The Florida agriculturist., 1907-10-02


often points the way to noble christian
duties that perhaps would never have
come to our observation. A beautiful
example of this kind is told by the
youths Companion
"Oh, God, how can | bear it? What
have | done to merit it? How can it
be right that should be SO aff1lcted?'
SO, on her knees, cried an agonized
mother when informed that her
daughter must go to the hospital for
dangerous surgical operation.
Out of the silence came no answer
and the only relief was in the swift
necessary preparations for the de-
parture Of the young woman.
The next way the mother sat listen
ing for the ring of the telephone, yet
starting every time it rang, in that
suspense which lengthens hours to
eternities, until at last the message
came that the operation was over, and
successful.
For three days more she was not
permitted to see her daughter, but on
the fourth day, and each day there
after, she went in her automobile, and
spent a brief but daily lengthening
time with the girl who had been close
to death and was slowly climbing back.
1t was on one Of those days that an
incident occurred which opened to her
some of the possible meanings of sor-
row. A young Italian mother, with
one child in her arms and another
holding to her skirts, stood in the
hospital door. She had been told, but
could not understand, that this was not
the place for her child 1t was the
Children's Hospital to which she ought
to go, and that was distant long way.
The mother could not understand, or
if she could understand, was appalled,
by the distance and her lack Of knOW1-
edge of distant parts of the great city.
What is the trouble?" asked the
lady, from her automobile.
She's got the wrong place. said
the attendant. :'We don't treat chill
dren here except in emergency and
surgical cases. She wants to go to
the Children's Hospital, but these da-
gOs can't understand.
Let her get in here. | will take
her there" said the lady.
The poor little mother, herself but
a child, could hardly understand the
kindness offered; but the older child
was restrained by no false modesty
She let go her mothers skirt, and
climbed up in trice, nor did she hesi-
tate when the lady offered her a seat
in her lap. 1t was her first ride in an
automobile, and she made the most
OF it. Inspired by this example, the
mother followed and the car was off,
The black-eyed little girl cuddlec
down in the arms Of the strange lady
with a delicious sense of satisfaction
and the arms closed around her with a
strange JOY. In all these days she had
been permitted to do nothing for her
own laughter; here was chance tc
co something for another woman's
child.
1t was an inGOlent ulcer on the arm
OF the smaller child, said the house
physician .at the Children's Hospital
1t could lie made to heal soon if il
coul>, have Gaily care, but the chile
INST come each day, and should have
1.O,.rlShing iOOd besides.
very cay thereafter the automobile
mace its heightened circuit-to the
hospital, the home in the slums, the
Chll> rcn S Hospital, the humble home
agoln; ana then, having deposited the
h.Hc girl, either with or without the
mother and the OLDER child, back to
t-4> n~n( on the boulevard
liz. = a tln ti1a,o L.. <>..4.A L..-.n.