The Strand Magazine, Volume I, Issue 2, February 1891

d prescribing till I get through the whole pharmacop?ia, but I can do him no good; what he needs is not drugs but air-a bracing air. Get him away o

r's arms, while his father, the Rev. James Murray, stood anxiously listening. The boy-the first-born, and the only child of his parents-had a month or two before been stricken down with an infant's ailme

CTOR'S

could take him away. I must try, though

met the large, weary blue eyes of his boy bent on him, as if in appeal that he might

the boy away with his m

er without turning round. "

ctor, rising, "go on with the

, striving to keep down the emotion that demanded to have its way. T

n a low voice (and she took

hem together to his breast and bent his head over them. And one great sob of anguish broke

cried, clinging to him. "Do

lock on the mantelpiece. The wife sobbed a little in sympathy with her husband; not that she considered at a

does no good. Let us sit down,

down beside her, transferred the b

oy, "how am I going to get you an

he child, putting his arm

ul catch in his voice still; "but I have no money. And I don't know how

r husband's hand to her cheek. "It's I who have taken you from

the sweetest burden that man could bear, and I'd r

fferently, and as you were expected to have married-you would not be here now; and if you had a sick boy, like our dear, poor Jim, there would have been n

nd married each other, and, whatever may come, I shall not regret it. The complete love of a woman like you is more precious than

re. And so they sat for a few seconds longer, while the vulgar, intrusive clock

ng in love with and marrying the pretty, shy governess of one of the wealthiest families-a girl who had not been regarded as having the smallest chance of occupying the proud position of minister's wife. His marriage alienated the women, and through them cooled the ardour of the men. The situation was strained; but it might have gradually returned to its former easy condition, had not the minister soon after his marriage become what is termed "broad" in his religious views and uncompromising in his expression of them. His people grew alarmed, and his deacons remonstrated-(with less friendliness of feeling, probably, than if he had not offended them by his marriage)-but the minister declared he could not do otherwise than preach what he believed to be the truth. Then some people left him, and others would not speak to him, and his position became so difficult and finally so unbearable that he could do nothing but send in his resignation. He shook the dust and the grime of that northern town off his feet, and with sore heart and slender purse journeyed to London. He was re

ETTY GO

if he spread a tea for them, but they would not come to hear him preach; so the chapel remained as empty as when he first ascended its pulpit. Most harassing and wearing anxiety of all, he was desperately poor. How he and his wife and child had lived during the y

was to

if I could raise them, I could send you and Jim away to so

and bravely smiling. "It is always darkest and coldest before

on little. It's seeing you, my dear, and poor little Jim, going without things you ought to have, that goes to my heart; and to know now that the boy's life would be saved if

ng to anyone? You could not hurt a fly! We must be patient and brave, my dear, and b

hat there the doctor had made no mistake. The boy would die unless he could be taken into the fresh, stimulating air of the seaside or th

h made them both jump. Their sitting-room was on the ground-floor. The mini

f it's for

ee," said

e passage and o

y, and, on being answered "Yes,

scarcely tear the envelope open. He took th

Chapel on Sunday nex

inister and his wife knew the Upton Chapel, and perceived at once that tha

n the reply-form, which he

returned to her. "Now I can send you and Jim

imself in his agitation to wa

ink I must get that. And, Mary," he went on, "what if they should ask me to be their minister? You know they are without one. Perhaps the 'letter to

raid to hope. But I am sure when once they hear you they w