The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, 18 April 1912, Page 3

The Storyteller

HER FIRST CASE It was __a scene of enchantment that burst on the vision of the beholder, as? he entered the'ball-room of one of the palatial Florida hotels, in the height of the season. The; great native palms, the scent of the magnolias and orange blossoms that floated in from the grounds, the brilliant electrics, the strains of the orchestra,; all intoxicated the senses. The sight of beautiful women and handsome men in evening dress gliding through the mazes of the dance was-: animating and fascinating, and one could not help feeling, for the moment at least, the delicious sense of pleasure that becomes in its fulness so dangerous to' the" spiritual atmosphere. .._.-•' -{-■ ■ r ,:;-| - '■' ; .-:7 :':?

A group stood apart, near an archway of southern moss, a young girl of twenty-three and two men. One of them was evidently her. brother, a strong family resemblance marking the two. .:■ The other man was older, with a professional look, and at this moment his face was lined with grave thought in spite of the festivities about him. " ' _ Ti ■ , \

: | He was apparently well acquainted ; with the young man who had introduced him to his sister—a new arrival from the North. .

~.,;. ' I tell you, Miss Laura,' said the elder many' I am used to scenes of pain, but my heart ached for' that family this evening.' .'. / ;yy. -.,..,' •""'.-., *-"://: ■ ;...'■- ' Tell me more about them, doctor,' said the/young lady. , ,/... J >' '•; J • - y Well, in the first place, they are as poor as respectability can go. The wife came with her consumptive husband to Florida, in hopes that the climate would prolong his life, and . they were ' settled nicely: in a little bit of a cottage when the eldest . girl took swamp fever. In two days the boy was down, and this evening I was called to see what I could .do for the baby; he is stricken, too. The poor little wife is -almost worn out with her three invalids and her r helpless husband, who does riot often leave his chair. They are too poor to hire a nurse and too proud to ask help. I have just left them, arid all this scene of festivity is a mockery to me now,' and the doctor turned away from the ball-room with a frown on his j face. 1 .I/came here to ask the proprietor of the hotel send down some dainty morsel for that brave little woman. -I'll have her on my hands next, I suppose.' ;" The young girl had been listening with ":intense interest. Her heart had been beating strongly with an appeal, and not in vain. / 'Doctor,' she said,"'•.' I have just graduated as a ; trained nurse from the Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh, after years of study, for the course is very thorough. - I came here for a little vacation trip to see my brother, who resides here, and for a little relaxation before I began work, r Now, this will be my first r case. Will you take me to this family V '•Why, Laura!' interrupted the brother, ' ' this is your and he frowned. * You can't begin" work so soon; you need rest.' ' J This family, Miss Laura,' said the doctor, can't afford to remunerate you for your services. I doubt whether they could give you enough to eat.': •//-■■ /\ 'Exactly what appeals to me, doctor. If they had wealth and comfort they could get anyone to nurse them. . Come, we lose time. You said that some of : the children were dying. /; Suppose we go to them.' y r v They will all die, I think, if thingsj;go on. This is: a noble resolve of yours, Miss Laura. I honor you for it, but hadn't better think twice about it?' 'Why, sis,' said her brother, this is a suicidal act of charity; be sensible.: Mavbe they: won't want you.' •: /"; :■■-;";.; yy,.; ; _ ; ;.';.. : :M:Bri . : ./' ' ; " ...y " ; . : r 'Nothing like trying, Bob,' said the girl with a smile. \ ' Come, doctor, give me five ; minutes to get on -my uniform, and ; call ; a cab, for I mean to. help those :people,' and she ran ; off, gained" the wide staircase, and ; ; disappeared. They had left the -ball-room and were standing in the lobby. The two men looked at each

