I followed Mrs. Ellis up stairs, and into a chamber, where the sick
boy lay. I was not surprised at the fear she expressed, when I saw
Edward's pale, sunken face, and hollow, almost expressionless eyes.
He scarcely noticed my entrance.

"Poor boy!" sighed his mother. "He has had a very sick spell."

My liveliest interest was at once awakened.

"He has been sick, indeed!" I replied, as I laid my hand upon his
white forehead.

I found his skin cold and damp. The fever had nearly burned out the
vital energy of his system.

"Do you give him much nourishment?"

"He takes a little barley-water."

"Has not the doctor ordered wine?"

"Yes, ma'am," replied Mrs. Ellis, but she spoke with an air of
hesitation. "He says a spoonful of good wine, three or four times a
day, would be very good for him."

"And you have not given him any?"

"No, ma'am."

"We have some very pure wine, that we always keep for sickness. If
you will step over to our house, and tell Alice to give you a bottle
of it, I will stay with Edward until you return."

How brightly glowed that poor woman's face as my words fell upon her
ears!

"O, ma'am, you are very kind!" said she. "But it will be asking too
much of you to stay here!"

"You didn't ask it, Mrs. Ellis," I simply replied. "I have offered
to stay; so do you go for the wine as quickly as you can, for Edward
needs it very much."

I was not required to say more. In a few minutes I was alone with
the sick boy, who lay almost as still as if death were resting upon
his half-closed eye-lids. To some extent during the half hour I
remained thus in that hushed chamber, did I realize the condition
and feelings of the poor mother, whose only son lay gasping at the
very door of death, and all my sympathies were, in consequence,
awakened.

As soon as Mrs. Ellis returned with the wine, about a teaspoonful
was diluted, and the glass containing it placed to the sick lad's
lips. The moment its flavor touched his palate, a thrill seemed to
pass through his frame, and he swallowed eagerly.

"It does him good!" said I, speaking warmly, and from an impulse
that made my heart glow.

We sat and looked with silent interest upon the boy's face, and we
did not look in vain, for something like warmth came upon his wan
cheeks, and when I placed my hand upon his forehead, the coldness
and dampness were gone. The wine had quickened his languid pulse. I
stayed an hour longer, and then another spoonful of the