The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1923-02-15
The Motherless
Child

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"roo badlv said the matron, shaking
her head sadly. Its just too bad that
noor little Mrs. Marriott should lose
her baby like that. You know, Doctor
She LOST her last one in the same way,
and she'll be nearly crazy when shs
wakes up and finds out.
.Pity she couldn't have had TINS
one growled the doctor, pointing 10
the lusty eight-hours-old youngster
in the berIbboned cot in the babies
room. "This one might as wen not
have been born"
"Oh. Doctor"
"What chance hes 1t in life?7 de.
manded the doctor iercely. Tine
child of tramp. father unknown
starting life in some public institution.
IT'S damned before it's born"
The matron protested eagerly All
babies in the hospital were equally
her charge; she could not bear 10
think of social differences.
The nurse came in Mrs. Marriott's
waking up she said. shes asking
for her baby"
The matron looked sad. you
haven't told herr
mo. she mustn't be told till tomor-
row" interposed the doctor. "rhe
shock might prove fatal. It's a mercy
she didn't die as well as the child"
"What shall ! say TO herr"
.Teu her the child's doing all right.
I'll break the news tomorrow. The
most important thing is to keep up her
spirits. Tomorrow she'll be better able
to bear the news"
The nurse turned away From one
of the rooms in the maternity ward a
feeble voice was heard asking for the
child.
"Hows the other mother getting
on?o the matron asked the doctor.
"Oh, fine, Of course What else do
you expect of that class of woman?
It's the unwanted children that live,
not the wanted ones"
The matron went into Mrs. Mar
riott's room. The thin, eager, pretty
little woman looked up at her from
the bed. Cant | see my baby, just
for mInute?' she asked.
mot today, dear"
Hes is all right, isn't he? Some
thing in the nurses look made me
afraid"
Hes all right and you shall see
him tomorrow" the matron promised
her.
But the look ON little Mrs Marriott's
face haunted her as she went out and
closed the door. She heard the nurse
calling her
Mrs. Simsl Mrs. Sims VIII you
come here a moment? l don't like
The matron hurried into the ward
toward the bed where the paupeI
woman lay. She was lying fiat bach
on the pillows, her face very strange
and white.
'Call Doctor Addisonp
The doctor entered the ward. At tht
sight of the woman in the bed ht
hurried forward He raised one
wrist, felt the pulse, stared into hel
face.
I'm get some brandy" whispered
the matron.
But she stopped suddenly. There
was no need for brandy. Silently, i'm
perceptibly, the life had fiickered on
Ia clot in the heart, of course.
The unknown woman lay back OF
the pillows. The startled nurse wal
already drawing the screen arount
the bed. And there was nothing mor'
to be done.
The doctor and the. matron face'
each other in the babies room. In tn
corner the ,nine-hours-old younrstel
cried, making absurd bird-like noises
The matron was speaking.
Nonsense, Mrs. Sims Y exclaime,
the doctor Indignantly "You don
mean that seriously"
doctor, do. Dishonest? What d
we care? The mother longing for
child, and the motherless child. 1t
right. It's natural"
1T can't be done"
1T must be done. I'll take tn
blame. It's not necessary for you t
know. 1t was Gods mercy that hap
pened in the ward just now. Doctor
A sound at the door made then
start gulltlly apart. Little Mrs. Maj
riott stood In the doorway, her eye
wide with fear.
Mrs Marriott Get back to you
bed immediately / never heard o
such thing 1t ought to mean you
DEATH"
II can't help 1t There's something
happened to my baby. can feel it
That nurse wouldn't look me in tn
face when she spoke to me about hin
must see himl ! must !"
The doctors eyes met the matron's
Some invisible sign seemed to hav
passed between them. Mrs Sims wen
to the corner and plucked the new
born child out of its bassinette.
well, II you must see him yo
must" she said, holding II in her arms
"Now you get back to bed Instant,
Mrs. Marriott, and then, if you're yer
good. I'll bring him in to you for a fey
minutes"