The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-21
CHILD OF CHRISTMAS.
(By Joel Chandler HarriS).

ting opportunity the doctor had, when
Zepherine was out of hearing he told the
patient that he owed his life to Miss
Johns.
"All right, all right said Mr.. Vail
combe; 'she lose nothing by that. /
will make her very glad of it,
When the doctor resumed the regular
practice of his profession, all danger of
the spread of the disease being over, he
had to put up With a very severe lecture
from the ready tongue of Mr.. Billy San
ders.
II declare, Randolph, I'm ashamed OF
you be jiggled eff / amt! Why, sup
posin' that little forrin gal had "a took
the smallpox and a died? Wouldn't that
"a been a purity piece of business for
you to stagger around under? Why in
the name of charity, didn't you ketch
her by the ear an lead her out of the
room?"
We'll, / heartily wish you had been
there to carly your plan out. l couldn't
do a thing with her.
why, l could tote her on the palm
of my han Randolph; she amt bigger'n
sparrer," persisted Mr.. Sanders.
"Whyn't you put her out by main
strength"
well, there are several reasons" re-
sponded Darlington. lone is that she
slipped in before knew she was within
mile of the place. another is that she
had hold of Mans hand before 1 had
any idea what kind of a caper she was
going to cut. But the real reason why
I didn't insist on driving her away is
that didn't want to have a fight with
a woman"
But, Randolph, that child is as shy
| as a flynn squirt an lots gentler than
old Kate, the nag you drive to your
buggy" Mr. Sanders persisted; but there
was sparkle in his eye as he spoke. 'Do
/ you mean to tell me, Randolph" he went
! on, 'that child, not much bigger'n a
hummin' bird an mighty nigh as cute,
| REILLY frailed you out up thar what you
! couldn't holler for HERO
mo, I didn't say that" replied Dor
rington, with a laugh; but you will say
it, and I'll never hear the last of it. Well.
you may say what you please, she's
very brave little woman and the best
nurse 1 have ever seen. There is no
: doubt in my mind that she saved the
lives of Nan and Valicombe.'
/
maker was grateful to Zepherine would
/ fall far short Of the truth He took it
/ for granted that she was an angel in the
/ shape of woman sent specially to re-
! leve him from pain and to drag him
/ back to life land he conducted himself
! accordingly. Not a Sunday afternoon
! passed that he did not stroll out to Shady
| Dale to see her. He came and went so
| quietly that Mr.. Sanders was moved to
] say that he went about as if he were a
! flake of thistledown.
1t was during one of these visits that
! Miss Johns took occasion to tell Mr..
| Valicombe why she had come so far
! from home. She told also of her father;
how he had gone away from home and
! how she, too, had come away to find him.
/ Some day, she said she would be able
| to go to New Orleans, where she knew
! her dear father was. At this Mr.. Vail
| combe shrugged his shoulders, as
! Frenchmen will, and told her that New
! Orleans was a very large city. Where
! upon Zephcrine shrugged her shoulders,
/ too and the gesture was very cunning,
! saying that no matter how large the
! town might be the good God would en-
| able her to find her dear father.