.'What, do you think ... of that, ; doctor?' Bob. ' Why, that girl has ; just come from a "strenuous four years of hard study and hard work. . I coaxed .7 her down here for a rest, and got her to the ball to-night to see life as it goes here, and you come along with your story of sickness and poverty, and away she flies on a tangent.' •-' " .' .-''.;.■'/• , "__ ;7'Hold on, Bob. She is a woman in a thousand. We all know that when the Lord got the angels into Paradise he left a few of them floating around this old earth to keep it from falling to pieces. Your sister is one of these angels. Give her the right of way she'll come out all right. God bless her.' : *' Oh 1 it's your profession, old sawbones. Of course you think it's all right, but she's my sister. , I'm proud of her, and want to keep her as long as I can with me.'

i 'You'll be prouder of her than ever when she puts these poor people on their feet. Don't say a word, Bob. Let her do as she said. By jove, I could worship such a woman!' 'Well, keep off, or I'll tell your wife,' said the younger man smiling, as the subject of the conversation tripped down the stairs in the fresh white linen uniform of a nurse, carrying a small satchel. Throwing a long light overcoat over his dress suit, her brother ran to call a taxi-cab, and the doctor, who had on no dress suit, held out his hand and looked at her admiringly. 7„ ' You're a queen, Miss Laura. The Lord will surely work miracles for you. Not one young woman in 7 twenty would lay down her pleasure and take up this work as you are doing. But it will come back to you someday.' . - Nonsense, doctor. I'm not used to physicians bestowing flattery. If I give my first case to the Lord; as an offering, . I know He will bless my life. God is never outdone in generosity.' i. The physician turned his head away. He did not want this girl to see the impression she had made. Just then her brother came up. ~ ' Well, Laura, I know there's no use arguing with you when you have made up your mind. I learned that when I was a youngster. Here's a taxi, and I'm going with you as far as the house to see if it is habitable.',, . ,

"7 ? You dear old Bob,' said his sister. 'You always rise to i the occasion. Just see how soon we will cure them all. Won't we, doctor

The doctor shook his head, and they all started for the taxi, which was buzzing at the door. They reached their destination, a small cottage on the outskirts of Jacksonville. The do tor told the' chauffeur, to wait, and ran up the littleogarden walk and opened the door. feeble cries of a sick child fell on the ear, - and, a pale, slender woman stepped out into the vestibule, but drew back startled when she saw the uniformed nurse, the doctor, and another gentleman. ;.- V. 7

'l've brought you a nurse, Mrs. Stanton,' said the doctor cheerily. '-* ' : » "'. ~, Mrs. Stanton looked up helplessly from one to the other. -;; .'• . ...;".,- ..7,;:. : - :

'But, doctor, you know we cannot pay a nurse,' she gasped. .- ; " • ;;■-■-. .7"' • -'7'7 * 'That will be v all right,' said Laura in a sweet voice7' the doctor will attend to that part of it, and I am his assistant. Where are the children ?' 'But, miss,' stammered the poor woman, ' I don't understand.' 7 ~

'lt isn't necessary to understand anything just now, but the helping of those children. Do you want to lose them?' said the doctor gruffly. 77'Oh, no, no!' 7 7 sobbed the broken-down mother, looking from one to the other. ' - ' Well, then, bring us to the bedroom. Bob, sit down, here till we come back.' : ,-„ m

Bob entered the door of a small room where a man was seated by a drop-light, reading the paper. He had heard the whole conversation 7 in the vestibule, and the expression on his face was one of annoyance. :y His thin, drawn features and hollow eyes, - emaciated r frame, and the dry, hacking cough evoked all the pity that was born in the athletic figure and fine physique of his visitor. '';■ •' ; :7- 7"77 ■/;■<-■;, ;7: :,

