Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-06-25

VS.
thought were not new to their taste
1t was no new thought to think that
If little MaSo was a rich mans boy ne
could get well, but now, he must take
his chances of life as fate might dea.
them out.
Gradually the people who had filled
to overfowing the little room dis
persed, and gradually the sobs of The
poor mother became quieter, and the
numbness that succeeds mental agony
was respite to her.
And then the instinct which nature
planted deeper than all others II
human hearts, came to her help-the
mother instinct to do something, &c
fight on still, for her child, for his life
And as she turned her thoughts now
in this direction, now in that. Of a sud
den the thought of rescue sure and GER
tain came to her.
The beautiful lady-she had said to
remember her if the boy needed a
friend, and now, and she glanced at
the little still form on the bed, he
needed one, he needed what her two
.hands could not get for him.
The lady loved him and had asked
his mother to give him to her and she
had refused to do it then. But now
yes, she would go and tell her about
him, and if he could he-made well again
she would give him up, she would give
him to the other woman for her own,
always.
She went quickly TO prepare for her
Journey across the big city, and, as she
always did when trouble came to her,
she knelt for moment in the little
room at her shrine, rosary and a
plaster image Of the mother who had
given her son to save all mankind from
suffering. No words moved her lips
her prayer, like her grief, was too
deep for words. Only in her heart were
the words, Mother of God, help me-
help me-"
And so she went out into the busy,
noisy, jostling STREETS; going to her SUI
preme sacrifice.
And so on the next day little Maso
was carried away, lying white and still
as he had been since his terrible hurt,
in the hospital ambulance, and after a
month there he was taken into the
country to his new home, which would
finish the successful work begun by the
great doctor. and make the roses to
bloom in the pale cheeks and the bright
ness to come again into those dark
eyes.
The two little rooms over the store
on Desplaines street were quiet now.
No noisy boys shoes came tramping up
and down the stairs, countless times a
day. No loud and happy voice calling
to mother. No boys caps and toys
to make the rooms always disorderiy.
All. no, only quiet, little mother, cry
ing out her grief to her baby. Waking
each morning to try and Bear brayely
her burden, which seemed too heavy
for her, each night going to her rest
with a heart yearning for her boy and
a prayer to the Holy Mother to make
him well and strong and keep him safe
from harm.
And so the weary days dragged into
months and the chill fall days came.
Almost year since the day he had gone
away and she had not seen him since,
though several letters had told her of
his fine recovery.
She had lost her plumpness and her
cheeks were not rosy now. There was
a look in her face that told of suffer
ing. long and unrelenting suffering, and
palor like that of i'll health, that
comes to those who have ceased to
smile and to be happy, She sat hold
ing her baby to her bosom one day, as
she sat every day now.
Oh, how still it was. Always so quiet
now. Always to be just this quiet way,
for he was gone. But bark! that sound
is like his step. How many times she
has seemed to hearit, just as now. But
it is a step. 1t comes to the door, and
yes, she almost holds her breath, the
door opens and it is in truth her boy,
her little Maso. The sweet smile is in
his eyes as ever, but there is a tremor
about the lips.
He walks straight to her arms and
for few minutes no sound is heard
| in that bare little room. Then the bow
says:
"Oh mother, it was so beautiful. The
country is more beautiful than you
can think of, but-yOu see" with a
manly attempt to smile, and a boyish
Juggling at the button on his cap, 81
i thought l would come back. like
the country, but there wasn't any you
there"