IS IT TERMORRER?

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 22, 18 March 1892, Page 25

IS IT TERMORRER?

(From the American Cultivator.") Is it termorrer? If it aint what am I in bed for, in the sunshine, an' a family ter Bupport ? It's a white bed, too, an' here's a white shirt on me." There was a frightened and bewildered look in the heavy eyes of the boy who lay on a cot in one of the wards of a city hospital The great surgeon caught the hand that was raised feebly to the' bandaged head, where the cruel iron shoe of a truck horse had cut a great gash, and the boy had lain there insensible almost two weeks. " Where are the children an' my papers? Help me out o' this, can't jou mißter? Ere'syour World, Erald, Times, Tribune and Su»." he shouted faintly, while he struggled to raise himself to his feet to go on his accustomed rounds. Strong hands gently held him back, while tender and soothing words were spoken to quiet the startled brain, and give assurance that he would soon be all right and well as ever. "What's the matter anyway? This is a hospital, ain't It What am I here fur ? Children gone, papers gone I Mother said we must never come to public charity." " It is not public charity, you brave little hero," said the surgeon, while the doctor looked on with a heart that was running over with the tears it held. " You must be very quiet S3 a3 to gat well fast. You have pulled through nobly so far. We must not lose ground now. It wouldn't do." " It's not only to-morrow, but there have been almost two weeks of to-morrows, so taat you will be that much nearer recovery, if you are still brave and quiet. Your arm is broken, but it is doing finely." The surgeon beckoned with his finger to a stranger a little in the back-ground, who came forward, and was presented to the boy with courteous formality. It was bis own little daughter that th 9 bay had saved from a terrible death by his heroic bravery, ani he had watched tbat cot in the unconsciousness of the young hero, longing to baar the pain, or ease the suffering in some way. His beautiful wife had been there also, and had dropped her silent tears on the swollen faca, flusnei with life consuming fears and had heard the moans, and the pitiful cry for mother, baby, and Dick. 11 What do yoa intend to do when you grow up ? " " Just what I told the doctor an' thi surgeon I was goin' ter do. Be a farmer, with horses, cowa, sheep, pigs, chickens, an.' ducis. I was in the country with mother, before father died. He was an engineer in a printin' office. Mother was left with moat nothin', an' had to sew herself to de*tb, an' died." There was a drooping of the corners of the mouth with the thought of the early sorrow aai bereaveoasat, which was a bit of sorrow that time had not yet healed,

"We didn't trouble nobody. Dick took care of baby, an' picked coal out of the ash barrels while the played around, when I was ■elto' papers. I've got 20 dols. hid away towards buyin 1 the farm, if tKey aio't stole it, while they took the children. It most kills me about them, and I'm dreadfully worried about the money while I've bad to lay here." " You mast not bo troubled. You shall not ba the loser, if it is gone ; but are you sure that you would rather have the farm than anything else ? " II Nothin' c»n be surer 1 I live on that thought, an' thinkin' what lam going to do for the children. Sis au' Dick talks of it all the time, too." " What do yon say, surgeon ? Can he bear good ntws ? " " The more the better." « Well my hero of fourteen years, I will make you a pressnt of the farm, and place the money aside for you, in your name, for that purpose, in case anything should happen to me. The surgeon and doctor are witnesses to the agreement. You can save money to buy horses and stook, and if you fall short of enough to buy farm tools, I will make you a present of them, also, for saving the life of my little daughter." 11 1 did not do it for pay. I saw the baby would be killed, and I gave a spring for her, an' tossed her aside when I saw the horses was goin' ter trample me to death." "No, my boy, it is not pay. I scorn the word in connection with a deed so brave and holy," said the man of wealth, almost as much excited aa was the boy of a few moments before, but who now lay pale, limp, and languid, as he thought that his honour was at stake. " The capitalist had a present of a Jersey cow, last spring, when he moved to his place in the country. You would't call that charity, would you ? " asked the smiling surgeon. " No, sir." The emphasis was heavy on the last word The brown eyes brightened like stars, and trn wan little face took o. the colour of life in a moment, and was gl .rifled with smiles of j >y. "I don't ki o>r how to thank you n^er, as you ousjht to be. I wonder if it's a, tigu I'm a f >>1. I want to cry. I'm full up here,' 1 and the boy put his well hand up to his ihroit, wail* tears rolled silently down his pale cheeks. Oiher eyes looked as thougn they wanted to cry to, till ♦he surgeon said. "You hive some gjod friends, my boy. A capita ist, a doctor, and a eurgeon. We will stand by you through life, only let me see that you are noble, gool, and true in all things." " I'll be all that. I gave the promise to motuer before she died« and I can't break it never 1 " " When the surgeon again visited his patient, he found the boy much better. He smiled when Sydney asked for a pencil and paper, that he might m»ke pictures of tha cattle and sheep he was going to have on his farm, bat the one hand could not do so much, so it was abandoned, and he wjuld lie and think of the good which was to come to him in the near future. " Can I hare the children tertnorrer ? " was the almost daily cry of the boy whenever he got sight of the surgeon in the morning. The cbanp c had been too great from active outdoor life, so the capitalist took him in his elegant cirriagj, with his wife and child, for short drives, and then it was not long before he could hobble on crutches, but th« cry was even more pinful, if possible : " May I have the children termcrrer ? " " Yes," said the surgeon at last, as he came in one morning with the capitalist, while the doctor was at the bedside, trying to keep up the cohrage of the anxious little patient. " Your home is ready for you, all furnisLed. It is in a bitter locality, where you can sell papers without going so fir, when you are able to take up your old business, if you like that bettsr than any other. But it will be two or three weeks yet before your strength is sufficient for the undertaking. It will not do to begin too soon and put you back." Never had the great surgeon of B • hospital looked so noble as when he came in with the motherless baby in his arms, «nd a trembling boy clinging to the band at his side. In the blue eyes of the baby he saw his own little one, that all his skill could not &aye when diphtheria stalked through the land. Ha wanted to adopt thu children, but Sydney was firm in bis overnustering desire for a farm so it rested at that. When the surgeon went himself for the children there was some holding back about giving them up. Excuses were made, and it was said that the committee would have to meet and decide the matter but the surgeon was imperative. ' The children were left by the dying mother in the boj 's care, So he argued, and the patient had need of them to make sure his recovery, and so the point was gained though with no very good grace. The man of wealth and position was by the side of the boy when the children were brought in. The cry from his lips ones heard could never bejforgotton. With emotion he saw the eager clasp of the thin arms around the baby's chubby form, and the passionate kisses

