The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1905-11-11
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Doctor'sVisit.
By HAMLIN GARLAND.
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Worn with his days work behind tn
harrow, the boy laid buried in his bed
close to the garret eaves-deep SUM
in slumber by the patter of the Apri
rain upon the roof; but his mother
voice reached him, pierced him, rouset
him by reason Of its poignant note Q
alarm-of desperation.
Vincent" she called, and her voice
grew shrill. Vincent you must sc
for the doctor! Your father is very
sick. Hurry-hurry!"
The lad sprang up from his warm
bed, reeling, dizzy with sleep, but call
Ing as cheerily as he could:
Il hear you, mother. I'm coming"
BE quick! Call Mary, too"
Groping in the deep darkness, the
boy found his clothing and dressed
hurriedly, and with limbs still half
asleep felt his way to the stairway.
where faint light shone. Pausing
only for word Of warning to his Sis
ter, he stumbled down the steep and
narrow stairs into the dimly lighted
kitchen.
His mother met him with white,
strained face. your father is suffer
ing terribly. You must bring the doc
tor as quickly as possible"
ua ho
even as he moved about the kitchen,
putting on his outer garments. And
then, lantern in hand, he hurried into
the night, to pick his way through the
rain and mud to the barn. 1t was
dark and the wind was cold and raw.
The thought of the seven long miles
which stretched away into the mid
night was appalling, but his heart rose
to the task.
In the warm barn the horses stood
In row, chewing their hay in pleas
ant chorus. Dan and Dick, the big
plow team, and Jennie and Peg, the
brood mares, slow and quiet-these he
passed without a word Then came
Wild Frank and Kitty, his mate, the
driving team, fleet Morgans, saddle
wise and intelligent as dogs.
For 9 moment the lad hesitated.
Frank was the stronger, possessed of
greater staying powers, but Kitty was
tne feeter. the more trustworthy on
sucn an errand in such a night. Her
ne chose for his adventure.
Whoa, grill" he called, as he put
Inc lantern on the oat-box behind her.
you must work tonight
Ringing the saddle blanket over her.
ne smoothed 1t carefully; there must
oe no wrinkles in it. The saddle he
,incned tight, so tight that the mare
'ncned. Il can't take my chances on
spill. You must let me draw the
uckle up another hole, Kitty"
one took the bit willingly, always
eady Tor action, and few moments
'ter the boy blew out the lantern and
wung to the saddle, to which he clung
Y naturally as a sleeping jaybird to
:. . peFcn. With spattering rush
'itty passed the well-curb and plunged
" into the highway, the mud flying
showers.
steady there!" called the boy.
steady, XIII" and he drew in on the
ans I'LL he could feel the motion OF
. tongue against the bit.
ne was fully awake now. The cold
10 driven into his face caused his
'ao 10 bow and his eyes to blur. The
snt was black, so black he could not
% detect the gleam of water in the
'ols On each side Of the turnpike;
= Kitty felt her way till the boys
" expanded like those of cat, and
ssn to note each line of light, each
aae OF blackness in the mud.
N last he could see the road. run
= river Of ink, between the dim
s's OF grass. The boys heart rose
a sore of pride in his heroic
(. He was a courier riding to save
army.
Jet out o this!" he called sharply.
the noble mare leaped away into
darkness like wolf.
le knew her master; together they
herded the cattle on the prairies.
In 2 hundred races she had proved
eli the swiftest of all the leaders
he herds, even when carrying the
Heap of the saddle and her rider.
Esnorted at every leap with a sort |
kallenge. as II to say. my heart |
hong. am not afraid. It's only |
Tor mel"
the experienced lad drew her J