■ 'Good evening, Mr. Stanton,' said Bob. The doctor is my friend, and .the nurse ,; is my sister, so I came along. My sister is half a doctor herself.' ":< - ■ r You/are very welcome 'visitors,' said the consumptive,- but we are not rich, and. cannot afford- to pay a nurse. I don't know • why the doctor brought one.' ; :'•■;-. --■ •;;; ■; . •■ -•■ - /.. -' Oh! don't trouble yourself about that,' said Bob, humoring the pride of the poor man, 'my sister is pleased when she can practise her profession. She and the doctor work for the love, of work!', vi^-;^^^.,h. ■ ■■■"■■ Upstairs the wife led the way to a room with two little beds and a sofa upon which the small sufferers lay tossing and moaning. The mother went to the little girl, who was crying for her,' and while she was across the room: the doctor laid his hand on the pulse of the baby who was lying, motionless and white. - ' You may as well get ready to draw the sheet, over this poor baby,' he ■ said in I a low voice; 'He is almost gone " 7* ; :•--'•.* .*.'-■.. -' ,- : -.-.■ -..-.-.* .• >:■ He went to the others, said 7 a few words to a the heartbroken mother, and then warmly -Hands with the nurse after giving her some directions. 7 'May the angels guard and bless you, Miss Laura you are surely kind to them. - Good night!' ,; ~v ; ,. /,- The nurse smiled a farewell, and immediately gave her attention to her charge. ' ; , =,«: >,, ■. In a short time, with cooling medicine and careful sponging, they were quieted, and as the grateful mother looked on hopefully Nurse Laura - said in ■ a low, gentle voice: -._■■- ; "- ■/■• -,-■-"■ '■- -' "' ' ; ;: - " ' 7--"'" ' Now, Mrs. Stanton, you have confidence in me, I see; I want, you to lie down and get some sleep. If anything occurs, any change in the condition of these poor-little darlings, I will call you at once. If I don't take care of you I will have you on my hands, too,', she finished with smile. ':■''■'•' •-- -

\# The poor mother took both of her hands in hers and wrung them silently. Then she left the room, and going to the room opposite, left the door a little open, but Nurse Laura softly closed it in a few minutes, wishing the weary woman to rest without hearing the children fretting. * - '. -';.->

%,,-■. Downstairs the doctor and her brother had departed, and she had waved good-bye from the window. The consumptive father, whose bed was on the first floor, had retired, and save for his dry, hacking cough all was still. - > ' ....... 7 The nurse examined the baby, and; although 7 the doctor said he was almost gone, she worked, with him as only a true woman and a skilful nurse can, and was rewarded by seeing the ghastliness. of his face give way to a 'more life-like hue. From one bed to another she passed all .night long, giving medicine, cooling their pillows, sponging their fevered; beads and limbs, 7-'ja,nd when the dawn appeared it ..seemed to Ler. that xioue of them would die, although the danger was by no means over. v The mother slept the heavy, sleep of tired nature, and no; sound came from her room: The nurse scarcely sat; down all night, but when the first pink glow of morning 'rose out of the east she lifted her heart to God and offered to Him ' her first case*' a labor of love and purest charity,; and begged His blessing on it. .Then the thought of the souls of this family came to her, for she had graduated from a Catholic hospital in Western Pennsylvania, one of the finest in the land, and here she had learned from the nun teacher who ; presided over the nurses' class that, together with care\ for the patient's bodyj7 came a care for his soul. A slight noise drew her attention. The mother stood in the doorway; : r 5 They are all doing well, Mrs. Stanton,' she whispered. ' -We will try to pull them through.' 7 'Oh! thank God!' murmured the mother. '7. '" r 'You are a Catholic, are you not ?' said the nurse. A blush overspread the woman's face. ;

VI ought to be,' she said at last, but Mr. Stanton was a bitter Presbyterian, and after . I was 'married a while he began to say such harsh, contemptuous things about my religion and the Church that for peace sake I dropped everything. I haven't been inside of a Catholic church for thirteen years.' 7 'Oh ! you poor unfortunate !' said the nurse. .'And are not the children baptised?'

