as they walked from the boys' ward to the girls'.
"You see," the Sister was saying, "little Mercy is nearly well now;
indeed, she ought to go into the country for change of air, and we
really ought not to keep the cot from some other patient who may need to
come in."
"Humph!" said the Doctor. "That's true enough, and I quite agree; but
where's the poor baby to go?"
"Oh, I don't know;" and she looked very sorrowful. "That's just the
trouble. There's no one to take her: and, poor wee pet, I don't want to
sound as if I wanted to get rid of her. I don't know how we can bear to
let her go; but--"
"Humph!" growled the Doctor, very crossly; and he turned sharply on his
heel, and entered the open door. The happy little voice was singing some
nursery song, and Mercy was sitting bolt-upright in the cot, and
watching with all her eyes and all her attention Sister Agnes, as she
was filling the vases in the ward with violets. There had been a great
basket of flowers sent to the hospital that very morning, and everybody
was rejoicing over the lovely blossoms.
"Why, Mousie," was the Doctor's greeting, "you're as bright as a young
butterfly."
"See! see!" and she held up a bunch of daisies, which had come among the
other flowers, and had been voted, by universal consent to the Daisy
Cot; "dey _is_ so pitty!" and then--no one knows how the happy thought
struck her, but a quick gleam came into her merry face, and she put out
her hands eagerly toward him. "Take dem to my lady," she said.
For one moment the Doctor was too much surprised even to say "Humph!"
Then, "By the bones of Æsculapius, I'll chance it!" was his remarkable
reply, as he dropped the daisies into his great pocket, and crushing his
hat down on his head, turned and bolted out of the hospital. He went
through the streets at the same rapid rate, and never stopped until he
rang the bell of a big house in a distant square. The sunshine was so
bright that for the first moment after he was ushered into a shaded
drawing-room he could see nothing at all, but stood blinking and winking
like a great owl that had been awakened in broad daylight.
It was a very pretty room, all furnished in the newest high-art style of
mouldy greens and bilious-looking browns, but looking like a room which
people used to sit and read and work in--a home-like-looking room. There
were a few choice pictures on the green walls, among them a copy of
Mercy's Good Shepherd, and the air was heavy with the soft breath of the
flowers in a conservatory which opened out at the back; but the windows
were shaded and darkened until there was hardly a ray of light that had
the audacity to venture through. The Doctor's first act was to march
across to the nearest blind and draw it up.
There was a smothered cry from a soft faded green chair by the tiled
fire-place, where a lady was sitting, half hidden by the heavy folds of
the black robes that seemed to throw into relief her white hands and
pale sad face. It was "E. M. B.," Mercy's "_tind_ lady."
She covered her face with her hands, with a little cry of protest, as
the blessed sun streamed in; but the Doctor never left things half done;
so up went another blind, and the window-sash too, before he came over
and stood beside her, looking down at her with a compassionate
expression that would have surprised more than one lady if she had seen
it on "that old bear's" face.
"Oh, Doctor, how could you?" murmured Mrs. Braithwaite, reproachfully.
"It is so bright."
"Well, madam," said the eccentric Doctor, "the world _is_ bright. I
can't help it, as I didn't make it; but as it was made so, I suppose it
wasn't meant to be wasted;" which made the lady smile, though it was a
smile that soon faded.
Then came a little professional talk, and feeling of pulse, over which
the Doctor looked grave.
"I'll tell you what it is, madam," he said at length, "you're out of
tone and tune. You just go on getting weaker and weaker, and if you
don't mind, you'll die from sheer indifference."
"I wish I could," she answered, with a sigh. "Oh no, I didn't mean to be
so wicked. I know we must live; but, oh dear! life is so empty!"
"My patience, madam! do you find it so? I always thought it
overcrowded," was on the tip of the Doctor's tongue; but he stopped
himself, and said, instead, quite gently, "Life's pretty much what we
make it ourselves, I fancy."
"And how is the hospital? how is the cot?" asked Mrs. Braithwaite,
willing to change the subject.
