Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-12-15
How is she? My Aunt Maggie

How is she? My Aunt Maggfe-is
she very ILL.,"
"Jest alive-thats all. The preacher
he's up there now-be you her sis
ter's gal-what she brung up?"
Yes, yes. What room is she in?
oh, takes me to her. 1t is so long
since was here l feel like a stran-
ger"
what Rendered We from comm
sooner, miss?" asked rasping voice,
which Evangeline remembered as be-
longing to a layer-out of the commun-
ity. Threading her way through the
crowd, the girl sought the room where
her sick relative lay, strange sound
of monotonous singing leading her
thither. There, tossing and delirious,
lay the sick woman, burning with fe
yer. The room was crowded with
eighbors-wOmen who gathered at a
death with the scent of hawks, yet
who felt-each of them-that theirs
was religious duty. There, too, was
Peter Grant, lining out hymn, which
was only sung to the dying. AS Evan
geline entered they were chanting mo-
notonously these hopeful lines:
For while the lamp holds out to
urn,
The v.iest sinner may return"
Women with corrugated brows and
nasal tones sang the words in weird
discord, to which the preacher added
a robust and melodious bass.
Evangeline held up a vigorous hand
and babe them stop.
Don't you see that she is far too
ill for this sort of thing? All leave
the room, please, and let her have air.
1 will take care of her now"
"She should be permitted to make
her peace with God" the Rev. Peter
Grant spoke, partly from habit and
partly from conviction. He knew who
this young woman was now. and dared
to combat her aggressive action.
"She never had any falling out with
Him." Evangeline said reverently,
''but now that you know who 1 am
and why am here, you will leave her
| to me. / am her nearest relative, but
more than that l am a trained nurse
and thoroughly familiar with fever
case. Where is the doctor-she surely
has medical careT'
HE has given her up" said one Of
the retreating women, with sly salts
| faction.
"Given her up, How dared he? And
why do you speak of such possibility
| before herY
"Oh, she doesn't sense anything
that is said now" complained one Of
| the cronies, taking reluctant depart
ure.
The preacher took himself off with
the others. but he gained a reluctant
consent to call the next day to learn
how the sick woman was doing He
did not really expect to, find her alive.
and his slow, well-regulated faculties
received a healthy shock when Vangie,
| ideal in her nurses gown and white
| cap and apron, informed him that she
! had moved the sick woman from the
| south room TO the north room, from
which the stuffy carpet and obstruct-
ing furniture had been removed.
II have telegraphed for ice and a
modern doctor, and she is drinking
cool spring water. and is better al
ready Have you never heard of Aunt
Maggle's goodness and charity to all
who need help and conSolation-how
she brought up poor orphan child.
gave her a home and the love of a
mother, teaching her the value OF
right living and unselfshness? l was
that child. And am not going to let
her die-not yet"
And may l not see her again?"
"Oh, yes. You may come and
preach the gospel of cheerfulness to
| her when think her strong enough"
and Evangeline gave her would-be
| Gabriel a wicked little smile. that the
man-not the minister-understoo
perfectly. 1t certainly is wonderful
how that rascally god Cupid delivers
his darts regardless OF time and place.
Chicago Record Herald.