Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-07
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR JANUARY Z 1912

tears rolling into his little face Biy's sobs buried in
her bosom grew fainter the loved voice soothed him.
Who can tell what his thoughts were?
BILLY, where's your father? questioned Sister Abb
gail She had fallen into the intimate way of talk
ing with him that his father always used. Sister Abigail
peered anxiously round 1t was not possible that
Billy should be alone there.
No, it not possible. There dark form hud-
died close the rails in the gloom of areaway and it
form that Sister Abigail and Billy knew. Sister
Abigail closed her eyes and cutChed Billy closely
20 God in Heaven, she prayed, grant that Bilys
father has had accident that he is eebecause he
hurt: not, Heavenly Father, because" Here Billy
felt her breast heave with sobs and his chubby finger
stole from his mouth to pat her face.
Sister Abigail took quick step nearer Bly's father
who lay there in heap, and her toe stubbed against a
big black bottle.
Does it not strange that the prayers of good
woman unanswered? 1t IS of the unexplained
relations between God and the world that puzzle little
and big children.
Sister Abigail did not hesitate long. 1t would never
do for father be found there by Others than her
self. She quickly stopped when Billy not looking,
picked up the bottle, and hid it carefully in the gutter
Then she retraced her steps to the where she
knew policeman would soon pass
"Officer, will you kindly help me? My man." she
breathed very hard, "has had accident, and want
to get him home
I'm not sure" said the officer the cabby as they
drove off, that We re goln in the right direction. 1t
may be that the lookup is the place for i'm. Dinns
wife often says to me- says she you're that soft
heartfelt"
SISTER ABIGAIL sat up all night watching by the
side OF CRIB where restless baby, his face flushed
with fever his little throat choked with cold cried in
termttenty and gasped for breath In the above
surrounded by tiny cribs and cradles, Bilys father
moaned in delirium Never had the Day Nursery, used
to emergencies as it was, held such night session be-
fore.
Sister Christiana, her old gray face wrinked with
troubles of the past, shook her head gravely she
looked at Billy by the early light of the dawn and at
Sister Abigail her whole heart in her anxious eyes she
hung the crib and tried to relieve Blys suffering
The doctor had prescribed everything he could He
knew Sister Abigail of yore, her wonderful nursing
capacity and he knew by the look in her eyes that
earth would do more for Billy than would she.
"Take rest for little while Sister, urged Sister
Christiana. But Abigail shook her head She turned
her dark eyes to Sister Christiana.
"The baby must live!' she said slowly. IF the baby
dies, the father will have killed himand he will kill
himself. l know it! He has nothing to live for but
Billy and Billy is the only power on earth that will keep
him straight"
aWhat is this man to you?" asked Sister Chrstiana
slowly
Nothing replied Sister Abigail. Then she added in
whisper, "But ily-is-everything'
Twenty-four hours later Bly's dear little eyes
closed and his little mouth twtched he gasped for
breath His thumb hung Imply down; he had not
strength to raise his hand
BILLY, darling Billy" murmured Sister Abigail she
knet beside the baby 90 God let little Billy live for
his fathers sake-for nv sake if thou wilt,
Dear little Billy opened his eyes and looked at her
long She gathered him to her breast close to her
heart And there, few minutes later, Sister Chstiana
found them. Sister Abigail had tainted away-and
Bily-dear dear little Billy
RILLYS father sat up in bed. Was he dreaming?
- What had happened? Where was Billy, and why
did he have SO many cribs? What did it all mean?
Gee! l must have been drinking to double
much,' he said YEARLY He laid back and closed his
eyes to make the cribs disappear then he opened them
agan-they still there. Then slowly little by lit
tie, his confused brain remembered only
that he had proved false to Billy.
Il and | WILL for Bly's sake"