"Oh, going on all right. By-the-way, I'd like you to see the last young
one in it. A small monkey that's won all our hearts somehow. And I'm
rather bothered about her just now. She's well enough to go out, but not
quite well yet either; and the plague is, what's to be done with her.
Her parents were respectable people--artists, or such like--but they're
both dead, and she hasn't kith nor kin. Where's she to go?"
A sudden stiffness came over Mrs. Braithwaite. "I dare say she can go to
an orphan asylum," she said; "I think I can get her into one."
"Oh, botheration!" broke out the Doctor. "I beg your pardon; but as to
that, we at the hospital could raise enough to keep her somewhere. But
that's not what I want. That poor little chick in a great bare asylum!
No; what I want for her is a home." And he looked narrowly at her, but
she avoided his gaze.
"There's a children's home in Wainwright Street," she began, uneasily.
"No, no; she wants change of air."
"Oh, as to that, I am going out of town next week myself, and I can take
her with me to the sea for a month if you like."
"By all means; it will do you both good." He pushed back his chair, and
stared at a distant corner of the frescoed ceiling. "But what's to
become of her when the month's up?" and he tried to speak innocently.
Mrs. Braithwaite faced round upon him indignantly. "I know what you
mean; I understand you perfectly well," she cried. "You want me to adopt
this child. How can you be so cruel? But I won't. Don't ask it. I never
will do it."
"Why not?" asked the Doctor, unmoved.
"What! put another child in my own precious darling's place? I
couldn't."
"I don't see the need of that. There are such things as sisters."
"And to see her about the house, and to hear her voice, just as I used
to hear Daisy's! And perhaps there'd be something about her like my
treasure. What color is her hair?--black?"
"Red," said the Doctor, grimly.
"_Red hair!_" with a sort of gasp. "Oh no, you must not ask me. I can't
do it. I'll pay anything you like to get her a home--you know I always
feel as if the Daisy Cot children had an especial claim on me--but I can
not take her for my own."
"As you please," said the Doctor, gruffly; rising to his feet. "Only you
needn't trouble yourself to pay anything for her. We're not over-rich at
the hospital, but I rather think we can raise enough ourselves for our
little girl. It wasn't money I asked you for, but love."
"What is her name, Doctor?" she asked, more quietly.
[Illustration: THE MESSAGE OF THE DAISIES.]
"Mercy. (Hallo!" thought the Doctor, "I almost said Daisy, and that
would have ended the last chance, and no mistake.) 'The quality of mercy
is not strained,' you know; 'it droppeth as the gentle rain from
heaven,' and all that sort of thing. Well, madam, I'm disappointed, I
confess; but saying so won't mend matters. Keep on taking that quinine."
And he moved toward the door. "By-the-way," he said, coming back again,
"I nearly forgot. What put it into the baby's head no mortal knows; but
just as I was coming out of the hospital this morning she gave me these,
and asked me to give 'em to you from her;" and he laid the little bunch
of daisies on her lap.
There was a sound between a sob and a cry, as she caught the poor faded
little flowers to her lips; then both hands went up to hide the sudden
storm of tears.
"I thought you'd take 'em as a message, or a what-you-may-call-'em,"
said the Doctor, clearing his throat; "they seemed so to me." He turned
to the door again, but paused before the Good Shepherd picture. "Did you
ever notice," he said, "that the Good Shepherd's arms here are full, and
yet there's a wretched, sickly, lame little beast that's coming on
behind? I rather think it's about as good a job as any one can do to
lend that little animal a hand." And this time he really went.
Two hours later, as he reached the hospital on his afternoon round, a
well-known carriage stood before the door. He smiled as his eye fell
upon it, and stole on tip-toe up the stone staircase. Outside the girls'
ward he stopped to take an observation.
There by the Daisy Cot sat a lady in a black dress. Her back was toward
the door, but a white hand was smoothing back the red-gold rings of
Mercy's hair, and a gentle voice said, just as the Doctor came within
ear-shot, "And what do they call you, dear?"
The Doctor felt a cold chill go all over him. "Now if the baby says
'Daisy,' it's all up," he gasped.