' No,' said the mother, ' I did not dare to raise a fuss again, although many a time I've wept bitter tears in secret.' '..■•:"''.'■' "■- V^"£g&

V ' But how' could f you rest in the present ■•'; circumstances, knowing they were in such imminent danger 'The thought of it nearly broke my? heart >; these days and nights I have watched them. Oh, how I prayed 'to; God that- something mighti' happen that they could ; be baptised. * But I am afraid to mention it to my husband; he would get into a rage, and might bring on a hemorrhage.' ' You are timid,' said the nurse, this is, a question of three immortal souls, and they must be saved. Is there fa priest in the neighborhood ?v~- ,-*• '•'■"" ' "-•"" ; /■/-' Oh, yes, I believe there is, but I beg of you not to mention it- to my husband,' said the weak : little woman. '."'-■''

Does he come up to seethe children .-'"'- Every morning, the first thing. If he hears us talking he will get alarmed, and will be up before you know it.' - A moan from the little girl called.: the nurse; and mother to her side. The child wanted a drink, and while the nurse gave it and soothed her the mother stood there smiling. - •■-' Just then the dry cough of the father was heard. He had just come into the room. l \. ; w . .--- :.' The baby,' he said in a husky voice, ' is he alive ?' ."":. r He is alive, and will pull through,' said the nurse gently. ;;; ?'-■ ''•''-;'.' ■■■ w^:~-V" s I/.:,

?;' She has worked miracles with them they are all better,' said his wife. >l : ~ „

.. ', God bless you, nurse,' said the man, deeply moved. The nurse grasped her opportunity. '■'". Mr. Stanton, these children must be baptised. You must send for a priest this morning. You don't want to lose all your darlings at once. ; Get them baptised, for they are of your wife's religion and mine. lam a Catholic, and I cannot stand by and see those sweet children \ debarred from- heaven. They must be - baptised, and I will stay with them till they are prattling around your knees once more.' - :..

The wife did -not raise her eyes; the man looked at the nurse'with a frown. She met his gaze ; - firmly. He looked at her for a minute, and then. held..out. his hand. ' " „ - -'■ ■ - - --,..,

■"; '--. ■ I admire a woman that-stands up for her convictions,' he said. 'lf you want the children baptised you send for whoever you wish to do it, I'll not hinder you. If you pull them through and let them be around me for the short time I have to live, you'll be the 'best friend we have, and your wish shall go.every time.' : ' Thank you, Mr. Stanton. I knew I would; not be disappointed in you. I'll do so to-day. And now I'll prescribe a little for you. You don't ' look as if you-slept last night. Let me look at vour medicine.' And as the man, after looking at the three children, who seemed quiet and restful, turned downstairs, the «nurse followed. . She straightened the bed, shook up the pillows, ordered him to lie down, and from her own satchel gave him a stimulant and a sedative, drew the blinds, and commanded him to sleep till she called him. : Then, closing the door gently, she went upstairs. , The mother was weeping quietly. - -

V ! . Oh, nurse, you have been sent from heaven. How easily you got that promise from my husband!' :

;' Your husband is all right. Perhaps, you have been too pliant, too easily subdued.' i , „ ""';:•■ -.; 'Perhaps I was. I must do better,' said Mrs. Stanton. How can I ever-thank you?' .-■■

Don't thank me,' said the nurse,;jbut if you feel rested, put on your hat and go to the 7 six-thirty Mass this" beautiful morning, and afterwards tell the priest what has happened, and ask him to come this morning and , baptise the children, ! and pray with all your: soul before the altar that God may give you strength to return to your duty.' > - t* -;' You talk like the •" nuns who instructed me >at school,' said Mrs. Stanton. 'l'll go.' -; 1

■ I have just graduated from the Nuns' Training School /for Nurses,' said ; Laura, ' and -I; am trying to do what they .taught me-—-save";bbth soul and body,' -

