The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-07-25
EVEN THE LAST.


.oon. The long, wide corridors echoed the noise
= scurrying feet, and from the operating
r,a sounds of weeping, with and then a shrill
ta of painful protest. A large crowd of boys
here were six of them-had been bitten by a mad
Ic and their terrified parents had rushed them
- the institute for treatment that would prevent
he dread hydrophobia.
They we're all more or less severely bitten and
no dog. which had been killed. undoubtedly had
he rabies. They were all placed in position to re-
awe the STANDARDIZATION of the serum-and
tb from fright and nervousness the lads gave vent
!, loud weeping and wailing. Their mothers were
almost as bad. and altogether the worried nurses
and doctors had their hands full.
One of the patients a sight never to be for
tren He was a colored boy of u, George bv
.me a frightfu object as he lay In his "mammy's"
/, ouivering but silent while big tears splashed
lawn her black cheeks as she rocked him to and
"a II was found he must be put the operating
able at once. His upper lip and part of his nose
7ere torn off. one eyelid and cheek were hanging
5r shreds Of skin and his arm on the same side was
horribly lacerated, Tenderly they lifted him and
rsced him on a stretcher carriage and rolled him to
The operating ROOM where his gashes were washed
and closed. and twelve stitches brought him to the
appearance of humanity, albeit swollen and dis
figured.
The other lads were taken home by their par
rts to return daily for treatment. But George
was not able to be moved weak he after his
double treatment. A little cot was placed for him
in the surgical ward, and grateful and patient
vas he under his sufferings that he soon became
general favorite. Surprisingly soon his wounds
hailed. and he began to beg to be allowed to get
mn 1t was found too. that his poor "mammy" had
M place to keep him. and 1T charity to allow
him to remain where he was. SO he went here and
here doing little turns for every one who asked
hem and always with jolly little humor of his
own that made every one smile.
Many a weary face smiled ghost of smile
from its pillow as George, with his grotesquely
scanned countenance, cut some caper in the middle
Of the ward when he thought no one was looking
No one ScOded him. His nanny came at inter
yas and, with uplifted hands. dressed de Lawd
oh dem ladies' cab OBJ dat liz raskill!" One day the
Sister asked George if he said his prayers and
what church he attended. George knew no prayers
and had never been IN any church before he
The hospital chapel He was ito bad to jine a
church" BY degrees he learned he had an immor-
-al soul. and it pathetic to see his great eyes
looking out Of the disfigured face as he drank in
every word that Sister spoke to him of Gods love
for even the least of His creatures.
All never lznowed dat de Lawd had much time
toh TIT nigs like me-" he said. can if | be bap-
tied, am you ladies suah dat all can sniggle into
hebben"
was assured that such was the promise of Him who
never breaks His divine word "An' will nah black
soul turn whiteI' He was told that there were no
black souls in heaven. 1t too much patience and
instruction to give George the spiritual side of the
matter but at last 1t dawned on him. and after that
he seemed to grow thoughtful and often said he
wanted to be baptized and become pleasing to the
good God who had saved him from death when he
knew nothing about Him.
twenty days Of the treatment over
and there were great hopes that all danger of hyd-
'1lobia had passed. George found out fro minis
NANNY that he had never been chrstened: she
hadno time SO ii was decided that George should
Y baptized in the hospital chapel when he was
little better instructed. George went home to the
fof Slanty his mother occupied when she not
gt Washing or scrubbng, but he returned every
oaT Tor examination and treatment.
lla other boys pronounced immune but
me doctors were not so sure of George, he had been
inghttully bitten. Three days passed, and
g9ofge mad not put in appearance. The sisters
ana The doctors were distressed, not knowing what
70 think
On The evening Of the third day two colored
men who belonged to a livery stable appeared at
me hospital door with George between them. He
y, swapping and growing, with saliva flowing out
u his mouth
Poor little fellow, After all the efforts that
Iae been made he was doomed. 1t was the dreaded
11dr0phobis
Ho was perfectly conscious and Immediately
-sagnlzed the sister in whose care he had been.
a, Al i gwine to be baptized right soon. Sister.
an ieeL powerful surh dat all is orful sick boy,
all mas such a orfu misery in de troat"
Yes. George" said the Sister, deeply sympa-
0eqc Eve shall have you baptized very SOON
Iler practical eye saw evidence at once of the
'fu paralysis of the throat that prevented swal-
'',a2 even the saliva.
'eorgc was carried to the isolated ward, where
q orderly and nurse were detailed to watch him.
was now nearly midnight. and soon his convu
"l~ were frightful to witness. He strapped
\ he bed. but he would work out Of bed onto the
NOR while the terribly infectious spittle flew in
- directions. Twice he was rolled in linen sheet
me attendants and laid on the bed. 1t was
oufhng death to go near him; the infection might
communicated through some little cut or abra-
II on OF the skin, and the poison that dropped from
Ds poor swollen lips never ceased.
Between the commissions he was perfectly con-
l.. ous and would cry out pitfully that ''he couldn't
5o iG that he was SO sorry" and when would
-n u L. I A L. Alnrno