[Illustration: "I'S MOUSIE."]
But surely the same wonderful instinct which made Mercy send the flowers
prompted her now; for she looked up with her pretty smile, and the sweet
clear voice laughed out, "I's Mousie."
"And would you like to come home with me, and be my little girl, and
have pretty toys, and learn to love me?"
"I do love oo," said the little voice again; and the Doctor, who was new
to the business of eavesdropping, turned away so abruptly that he ran up
against Sister Theresa, and nearly knocked her flat on her back.
"Beg pardon, I'm sure," he said, recovering his balance; "but I know you
won't mind, under the circumstances. Mousie has found a home at last,
and the Daisy Cot is ready for an incised wound or a compound fracture
as soon as you like to put one into it. That's all."
THE END.
[Illustration: THE KITTENS DOOMED.
"I want you to drown them all the first thing in the morning, James."]
[Illustration: THE KITTENS SAVED.
When James looked for them, early in the morning, he found that they had
mysteriously disappeared.]
[Illustration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX.]
TERRY'S LANDING, MONTANA TERRITORY.
I want to tell YOUNG PEOPLE an adventure I met with. I was crossing
the Yellowstone River in an ambulance on a ferry-boat, with mamma
and papa, when a sudden gust of wind blew my hat into the river. I
thought it was gone for good, but a little Piegan Indian boy jumped
in after it. He swam a mile before he caught it, and when he
brought it back you would hardly have known it had been wet. Papa
gave the boy a silver dollar, and I think he deserved it.
We are in the Yellowstone Valley, and the river runs right by our
camp. The boats land here in the summer when they can not get up to
Fort Custer, and each summer an officer is sent down here to take
charge of the government stores which the boats bring. This summer
it was papa's turn to come, and although our quarters are not so
handsome as at the fort, still we were all glad to have a change.
We have large cottonwood-trees here, and beautiful green grass
running down to the river, which is very pretty. The water is
clear, and we have nice fish.
My sister Nan and I have fun hunting flowers, and moss-agates and
other stones. We are going East on the first boat, and I expect to
have lots of fun with Nannie, as she has never been away from
Custer, and she will see so many wonderful things. When she saw the
first "Mackinaw," she clapped her hands, and said, "Oh, here is the
boat to take us away!" and she cried when it went past.
E. M. G.
* * * * *
GARDINER, NEW YORK.
I am almost nine years old, but I have never been to school. My
mamma has taught me at home. I have no brothers or sisters, but
Jessie, my cat, is a nice playmate. She sleeps up stairs in papa's
store, and this morning she did not come down to breakfast as
usual, so I thought I would go and see what was the matter. I
hunted for her, and at last I looked into a barrel, and what do you
think I saw? Three lovely little kittens! Oh, how proud their mamma
was! I excused her from coming down to breakfast, and carried her
up a cup of milk. Now what puzzles me is to find names for my
kittens. I have a family of thirteen dolls, and they have each a
name, and there does not seem to be any pretty names left.
EMMA M. DUB.
* * * * *
LONDON, ENGLAND.
The first thing to interest me after we arrived in London was the
Zoological Gardens, where we saw many monkeys. One was very funny,
and swung himself by his tail to a branch that was fastened into
his cage. I think he was handsomer than any monkey I ever saw. He
had long black fur, and did not look so horribly like a shrivelled
old man as most monkeys do. We afterward went into the antelope
house, and saw some large and some small ones; the small ones were
the prettiest, and had slender legs, and gentle brown eyes. We saw
sea-lions, bears, lions, and tigers, pretty little birds, and more
animals than I can tell you about.
We went to Westminster Abbey, and saw the coronation chair, and the
old stone on which the Scottish monarchs were crowned. Edward I.
brought the stone from Scotland, after he had conquered that
country. We also saw the tomb of Mary Queen of Scots, and
Shakspeare's tomb, and a statue of him above it. Then we went to
see Queen Elizabeth's tomb, which has a statue of her lying down;
in her left hand she holds a globe, and in her right hand a
sceptre; she was very ugly in comparison with her cousin Mary Queen
of Scots. Then we visited Madame Tussaud's wax-works. There were
wax men put there for guides, and some of us thought they were
real, and asked one of them to tell us the way to go. We saw
figures of the royal family and Martin Luther, and Napoleon's cup
that he used two or three years in St. Helena, that lonely, dreary
little isle in the ocean.