while little Dick laid his head on his brother's shoulder and sobbed convulsively. Suddenly the head of the young hero was drawn back with the cry, " they have cut off her beautiful curls 1 " And he lookad ruefully at the pretty head on his bosom, " Never mind," said the surgeon soothingly. " They will soon grow out again, Bee the little rings clustering around her forehead.' * " She had a red dress, and dido-'t look like this," was the aggrieved rejoiner. " She Bhall have a red dress this very day," replied the capitalist, "My wife is going to make her a number of presents, and will look aftec her clothing and all such matters, if you will permit her to do so. A woman who lives in the same floor where your home is to be will see to her baths, and will do what you cannot do as a woman can. But you can live in your own little rooms as before, if you like that best, and no one shall trouble you." "Wedo I Oh, we do I ' said both boys eagerly and again the children were hugged and kissed with hungry longing. " I used to cook and do the housework to give mother time to sew, so it comeg handy evsr since," Sydney hastened to add, as if fearing th«y might doubt his inability to keep house and provide for the children. Tears came into the oldar eyes as tbe little convalescent gave way at last, and sobbed as if his heart would break. This glad joy overpowered him, to think that the children were all his own again, and no one would ever come looking after him to take them away. He had been assured of that, so bis heart was at peace, and he declared himself the happiest boy in all the great city of New York Sydney Sterling's 20 dols. were found, and were put in a savings bank, whsre more were added every week, after strength came to run around and cry hia papers. They would have reached mighty sale had the public known of the hero who carried them. The busy years bore the boy on towards manhood, while he s'udied and worked happier than a king on his throne, refusing all ff.rs of a higher and better position, thinking only of the farm till he reached his twentieth year. He was fine-looking, tall and muscular, with a b.ave, noble heart, full of all good impulses, looking fearlessly out in the world, reaiy to take his place among men as a larmer and a worker, and with a ready hand to help where hetp was needed. The capitalist ami the surgeon went with him to select his firm, at no great distance from tbe city, where they assured him they could come to see him often and watch his prosperity. The peaceful and comfortable home, and the fertile acres were all that they ould wish, with fine horses, cattle, pig, fowls, and tools in abundance to work with, so the little family settled down in glad content, while the birds in the treeß were not happier than they in their new home. They worked and capered gleefully, as if it were not possible to ever feel fatigue, or weariness, or want of rest. Little Grace, now eleven years old, played housekeeping ia a practical way, while the boys worked on the farm, with an experienced man as helper and instructor, and Grace was to attend school every winter. " Did Sydney Sterling prosper 1 '* you ask " Yes, and his brave brother Dick with him. Thsir hearts wore in their work, and though they made some mistakes, they learned even from them ; so that their happy expectations were fully realised in years that passed. They were often visited by the doctor, the capitalist and the surgeon, who with the lawyer were fast, firm friends to the little, family ever afterwards.