XXXII. NELLIE'S SACRIFICE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2732, 18 July 1906, Page 84

XXXII. NELLIE'S SACRIFICE.

By Sisst.

written for Special SuLject Week,

Nell, de^r little Nell — I wonder why I always think of her as little? Is it because I loved her when I saw her first at school? I was a big girl in the Fifth Standard when

she first came to our school* Such a wee little tot she was, dressed in a bright pink dress and white pinny. Tha only pretty thing about her was her hair, and it was lovely — long, brown, and wavy. But she -was the pet of the school, and was forever in mischief. She had a quick temper, but was just as quick to forgive and forget. I left school and went to live -with, an aunt soon after she came ; but I never forgot Nell, and often wished I woiild meet her again. I lived with auntie in town, for she had no children now. Poor little cousin. Amy had died when she was just seven. Uncle was a sailor, and much away, so that I stayed with auntie and went to work in ta largo shop in the town dresmaking. 1 You can imagine how pleased I was to meet A r ell one morning in the workroom. She had come to town to learn dressmaking. I soon found out she was boaiding, and had no friends in town. I coaxed auntie to let me ask her to come as a boarder to auntie's. What a d.frereace Neil made" in cur quiet little home, and I think it d;d auntie good, keeping her from thinking of her troubles. Nell was always singing— happy as a lark as soon as she was up m the morning and last thing at night. After Nell came I went out more than I had ever done before, as Nell made majiy friends, and always insisted upon nay going wj th her. Chiistmas came, and wa were to get «. week's holiday each. Uncle would be home, so that auntie did not mind if I went away. Tho trouble was each of us wanted' to go to our own home, and yet we wanted to be together.

At last we settled first to go to Mrs Weaver's, Nellie' .5 mother, and after three days to go to ray home. As we only lived shout five miles apart we could go back and forward cvsry day if wo wished.

Nell had .two brothers, and as she was an only girl she was made much of at home James, the elder, was very handsome and lively. Jack was nice, too, but far quieter than either Jim or NelL Then I met Herßert Grey, Nell's sweetheart. He was just the sort of boy I could fancy Nell liking —tall and! fair, and full of fua. He came to see Fell every day, an<s as we had lovely weather we were often out driving, ridin", or picnicking. On New Year's Day, the last day of our visit, we climbed to the top of a very high mountain, about four miles from our place. I thiuk. thaie were 18 of us altogether, and we had a lovely <?ay of it. W« even made up our minds to meet on the hill 3 gain next yeai-, and tare a picnic. Ala», I wonder how many of. us think of that day now or look at tha hill without wishing" we had never seen it. There were lots of big rocks and stones on the top, and we had been watching the boys roll some of the smaller ones down the hill into the gully. Oh, it was fun to see them go bounding down, smashing aga-inst others, and often starting them, too, right into the bottom of the gully. At last we started for home. I offered to race- anyone to the bottom. Oh, how I wish I had not done so. Off four or five of us went, tumbling and slipping on the atones. Jim slipped on a flat stone, and down he went. At first we laughed; but then we all got frightened when we saw he did not get up. Nell bent over him, and said, "Oh, Jim must be hurt; he's unconscious." When h& opened' his eyes he said lie was not hurt, but he could not walk. We got him home, and sent for the doctor. He said his spine was hurt, but at first it was not though* to beserious. Poor Jim! Mr Weaver brought him into town to see the doctors, but all in vain. They could do nothing for hinr^ poor Jimi would never walk again. Nell left work, and went home to nurse Bino. Jim was always )iappy when nob hi pain, an<2 really believed. he would soon gei better. Nell, poor little Nell, grew very quief. The only time I saw her gay was when with. Jim.

The day she left town she told me the doctor said Jim would most likely live for years, but would never walk again. "Oh, Nell," I cried, "does he know?" "No, ' she answered. "Hew can I tell him?"

She told me she would stay with him always now.

"Bu<t what will Bert say to that?" I asked.

"Poor Bert must give me up now," she answered. "I have written and told him I will nevsr maariy now," and she smile* oh, such a sad, sad smile. I cried as if my heart would break.

"Don't cry, Janie, dear; don't tipset me now," was all Nell said. ''You know if I cry Jim will notice it, and I must think of him first now."

That was five years ago, and Nell is still nurse — and such a, cheerful, loving nurse.