Then we took "hansoms" and drove to St Paul's Cathedral. There were
little boys dressed in white robes, like priests, and the singing
was perfectly lovely. St Paul's Cathedral is built on the same spot
where once stood a temple to Diana.
We visited the Royal Academy, and I liked two pictures very
much--one, of a stream with trees on its banks, and black crows
flying near; and the other, of some sheep in a snow-storm. In the
afternoon we drove in Hyde Park, and saw fine carriages and horses,
but none of the royal family, as it was very early in the London
season.
We had a present of some lovely wild flowers from an English
gentleman in Essex. There were daisies, cowslips, primroses,
bluebells, and ferns.
The next day we went by rail to Portsmouth; there we were met by a
steamboat for Ryde; on the Isle of Wight. Then again we had a short
rail ride to Ventnor, where we stopped at a hotel called "Crab and
Lobster."
HARRY G.
* * * * *
GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA.
I think YOUNG PEOPLE is the paper every child in the world ought to
have. I like "Toby Tyler," and all the Jimmie Brown stories. My
papa is an editor, and I can set nearly a column of type. I am ten
years old. I tried the recipe for making yellow ink, which was
given in YOUNG PEOPLE No. 77, and I was very successful.
JOHN C. B.
* * * * *
BIG BEND, WISCONSIN.
I live out in Wisconsin, on the Fox River. I have a little sister
three years old. We call her Nellie Bly. I want to tell you of a
funny thing she said. One day a large bumble-bee came into the
house, and she told me to catch it and take away its honey. I told
her bumble-bees kept their honey in their nests. "Yes," she said,
"I have found bumble-bees' nests." "No," I said, "you never did."
"Yes, I have, too." "Then," said I, "why didn't you get the honey?"
"'Cause," said she, "the old bumble-bee was on!"
H. H. C.
* * * * *
I am making a log-cabin quilt, and I have not half enough pieces.
When this quilt is finished, it will be sold, and the money taken
to buy a tombstone for my dear boy, who, as many of the readers of
YOUNG PEOPLE will remember, was frozen to death in the woods at
Muskoka last winter. It is hard to leave him buried there, for his
is a solitary grave all alone on the shore of the lake; but we
trust that he is happy in heaven.
I thought that perhaps some of the mothers of the little readers of
YOUNG PEOPLE would kindly send me a bundle of pieces of silk,
cashmere, or merino to help in finishing my quilt. Any such favor
would be thankfully received, and, as far as we can, we will send
in return deer horn's and any other curiosities we can obtain.
MRS. ELLEN A. LOCKMAN,
Scotland P. O., Ontario, Canada.
* * * * *
I wish to inform my correspondents to whom I am indebted that,
owing to the fact that exchanges arrived in such quantities, I
disposed of my stock of agates and amethysts in a much shorter time
than I anticipated. I am making every effort to procure some more,
and I beg their kind indulgence, for, should I not succeed in
obtaining the article desired, I will do all in my power to
recompense the favors I have received.
WILLIAM J. MORRIS, Manistee, Mich.
* * * * *
I have no more sulphate of iron or gold ore. I would like now to
exchange stones from two States, for an Indian arrow-head.
R. C. ORR,
1715 North Sixteenth St., Philadelphia, Penn.
* * * * *
We live on the Mississippi River. We are taking the names of boats
as they pass. We have the names of sixty-four boats that have
passed this year. There are lots of wild flowers here.
We will give ten postmarks, for two stamps from Canada, except the
1 and 3 cent, and the half-cent, for two South American stamps, and
a stamp from Japan and China.
WILLIE COLBURN and CHARLIE GRANT,
P. O. Box 90, Lansing, Allamakee Co., Iowa.
* * * * *
I have taken YOUNG PEOPLE ever since the Christmas number, and I
think it is a lovely paper. "Toby Tyler" and "Susie Kingman's
Decision" are the prettiest, stories.
