The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1917-01-19

nature, and the world rung with his
plaudits. He had risked his life over
and over again, in burning building,
saving not less than five women from
a horrible fate. In doing this he
was badly burned and brought to his
mother, in the arms of those who had
witnessed the heroic deed.
And now we find her watching by
him sleeping. The night had worn
on the mid-hour. Overhead, the dus-
ky canopy is a glittering shield with
its studding of countless stars. Low
on the horizon hangs the lambert
arch of the young moon. 1t is June
and midway that seductive month
Roses tremble in the soft air and
send their fragrance in waves abroad
A jasmine climbs with green, trip
ping feet, the lattice and curls it's
green, star-be-sprinkled tendrils on
the sill Of the open easement.
The sick man lies with his face pill
lowed upon his uninjured palm, while
the other arm is bound, from armpit
to long, 1.-THE fingers, in linen. In the
nimbus of the night light the moth
er's face is lifted from the surround
ing darkness like a tragic mask, a
mask Oh which is the presentiment of
all the woe and wretchedness, that
has been known since the worlds be-
ginning.
She is looking with great, wide-dis-
tended eyes at small linen cone in
to which she is pouring a colorless
! liquid from a small vial. Now and
again she turns her head aside and
draws a long breath, then back to her
task. There is a family sweet and
sickening odor in the room. The man
sleeps heavily under the narcotic given
him. And now with noiseless steps
the stricken mother approaches this,
her frstborn, her only child.
AS she stands beside him, some
thing in the pleasant curve of the
moustached lip reminds her of night
long ago. She falters and almost
turns away, for at her breast she
seems to feel again soft lips, and be-
fore her distracted gaze comes the
small dusty rings on bold baby brow
A tiny nose stands out defantly above
the pouting lips. And the lips are
moist and red, like small, humid bios
SONS. Lifting her fearless
eyes, she breathes a prayer:
"Soul for soul. Mine for my sons!
His soul is dearer than his life. His
soul is dearer than my soul. Con-
denim mine; save his. Father, to
Thee I commend this child of my
deathless love-"
Not prayer for herself! Only for
him.
Extract from the morning paper:
"Manv hearts will grieve at the news
of Gilbert Merrivale's death. By the
sacrifice of his splendid young life, he
saved the lives of helpless women
and children; and in doing this at
one bound attained the summit Of hui
man fame. An attendant going into
his room where his devoted mother
had chosen to watch alone with her
only child, found both dead, the moth
err lying quietly beside her sons life
less form 1t was feared that he had
inhaled the flames which he fought
with so much bravery, and this is now
proved.
"Surely this name, which has been
so long an honored one among us,
should be writ Ugh and indellibly up
on the hearts of our entire state.
Our tears will follow to his grave this
man who died to save score of wo-
men. 1t will be recalled that since a
mere lad, Mr. Merrivale has been not
ed for great deeds of heroic bravery.
Quiet, unassuming scion of noble
name, he was meant for life's great
est uses"