Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-23
By
Ellis Parker Butler.
Copyright.

| fore long and play with my other toys.
/ like a good child
! DO YOU know said the Stony Lady.
that You can get private room here II
| you want it,
Wilkins shook his head
Il don't want il. could go home. TOO.
But I'm learning things | didn't know
! here. II is good for me TO see how the
real sufferers stand il. See that chap in
! the third cot from the end? They've got
him listed to die next week. and there
hasn't been a visitor in to see him for a
month. they say. Looks plucky. too.
doesn't he?''
/ She glanced at the man and looked ba ok
I at Wilkins serious face and sad a hur-
/ ried goodbye" Soon after she let the
nurse took Wilkins temperature and the
! lines on the chart that pictures il formed
Il peak high and sharp as Fuji-yama
When the barber came the next morn
ing Wilkins had shave, and he bought
/ paper from boy who sold papers and
sent some oranges across to the lung
man, he called his Nis-a-vis.
He found the day unatterably long and
: he was glad wnen, in the afternoon. the
nurses and an attendant began arrang-
ing the white screens around the next cot
preparatory To it's reception of a new in
mate. wilkins hoped the newcomer would
be interesting.
Two attendants carried in the stretcher
which hardly bagged under its light load.
and disappeared within the screens. Will
kinS saw the surgeon enter the Enclosure
and heard the short, business-like consul
tation.
Run over by cab on Sth avenue. The
abdomen badly crushed. Nothing to do
but XIII the pain. He Will de some time
tonight" Then there were the usual
sounds as the gentle hands OF the surgeon
did the little that could be done and the
attendant removed the screens. and Will
kins saw upon the pillow of the next cot
the yellow curls of a little lad of hardly
two years, still under an anaesthetic. The
nurse glided from the ward and returned
with Il woman of twenty-eight so. She
WAS somewhat loudly dressed. but her
eyes We're red and swollen and she was
trying vainly not to sob. She held wet
land crumpled handkerchief against her
mouth She looked at her poor. crushed
baby. and hiding her face, ran from the
room. Wilkins could hear her feet hurry
ing down the stairs and her sobs that
ended in groaDS. She was the mother,
and she could not bear to look upon him.
He lay a long time studying the face of
the boy, and at length saw the eyes open
and stare indolently at the glossy ceiling
One arm tossed restlessly on the coverlet
and the plaintive. baby voice murmured:
Mamma, Dwink.'
The child waited minute and then
more insistently came the voice again:
Mammal and again. Mamma, please.
dwink"'
The little voice was not fretful; it was
Iiti ely IHpeI dliNe. HIS WAS h prince VINO
was accustomed to have his behests obey
ed. He waited as long a prince, the
| best behaved, could be expected to wait
when he had given command, and then,
in the same tone. commanded:
Mamma, please. dwink.'
Doubtless he had often called in vain
We cannot give in to all these childish
whims, and he closed his eyes and tried
to go to sleep. like a good child, but the
little hand tossed on the sheet.
When next the child called the gentle
whte-capped nurse brought water in a
little cup with spout and wet his lips
She also brushed back the yellow curls
with her hand and ran her soft palm
across his hot forehead. Wilkins loved
her for that.
Little chap seems rather thirsty" he
suggested
! The nurse smiled, for Wilkins was hand
some, but she would have smiled any
way 1t is one of the professional du-
ties.
Children usually ask for drink or for
their mother" she said. 1T is merely
habit
Twilight came. and the ward was made
ready for the night. The nurse came
again to look at the boy and brought an
other pillow that he might be made more
comfortable When she raised him to put
it in place he shook his head.
Boy don't need it," he said sweetly
and then added his request, Mamma
Dwink.'
The nurse gave him a drink and went