I go to school, and I try to study pretty hard, and be a good girl.
I am going to the country this summer, and I expect to have a nice
time. I have a little black kitty, and it has a little red collar
with bells on it. Its name is Jetta, and I hope it will not die,
for I have no brothers or sisters, and I call my kitty my sister. I
am ten years old.
I have some pretty shells I gathered on the sea-shore, which I
would like to exchange with some little girl, for stamps.
JULIA M. P.,
2403 Spruce St., Philadelphia, Penn.
* * * * *
Louie E. Almy, Newport, Rhode Island, and F. R. Satterlee, New York
city, withdraw their names from our exchange list.
* * * * *
V. Moger, Morrisania, New York, and more than a dozen others, are
anxiously inquiring for addresses of careless correspondents. We have no
farther comments to make upon this constantly recurring trouble.
* * * * *
The following exchanges are offered by correspondents:
Two hundred and fifty rare stamps, for a good young Newfoundland
puppy.
D. T. A.,
336 North Eden St., Baltimore, Md.
* * * * *
A foot-power scroll-saw and saws, for a self-inking printing-press
and furniture in good working order.
MATT AUBREY, JUN.,
128 Washington St, Chicago, Ill.
* * * * *
United States and foreign stamps, for all sorts of curiosities. A
stone and soil from New York, for the same from any other State.
JOHN H. ACKERMAN,
162 Madison Street, Brooklyn, N. Y.
* * * * *
Any number of United States due and revenue stamps, and old issues,
and foreign stamps, for the same number from Mexico, Central and
South America, Africa, Oceanica, Asia, Denmark, Holland, Turkey,
Greece, Switzerland, Russia, Spain, Portugal, Canada (excepting the
common 3-cent), or any department stamps. No duplicates.
JAMES W. BOLLINGER,
718 Western Avenue, Davenport, Iowa.
* * * * *
Minerals, relics, and curiosities.
C. L. BROWN,
900 Gates Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.
* * * * *
Foreign postage stamps, for maps. From five to twenty stamps, for
one map of any State, according to condition and size.
CHARLES F. BAILEY, San José, Cal.
* * * * *
United States silver and copper coins, stamps, Indian implements
and relics, and curiosities suitable for a cabinet. Correspondents
will please write to arrange exchange.
P. O. Box 75, Chesterville, Me.
* * * * *
Ten postmarks, for three stamps of any country except the United
States. No duplicates given, or taken.
GEORGE L. BROCKMAN,
Mount Sterling, Brown Co., Ill.
* * * * *
Internal revenue and foreign stamps, for stamps from any country
except Europe.
GEORGE BARBOUR,
42 Avery St., Alleghany, Penn.
* * * * *
Minerals, for minerals or any other thing suitable for a cabinet. A
stone from Vermont, for one from any other State or Territory.
FRANK H. BROOKS,
P. O. Box 167, St. Johnsbury, Vt.
* * * * *
Three Mexican stamps (no duplicates), for one Indian arrow-head.
THOMAS BARRON,
Tarrytown, Westchester Co., N. Y.
* * * * *
A "Centennial" printing-press in good order, with two fonts of
type, leads, furniture, etc., for a pair of No. 10 roller skates
and a pair of fencing foils. Please write before sending package.
C. E. BURY, 6 Whipple St., Fall River, Mass.
* * * * *
Curiosities, for foreign stamps.
BERTIE BARNETT,
406 Grand Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.
* * * * *
Pressed ferns, for the same. Pressed leaves, for foreign postage
stamps.
LENA S. BURROWS,
Yreka, Siskiyou Co., Cal.
* * * * *
Twenty-five arrow-heads, petrified shells, and other fossils, and
specimens of quartz and ores, for a small stationary engine with
cylinder about eight inches long, which can be used for a little
boat.
LOUIS K. BRITTING,
River Road, West Covington, Ky.
