arkling with fever.

"Johnnie, boy! what is the matter? Tell me what hurts you."

"My head aches so badly," and tears came to the beautiful childish eyes.

"It feels hot. Would you like to have it bathed in cold water?"

"If you please, ma'am. I have been calling Hettie, and she won't hear."

"Because she has gone out. Let me see if I can't do it just as well as
Hettie."

She hunted about the room for a cloth, but, finding nothing suitable, took
her cambric handkerchief, and, after laving his forehead gently for ten or
fifteen minutes, laid the wet folds upon it, and asked smilingly--

"Doesn't that feel pleasant?"

"Ever so nice, ma'am--if I had some to drink."

She put the dripping gourd to his parched lips, and, after shaking up his
pillow and straightening the covering of his pallet, she promised to see
him again soon, and returned to his mother.

"How does he appear to be, Miss Irene? I had him moved out of this room
because he said my coughing hurt his head, and his continual fretting
worried me. I am so weak now, God help me!" and she covered her eyes with
one hand.

"He has some fever, Mrs. Davis, but not more than Susan. I will ask Dr.
Arnold to come and see them this evening. This change in the weather is
very well calculated to make sickness. Are you entirely out of wood?"

"Very nearly, ma'am; a few sticks left."

"When Hester comes, keep her at home. I will send you some wood. And now,
how are you?"

"My cough is not quite so bad; the pectoral holds it a little in check; but
I had another hemorrhage last night, and I am growing weaker every day. Oh,
Miss Irene! what will become of my poor little children when I am gone?
That is such an agonizing thought." She sobbed as she spoke.

"Do not let that grieve you now. I promise you that your children shall be
taken care of. I will send a servant down to stay here to-night, and
perhaps some of the women in the Row will be willing to come in
occasionally and help Hester till Susan gets able to cook. I left two
loaves of bread in the closet, and will send more in the morning, which
Hester can toast. I shall go by town, and send Dr. Arnold out."

"I would rather have Dr. Brandon, if you please."

"Why?"

"I have always heard that Dr. Arnold was so gruff and unfeeling, that I am
afraid of him. I hate to be snapped up when I ask a question."

"That is a great mistake, Mrs. Davis. People do him injustice. He has one
of the kindest, warmest hearts