, you know he sometimes drinks sc
mucn ne can't go-and there he lays in o
dead stapor on the bed, and poor Alice il
great pain on the lounge in that litce
house"
Il don't see how they are going to stanc
it, poor things
We'll, as Christian women, we must see
to it that they are made as comfortable a,
possible"
1T is hard to believe that Mr.. Nolan was
once a sober man with a good home, but
it's a fact, and I'm sorry to know that o
doctor IS largely to blame for his fall
yes" Mrs Tagget continued, all looked
up SO surprised, the doctor found him
hard case to handle, he mended SO slow
ly, he was gloomy, morbid, and he had nc
appetite, so he prescribed stimuiants, little
realizing the poor mans inherited craving
for the same. From sparing doses, he soon
grew to demand more and more until it,:
his complete master"
Sad, indeed"
Sad is no name for it. Think Of all Mrs
Nolan, naturally G.licate, sensitive won.
an, has suffered, and the poor children"
And now the prospect of Alice's being
burden instead oil help, and suffering
so"
That morning Mrs. Nolan, being in great
need for money to buy coal, had asked
Alice to take Mrs. Longs washing home be
fore school, Everything was covered with
glare OF ice, and without the protection
of even rubbers, she had slipped down some
stone steps, and had seriously-it was
feared-injured her hip and spine.
PiVViJ Qd9 lOliONtu tuis dCtlQtHtt anu
the only happiness Alice and her mother
knew was of that negative order
things might be worse"
mo, | don't dare think how much worse
things might have been" said Alice one day
''if the union and tue young people OF the
church had not been so kind"
Yes, and they've been so regular and
faithful; they mean we shall not want,
added the mother, as she thought of the
many good and useful things SO quietly
flowing in.
On this Mrs. Nolan endeavored to
center her mind and that of Alice, rather
than upon the hopeless prospect before
them, with the father confirmed drunk
ard, Alice bed-ridden invalid, and Frank,
Nellie, Hattie and Lee to be educated and
cared for. These are conditions no char.
ity can initiate against, thought Mrs
Nolan.
But she did not know what was passing
in the motherly heart of good Mrs. Lyman
most unselfsh soul, always trying to
bear another's burden. Ever since she was
convinced of the seriousness of Alice's con,
dition, she had been thinking hard and
had written to different hospitals and san.
itariums to see if there might not be help
for the dear girl.
At first she was much discouraged, as let.
ter after letter came back-all offering hope
with their many appliances all so high
priced as to be ways beyond their reach
But finally she received word from san
itarium IN their own state, where the Young
peoples Christian societies maintained
free bed"
"Oh, if | can only get Alice in there" she
exclaimed; land it's vacant just now II
am sure the young people will be glad to
raise the money to send her"
1t was one bright day in May, following
the November in which Alice was hurt,
that party of young folks called at the
humble Nolan home with a happy surprise
for its inmates Kate Manning never knew
just how she preached the delicate matter,
but she realized that she had not made
half her little speech" until Alice, the
whole family, and all the young folks, were
crying and laughing.
oh, you are too good--to good" said
Alice. 81 can never repay you. How did
you ever think of such beautiful thing?''
"Oh, it was dear Mrs. Lyman who planned
it all.
Just like her." quietly sobbed Mrs
Nolan
In a corner sat Alice's father, with avert
ed face, the tears fast streaming from his
eyes. He was strangely moved by what
he heard. Since the accident he had done
better but the enemy still claimed him.
Can't l be a man, and father to my
family once more?" he cried in agony OF
soul
81 can, I WILL" he suddenly exclaimed
aloud, wholly unconscious for the moment
of his surroundings.
What is it. father?" asked Alice. ten.
derby, for she had always felt fondness for
him.
The color came quickly to the haggard
face, and rising to his feet, Mr. Nolan, n
a few brief sentences, told of the terrible
struggle in his breast.
But the victory has come at last; by Gods
grace I'm free"
This was most impressive moment, one
never forgotten by those present. Good
Mrs. Lyman had quietly slipped in, for "she
did want to see how Alice and her mother
took it, And she it was who relieved the
pressure by starting: Praise God from
whom all blessings flow" in which all who