The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1907-12-20
the LOVING CUP

had been many OF those visits at first
-three-four-five a day. Now they
had dwindled down TO one. There had
been no others In the long three
weeks, yet he had never before been
alone since his illness began. The
trained nurse had always been al
hand. firm, capable, noiseless.
He did not exactly like her. He
had sent her for walk, noting with
quick. professional eye, the girls pale
cheeks. He knew the case had been
a trying one. At any moment she
might come back; there was no
chance OF her forgetting one dose OF
the nAuseous medicine He turned to
look at the clock. No, there were yet
30 minutes, and 1t was not likely she
would return before that time.
He gave himself up to thought, and
the thoughts were not pleasant. How
easily he had dropped out OF the lives
of his people! How little 1t would
have mattered if he had left them for
ever! He had been such a careful
shepherd that he had begun to look
on the sheep as his own. Well, they
had all forgotten him.
The doctor moved restlessly. Why,
even his present illness had been caus-
ed by working for others. Five hours
he had fought for the life of a little
half-drowned baby. When the fight
was won and the thanks of the mother
still echoed in his ears, he had met
Mrs. Davis hurrying in search of him.
1t was not such a long walk to the
little cottage where wee Pinky Davis
lay struggling for his breath, but the
night had been cold bitterly cold
And then-well, even to himself he
mad never quite acknowledged that
the chill which ushered in pneumonia
had been caused by making Mrs
Davis pat on his heavy overcoat
Whatever the cause. the effect was
only too apparent 1t had taken but
three weeks to undo the work of 80
years.
Something very like a tear was try
ing to find its way from the little doc
tors trembling eyelid, but he forced it
back, and the voice which answered
the nurses gentle tap was steady.
She came in flushed and animated.
I've had the best walk" she said,
And I've brcusht you a basket of
daffodils-the darlings! May l bring
them in?"
Thank you, if you will be so good,
answered the doctor. Why do you
ask PERMISSION"
We'll, at first you made me take
some flowers away. | suppose | ought
not to have bothered you with them,
but nearly every one is so pleased to
have them Don't you like flowers?"
why, yes" said the Doctor 81 am
very fond of flowers. I"
But somehow he could not bring
himself to explain to this matte%of-
fact young woman that he had sent
them away because none of his people
had cared enough for him to bring
him any. Medicine first, then daffo-
dis" said the nurse, smilingly
When she came back with her
basket of the flowers the big doctor
sat by the bedside.
Another present for the popular
PATIENT" he asked. why, that re-
minds me have a package and a let
ter. I'll get them. I've left them
downstairs with my coat"
The little old doctor broke the seal
with an apology. He could hardly wait
to read the letter. Miss Lydia Dolli-
yer had traced it in her stiff penman-
ship, of a fashion long gone by. He
read
Dear Friend: This loving cup is
sent to you by all of us who love you
Every one gave something, from Pinky
Davis who gave his candy penny, to
Malachi Boone, who gave $50 Now
that the danger is past, I'll tell you
how we came to get it. We thought
you were going to die. put my apron
over my head and | cried-cried as |
haven't cried since-well, no matter
Every one was doing the same BY
ones and twos they kept coming over
until it was like a party for numbers,
and a funeral for faces. Then | told
them about flowers. In that way we
could show you what we have neve
showed you, knowing all the time in
my heart that then it would be too
late But when the news came that
you were going TO live-then | cant
tell you. But think we cried as much
as at first. So God bless you. sup
pose you knew there were many who
honored you. But | believe in telling
before it is too late"
There was something about the lit
tie doctors face as he finished the
letter which made the nurse retreat
with her basket Of daffodils. But the
big new doctor cut the string of the
package. and passed it unopened 10
the hands which released the later
Come, comet" he said at last, gruf
fly, through the catch in his throat
This will not do-will not do! What
are these precious neighbors of yours
about? Trying to make you worse?"
NO said the other, gently, they
wouldn't Try that-and they couldn't
this way. | shall be better for IL.