Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-09-09
WIFE AND BABE
SEE [EPER FATHER
LITTLE FELLOW VAINLY HOLDS
OUT ARMS TO STRICKEN
PARENT.
BRAVE MAN TURNS AWAY TO
HIDE THE SIGHT OF
TEARS.

washington, sept. Mrs. John r.
Early, wife of the leper who is iso-
lated under guard on the outskirts OF
the city, visited her husband accom-
panied by her mother and John r.
Early, Jr, the eleven-months-old son
of the leper.
Early was immensely pleased. yet
saddened, to see his baby boy again
The little fellow recognized his ia
Their and held out his baby arms to
him, but Early turned away.
A local paper has started a fund for
the support of Mrs. Early, who is pen
Unless and entirely at the mercy OF
charity. Money has been steadily
coming in since the announcement
This is to obtain small cottage near
the tent for Mrs. Early so that she
may be near her husband.
1t was learned that the most pathe-
tic feature of the case is that Mrs.
Early expects to become a mother
again shortly and therefore this blow
is doubly hard to her. She has met
with kindness and sympathy in Wash
ington and has expressed the hope
that Early remain here rather than
return to North Carolina or go to a
leper colony.
Pension for the Victim.
Interested friends are going to push
Early's claim for a pension through
the pension Office and, inasmuch as ne
undoubtedly contracted this illness
while in service in the Philippines and
IS therefore entirely disabled he will
be granted pension of $72 a month.
To-day the frail little woman talked
to a reporter after return from the
leper camp. She appeared depressed,
naturally, and said but little, but it
all breathed wonderful love for the
man who has been so grievousiy
touched by the hand of fate.
1.-TWO years ago. she said slowly,
John and I were married. We prom
ised to love and cherish each other
in joy and sorrow, in sickness and
in health. Why can 1 not go to him
and share his burden? It is too much
for him alone.
''In the eight days that have elapsed
since / learned of this, | have lived
years. 1t came suddenly-the news,
and it seemed to turn me to stone
| did not cry. I couldn't. Oh, the
days and nights I have lived since
that day!
Homes for Recoverv
IF I had received news that John
was dead or had been so badly in
jured that he would die, it would be
different. 1T is the prospect of ms
living and cannot go to him and
comfort him that I feel more keenly
than anything else.
Il want to be near him, even if
cannot remain by his side to comfort
and nurse him back to health. My
kind friends are now endeavoring to
secure a cottage for me near the tent
in which John is living and there
would feel more contented, for
would be nearer to him. That would
be a great comfort to us both"
"Have you hope for your husbands
ultimate recovery" she was asked.
ooh, yes,' she said. 81 feel sure
that faith in God will bring him
back to health. read Ben Hur May
years ago and remember how Christ
the mother and sister of the
young soldier. The same Christ is
over us. I feel confident
that he will recover. was told to-
day that woman was discharged as
cured from the Massachusetts leper
colony few years ago. While there
is life, there is hope l shall never
lose that"