* * * * *
Gypsum, limestone, cement-stone, French and Bermuda stamps, and
postmarks, for minerals, petrifactions, or relics.
H. BROWN and W. BOICE,
299 Broad St, Newark, N. J.
* * * * *
A Japanese stamp, for a 90-cent stamp of 1870 or 1871. A Hong-Kong
stamp, for a 12-cent of the same issue.
SEVERANCE BURRAGE,
P. O. Box 388, West Newton, Mass.
* * * * *
A miniature yacht, thirty inches long, including bowsprit, and mast
eighteen inches high, for a self-inking printing-press and outfit.
F. E. BACON,
155 Rutledge St., Brooklyn, N. Y.
* * * * *
Choice foreign stamps, for stamps from South America. Ten different
postmarks, for five varieties of monograms.
J. R. BEDFORD,
77 Christopher St., New York City.
* * * * *
Iron ore from Pennsylvania, for other minerals, or for sea-shells.
WALTER C. BOULT,
P. O. Box 1002, Altoona, Blair Co., Penn.
* * * * *
A 1-penny English stamp, for a stamp from Holland.
DAVID CLARKSON,
165 East Forty-ninth St., New York City.
* * * * *
Specimens of corundum, for sea-shells. Corundum is a rare mineral.
These specimens are from the Unionville mine, and very pure.
EMMA S. CHAMBERS,
Unionville, Chester Co., Pa.
* * * * *
Five hundred foreign stamps, twenty postmarks, and a boat eighteen
inches long, for a three-wheel velocipede.
CLARENCE E. CARNEY,
Sheepscot Bridge, Lincoln Co., Me.
* * * * *
Specimens of orange, olive, pomegranate, red cedar, and eucalyptus
wood, for foreign stamps.
EDDIE C. C., P. O. Box 215, Jacksonville, Fla.
* * * * *
Forty stamps, for forty others. No duplicates.
STARR CARLETON,
P. O. Box 764, Baraboo, Sauk Co., Wis.
* * * * *
One halfpenny, two 1-penny, and one 3-penny English stamp, a
10-cent and a 15-cent Canadian, a 10-centimes Belgian, and a
5-centavos Mexican, for stamps from Siam, China, Liberia, Turkey,
and Russia.
W. P. CHESNEY,
Kenton, Hardin Co., Ohio.
* * * * *
A piece of rose quartz and a stone from New Jersey, for silver ore
and a stone from any other State. Please write before sending
specimen.
LULU CRAFT,
Bergen Point, Hudson Co., N. J.
* * * * *
A postage stamp from Bavaria, Austria, Germany, France, England,
Italy, Belgium, or Canada, for one from Turkey, Greece, Egypt, or
Mexico.
NOAH T. COLEMAN,
Corner Gifford and Niagara Sts., Syracuse, N. Y.
* * * * *
A piece of onyx from South America, a piece of petrified lava from
Italy, and a small piece of mosaic from the old palace in Rome, for
rare postage stamps.
LOUIS CRONDAL,
361 Garden St., Hoboken, N. J.
* * * * *
Stamps and old coins, for dressed humming-birds and other birds, or
for minerals, fossils, and other curiosities suitable for a museum.
A. M. C.,
447 West Twenty-second St., New York City.
* * * * *
Stamps, woods, and coins. Stamps from Siam, Japan, and China
especially desired.
FRED H. CHRISTY,
P. O. Box 1233, Moline, Rock Island Co., Ill.
* * * * *
Baden, Freiburg, Turkish, Roman, and some other seals, for a few
rare postage stamps.
H. DUNNELL,
8 Untere Olga Strasse, Stuttgart, Germany.
* * * * *
One hundred and ninety-eight monograms and an album, for a
printing-press, or for two hundred foreign stamps. Please write
before sending.
MILLIE DREKA,
141 North Nineteenth St., Philadelphia, Penn.
* * * * *
Five coins, dated 1835, '51, '54, '59, and '64, for three genuine
Indian arrow-heads. Stamps from England, Germany, France, Italy,
Austria, Norway, and Cuba, for stamps from the Feejee Islands, or
United States locals.