Polly of the Hospital Staff

ht of

her meeting with Aunt Jane, the sharp-voiced woman was ever close at hand, ready instantly to appear in the little girl's thought and fill her with sickening

assistance in the care

olly, "How funny-f

ay for appendicitis. His life depends on his being quiet, but he will not keep still. Miss Price thinks you can he

rink?" questioned Polly, wit

al sip of warm wa

promised. "I shall lo

e corridor they went, the one with lo

s big black eyes looking bigger in a co

e for?" he as

ou," smil

the unexpected reply, and he

ughed, a

black eyes a

ou lie abed?

ill I go

you lie still?"

o keep very s

s the Doctor, who was just passing out.

d do just as Miss Price and Dr.

an ice bag on me," with a wink towards the nurse, "and I got out some o' the ice! It's awful good! She wou

she realized that the boy was ignorantly thwarting the efforts of th

stories?" she

rised, but answered

ell you one, if

w one 'bout

do; but I know a so

you s

es

g, t

still if I wil

s a

mmer Boy of Waterloo," one that her grandmo

ise, and remained motionless

he commanded. "

eet voice slipped softly into Holland's "Lullaby," which had been l

llaby, bees

drowsily, cr

laby, dear l

to wond

the un

o wonder

llaby, dew o

s that will sp

laby, dear l

e still

he lil

lily wo

a time she watched him. His breathing was slow and steady. Finally she slipped softly from her chair, and glan

nurse heard of the mischievo

on; "but I will not let Burton know that I learned of it through you. Thank you for coming down. You may like to hear," she added, a

ly, she put up her arms, and the next minute th

why should she return them so cordially, and presently Polly was sk

little trickey Southern boys obtained a pet goat. David had shown his wisdom in making his first selection a story that would please the crowd. The children laughed and laughed over it, and begged for another. The second was as unlike the first as possible. It

e that Princess Yvo

ut the words were not spoken. He only smiled across to Miss Lucy, who sent him a smile of

went on. She was thinking of Aunt Jane. "Do yo

like people, or do not exactly love them, we can wish them well, and be ready to do them kindness whenever it is

t's hush, and the

ou tell another

" Miss Lucy suggested. "If we

ng a song-do!"

queried Corneli

ly!" answe

know!" la

ver hea

would n't let you sing solos at St. Pa

lence. This was an accomplishment of

g his pillows, and then he began the sweet ve

y were sure that the singing was over.

that be

ming the melody to herself. She was quick to catch an air, a

o-morrow night!" cried Elsie, and there was

eep singing the

waked with the sound of a rap in her ears. Hastily throwing on a ro

s low voice, "and he wants Polly to sing to hi

d to the top, and her aunt was fretting because she did not keep it steady. "Oh, I can't hold on a minute longer!" Polly dream

know that Miss Lucy was be

r! Can you

's first thought w

r. Dudley wants you to come down a

Polly was wide awake no

essing. Dr. Dudley was outside the door wait

shan't I?" she questioned; "or i

er isolated anyway, and the end of the wing. There

oorway. "I told 'em I'd keep still of you'd sing to me; but

his pillow, but at a word from the physic

ine that lay near. Polly felt awed by the hush of seriousness that seemed to fill the room. Although the Doctor spoke in his usual tone, the voi

ively, and there was something in his tone that gave Polly a

n keeping with the occasion and t

e Gem of the Ocean," and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." Then came two or three negro melodies and

ionless; but now he began to nestle, and called

s soon as he discovered that it

re!" he

r with one of his favorites, "'Way down upon the Swanee Ribber." "Annie Laurie" came ne

d," Dr. Dudley told her; but she sm

d for a bit of a rest, until his insistent, "

but kept her eyes on her boy's

over to feel his patient's pulse, an

ight dra

wer to the repeated call, again fetched w

and bring me some cold!" he commanded

im to taste it; but he o

ret," a little song she had learned in her last days of school. Her voice was loud en

think is in o

n guess, if yo

uppy, or litt

hing that's ev

t chickens or k

r eyes smilingly

t?" he ask

eplied, pointing to the cu

r attitude he saw nothing of hope, unless he complied with her requir

what is soft an

-somethings, as

rabbits!-there

again!" h

t as the song was ended he opened the

have the hoped-for effect, and the vesper hymn which David had sung-at the bedtime hour which now seemed so ver

and with a sight of relief her bright

and listened. The lad's bre

edown-a-h!" he gasped, for Polly l

es he carried he

h as soon as he, and thrus

t before the child's nostrils, and with a li

little tired," Po

-that's all. Do

ine in a glass, and Polly obe

d, who had been standing back, frantically cl

I was afraid-she is not very s

ng her sing so long! But did n't he go off to sleep beautifully. Ju

stairs in Dr.

lk," she

u," was the light response, and for ans

door of the ward, and he

nt," the Doctor explained. "I t

ly. "I'm-all right." She sighed sof

the nurse, and then follo

ll this time?" Reproach

ut she did n't seem very tired until just at the

as n't hurt her," Mis

ht now. She will probably sleep late from exhaustio

on't stir, if they know it

er get up till I come," he charged her.

she sat by her side until broad daylight. The children were sti

p in bed, his face

ter with Polly?

d he lay down again, but not to sleep. If the nurse

had such noiseless toilets been made within its walls. Everybody went about on tiptoe, and Leo

soon afterward she opened her eyes to find him at her side.

without your singing. I did n't know there was such good stuff in him. He has been angelic, Miss Price says, ever since he he

guess I can sing a little for

ay in bed, Miss Polly May! When young ladies ar

long?" sh

es

t of a sigh; then

may n't I?"

to-day," he answered. "I wa

shut her eyes tight. "Good

ed. Then he bent for a whisper in her ear. "If you sle

a happy "thank you," and the