■:.- } e mother departed, and .Nurse Laura ; watched her.charge, ;- ; The man slept soundly downstairs, while -the■children^fretted, from time to time. When the wife returned, refreshed; by her walk and thev good night's sleep, she ■ told the nurse the priest . would be there that morning. After breakfast: Mr. Stanton was so much better from the effects ; of his restful sleep and the bright, cheerful influence of the nurse, the improvement in the ~ children, and; the general sunshine of ! encouragement that was diffused over the little cottage that he forgot ito be ungracious to the priest, ; who came as he promised, and even invited him to sit down and talk to him l x '' -i: The children were baptised, /and Nurse -Laura ; breathed freely, for they were by no means out of danger, but tlie;' miracles 'V;had begun. When the doctor arrived laden -with, messages from Bob and "a basket of fruit and other \ dainties, it was ; a different household he met the first day. "" *-"'.'?.- >oV "^ 'Why, the miracles have started, sure enough/ said he as he noted the improvement in each little patient. ' This baby isn't going to die, after all. They are all on their way out of the woods. Miss Laura, you are a wonder-worker. But, mind, you're to take a rest now. ~.Mrs., Stanton will look to things for Awhile 111 be back to-morrow,' and so he left, muttering to himself :' God will never be outdone in generosity, sure enough.';.: ' .w ." '■■lr->v > jJ: : .rUJ. ■;. ;% K-1 irrl-J' i : ■', Vf. ■■ The days passed on—weary days, with many a hope and tear alternating. Every day, however, the doctor, the nurse, and the happy mother felt that the improve-; ment was- increasing. In two weeks the : children were. sitting up. ;; But now their father was visibly i-f ailing. He would sit in the children's room for. hours, watching Nurse Laura minister to them. He was gentle *to his.; wife, and;; when she told; him she had returned to the Church, had been to .Confession'and Holy Communion, he only kissed her and said she should never have left her religion. , >j ■?.*■ ~ l y - , -.Nurse Laura, like a good angel, hovered round the. family, keeping ; up an atmosphere :/ of; sunshine v and hope. ..;-•-:; ;v.. .J. One by one the children were let downstairs to their father's room, and once downstairs their convalescence progressed until their merry laughter in the little garden of the cottage made the mother and father glad. But Mr. Stanton grew weaker each day; Nurse Laura had gone back to the hotel under Bob's "protection, but came frequently and cheered the-patient/ One morning they were alone, and. the" nurse said:! : 'Mr. Stanton, you are not getting better. T You have seen what .the Catholic Church has done for your wife and children; why do you hesitate ]to look into her claims? You would certainly , join us.' *' _ - 'I don't need to look into her .claims,' was the surprising ;. answer. f. 'I have watched you, nurse, and I have read a bit, and I have only waited for you; to ask me if I wanted to be a Catholic, for I do.' >":;—.;:" ~. The nurse took" his thin white hand fervently.- • """; ; f Thank God, Mr. Stanton. : , I have prayed for 'this ever since the children were baptised x i. May I send for that good priest once more?';.... , -j' \ '.;";;.' ''.,;;■?,*•. v v■'.--' ;» r'. Any-time you wish,' was the reply. " '":% .::-■: >V >0? And : then the nurse with joy ' told : Mrs. Stanton, who had suspected this was coming, and was • full of gratitude to the devoted girl who had s brought this happiness to her home. " "' '■».-» •^-vThe- priest came. Mr. Stanton was instructed and baptised, and as his days passed by made his First Communion Still . the nurse tarried, for her practised "eyesaw that he was not long for earth J; i. .<t«..f? ..'I-v )■> ?, ':_ -p. One evening about the ; Angelus hour she was sit- ' ting by his bed when the dread messenger came. v Quietly she called the wife and children, and telephoned for the priests He came, and as the night shadows fell the agony ceased ■ and the purified spirit 1 of Mr. Stanton, with the words of the last Benediction still on his ear, passed - without a : struggle to l the Lord' Who had created him. v>=.,;

Nurse Laura closed his eyes, comforted his wife : soothed the children, and when she knelt in 7 the little chapel at the funeral Mass, she could not ; help; : looking back in wonder on the month " just passed, and she

thanked >. God for -the blessings that came and the reward that followed the taking of her first case. , She still lives, a noble and gracious woman. . Blessings have < followed her everywhere. r' A happy-marriage, a beautiful home, and lovely children, and, most of all, a deep consciousness that God will never be outdone in generosity.'—The Rev. Richard Alexander, in .the Missionary. ~ ~, . „