Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1910-12-30


said it eveiJ night, would make HIN
a good boy.
Sometimes he confused his prayer
with the jingles she taught him and
said the rhyme of -ittle Bopeepr
instead Of "Now I lay -
She always came In the evening to
hear his prayer, and DR.. Knight would
come and listen. But his ''lady" never
spoke to Dr. Knight and never seemed
to know that he was near.
Christmas eve came. Miss Merton
took Joe down to the hospital chapel
In his wheeled chair At the door he
shut his eyes tight for a second and
then flashed them open.
The room was full Of light and tn,
warm, sweet smell Of fresh pine
branches. Ropes of holly and ever
green draped the ceiling and the walls.
and from the ropes hung little red
bells--sueh CHEEKY little bells that they
seemed to send out with their rosy
color a Christmas greeting.
In the center Of the platform at the
erd Of the room stood the Christmas
tree.
1t was tan and wide and covered
with twinkiing candles, glistening or
naments and packages tied with red
and green ribbons.
On the floor were piled more pack
ages, so many Of them that the floor
was covered.
The patients were all there. Old
Miss Curtiss. palsied and helpless. was
in a chair near the platform. Her face
was radiant, and occasionally she lifted
her one sound hand and pointed to the
tree.
Mr.. FUR. who two weeks before had
lost both legs, was brought in on a
stretcher. The Oldest lnhabitant, par
alytic, was wheeled in on her bed.
The eonvaleseents with canes and
crutches sat in easy chairs or lay on
pillows on the chapel benches.
The surgeons in their evening clothes
on their way to Christmas eve dinners
had come in and we're affecting the
antics of joyful small boys.
The first package taken from the
tree was for Joe. Another was laid In
his lap and another. They came fast.
They filed his chair and lay on the
floor around him.
There were toys Of all kinds, balls Of
all sizes and coiors. tops of every style,
animals Of every material. banks with
pennies rattling in them, games, puz-
zles, paint boxes, picture books, q
lovely. many colored clown that waved
a hoop.
There were shoes, stockings, under
wear, a suit clothes, neekties, hand.
kerehiefs and mittens..
After the happy child had been put
to bed and his toys placed where he
could see them DR.. Knight came in.
'Where's your lady, JoeT' he asked.
Downstairs"
did she hear you say your pray
ersF
Yes, and she said her prayers too
They aren't like my prayers. And she
cry-just little cry"
What did she say when she pray
ed, Joe?"
She put her head down in my COW
ers, and she say. Dear father, 1 love
him and I'm so lonely. And she cry
and say something about Harold. Who's
iharolu Nhlsht dropped the chiic $
nahu % ahu hurried OUT OF the room and
downstairs 70 tne chapel. Mss Merton
va 'neie 'iole' ne walked quickly
" - ner anu .ook her nands.
i'h' le DesaI-- hditn' l want
: i've you
sne stepped back and tried to draw
away her haids. The movement Of
ner neau Drought her cap close TO
eahuie on the tree. The thin null
named suddenly into blaze. Dr..
i hnishl nngers closed over the burn
~ J., sap',and 'ne nre was eXthsuished
~ lis naiiu
ne ufeW out lhe pm that he'd the
.ap III piace anu hiteu from her uh-
iiir.peu mar the charred badge OF her
pru.ess'on'
sne eaugnt ms hand ana tried to
upeh y It, ne eiinehed 1t and the cap in
IT.
- sour cap you want! ne asked
80 your hand; its burned
se peer suffering Tor weeks ana
sou maven cared
iou wanted a SHY IMITATION, and II
son were huIt II served yeu flsnt.
"ih you marry me- Edith . shall
ings. I'll try to he Datient till You