The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-01-02
The Fever
Nurse
By ELLIS O'NEILLE.
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the hardihood to enter that fever in
fected atmosphere.
When l quilted the train at Grand
Junction, to take my place in the one
coach waiting on the siderack for
passengers to Memphis. | felt that l
was indeed bidding my last adieu to
the world and my surprise was great
when l found that l was not alone. A
young girl was still to be my travelling
companion. The singular beauty and
intelligence of her countenance would
have attracted attention at any time
or place But here, and now. Surely
there must be some mistake.
Taking a seat near her, ! asked her
destination
Memphis, she answered promptly.
And may I ask" said I, what in
exorable duty calls you there at this
dreadful time?"
The duty we all owe each other"
she answered quietly, TO give help in
time of need. Are not you responding
to the same CALF"
Yes, yes l said, but / am an old
man, and my life is all in the past
with you the case is very different.
The beauty of youth is in your face.
the light of hope in your eyes. Think
well, my child, think well. before you
lay all this on the altar of a fancicd
duty
Il have thought she said. with a
modest dignity which waived further
argument The work of nursing the
sick is not new to me | am slow to
contract disease, and shall use all the
necessary precautions.
Before parting from her that day l
had asked by what name | should des-
ignate her
Suppose you call me The Gray Sis,
ter, she replied.
Looking into her blooming face,
said, No, the name does not suit You.
| shall call YOU La Soeur Solitaire.
for l am sure shall find no other like
YOU
The name was we'll chosen That
scourge Of the autumn of 1878 brought
TO the front many heroic spirits, OF
whom truly the world was not worthy,
but in all the hand of noble workers I
saw Douc like INV -Soeur Solitaire"
none gifted with hcr wordrous powar
TO soorhc and cheer
q The weeks went by. filled with ever
INCREASING horrors. with scenes of woe
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Int r.a, ,,r,,.o,,+ol ~. tha ,,,a.ido,,t
~ ,ba tro,,,o,.d a..al;a,iaa ,,.,,a aa,,,l
tonne inst then with an nraent anneaI
foT immediate holm Iro asked me To
take ono or bis .nr,..as and oo tn . fro
old country scat = few miles ont ~pa
fo,a vo,, rooyart 90. h, added 81 ,,,,,st
toll Won, that If i. ID no,foct ch,r,a1
ho,Iee. rbara ,vo,.a fo,,,. I.,,.i.,1. rro,,,
there Yesterday and pNpl'E he'd ig fDil
Of fever patiants Won sea how if 10
the fever of 10 was confined 10 the
CITY: and we Thought II wouId he tbe
same this time. so thousands Of neonIe
nockad in rho e,,hurbs OId Cararo1
Hamilton, the soul of hosuitalitv
threw his doors open until his house
was full. Last week the fever broke
out among them. They tried to get
along without calling on us for help.
but a messenger came in. lust now. to
say that the general and his son are
both down, the hired nurses have de-
serted. and things are in a dreadful
state
Wishing to understand wbomI was
to report to for ser.ice, | asked if the
mistress of the house was sick also.
"Oh. she is su1nrrring in Throne
he answered. "ard | suspect she will
not break her hear over her husband
loss. A fine old gentleman, but 80
years her senior if he's a day. The
messenger said he would not live til
morning, and two OF the guests are f.
a dying condition Here comes tIr