South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-07-29

| tine. She toled me along from min
ute to minute and from hour to hour
with reminders of how bravely l was
enduring that thirst and how soon
the time would be past and 1 could
have all the water l wanted. And
relief came as a surprise after all. 1t
was in the middle of the night and in
spite of my thirst / was browsing
when l suddenly realized that my
nurse was standing at my bedside.
She held a small glass in her hand and
she was smiling.
You may drink now" she said.
And l drank. II was only seller,
and there were but two good swallows
for a healthy man, but to me it was
what l thought the gods must have
drank and called nectar. That was
all l could have then 1 was told, so 1
slipped it slowly. o ever so slowly,
let it trickle down my parched throat
drop by drop into the burning stom-
ach. Then after awhile she let me
drink again, ever so little, but so good
and so satisfying for the moment. And
presently, mirdculOusly, my thirst
was gone. The gallons of sweet,
cold water 1 promised myself remain
ed undrunk
l had returned TO normal
The happy issue out Of all my
troubles thus far had left me in a
placid state of mind. | was perfectly
comfortable. / had no desires of ap-
petite that were not simply and quick
ly satisfied. / had no ambitions. |
was content Though | may speak
now with some levity of my condition
and even then gave it no serious
thought the time came when l knew
l had gone down very low into the
valley Of the shadow, and was at the
moment of my supreme placidity still
beneath its sOmbre shade. l imagine
must have been very nearly, if not
quite, in the state of mind into which
those fall who, having lost the power
or the sense of suffering are slowly
drifting out into the unknown across
the bar between life and death.
The knife had left no pain. Instead
il had brought nepenthe, and l Quaf-
fed it in deep draughts. l was at
peace with my body, with myself and
with the world. In the soft radiance
of comfort that enveloped me l had
no desire but to lie perfectly still and
contemplate the luxury of living with
out anxiety or pain.
Outside the sparrowS were chat
tering on the window sill and from
the street below the subdued music
of a hurdy gurdy fell upon my ears.
Above the sky was breaking into
patches of blue and white. Spring
was coming, these harbingers fore
told. The resurrection OF the year
was near at hand. Some friends
brought in pots of Easter lilies and
placed them where l could see them
from my pillow. In the afternoon the
sun shone in with a warmth that
breathed the balm of flowers and
trees. The perfume Of the lilies gave
added emphasis TO the impression on
my mobile mind.
There were no disturbing sounds.
My nurse moved about quietly, but not
ostentatiOusly so, attending TO her
duties. or sat by the window engaged
in fancy work. 1t was a peaceful
domestic scene, far remote from what
/ had imagined life in a hospital TO be.
Footsteps and voices of people pass
ing TO and fro in the corridor added a
touch Of life. To be isolated and yet
so near the human current / could
hear its wavelets tapping the shore
seemed 20 me an ideal condition.
ReYel!ng Under Difficulties.
If under the circumstances, il were
possible to revel, 1 reveled in the
sense of physical comfort and secur-
ity that envelOped me. / had none Of
the anxious fears Of those who watch
ed and waited the developments Of my
case. Under the rules ! was merci-
fully spared the knowledge others
possessed but dissembleG. l saw
only the silver lining of the cloud that
hung over my bed. The darker side
was visible 10 those who looked down
from above. and yet they had glimpses
occasionally OF the brighter side.
I could understand, after knowing
all these things, how easy II IS 10 die,
and it was a revelation 10 me. Always
before Death had worn forbidding
face. Now / can see that II Is often,
very often, tempered with mercy.
But there are diversions, even in
hospital once or twice regularly
during the day, more frequently dur
ing the first few when the balance was
trembling, uncertain which way 10
tin. the current Of life survived from
the corridor and flowed into my room.
Until the immediate danger was past
the professor and his staff came IN
| twice a day TO look me over and read
the nurses record. The professor al
WAYS gave me a cheering word and
the head nurse left with ne mem
orv of the encouraging smile OF
charming woman. Ny own nurse
corroborated both by saying
THE professor says you are dong
we'll"
niece of information. / knew better
| than the professor could tell me. /
thought, that l was doing Wei. mere
was nothing the matter with me. l
inst wanted 70 lie there and think
1ntil I went TO sleep, and then wake
up and think again For change 1
liked TO have the nurse beat up my
pillow and make il soft and cooling
70 nv face and smooth the wrinkles
in nv bed. She did ii all 50 dexter
ously and with such a defthess OF
touch 1 became interested IN the
nrocess. And every day she changed
the linen on my bed without DIS
turbine me in the least.
self Control OF the Nurse.
II was all very wonderful 10