Part 22 (2/2)
”How is your son, Mrs. Ellis?” I enquired, as I stepped in.
”He is very low, ma'am,” she replied.
”Not dangerous, I hope?”
”The fever has left him, but he is as weak as an infant. All his strength is gone.”
”But proper nourishment will restore him, now that the disease is broken.”
”So the doctor says. But I'm afraid it's too late. He seems to be sinking every hour. Will you walk up and see him?”
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 gla.s.s containing it placed to the sick lad's lips. The moment its flavor touched his palate, a thrill seemed to pa.s.s through his frame, and he swallowed eagerly.
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