"O the Lamb - the loving Lamb!
"The Lamb on Calvary
"The Lamb that was slain, but lives again,
"To intercede for me."
How grand it was! But for the grandeur and the sweetness of
the message I was bringing, I should have broken down a score
of times.
As it was, I poured my tears into my song, and wept them into
the melody. But other tears, I knew, were not so contained; in
intervals I heard low sobbing in more than one part of the
room. I had no time to sing another hymn before Dr. Sandford
came in. I was very glad he had not been five minutes earlier.
I followed him round the ward, seeking to acquaint myself as
fast as possible with whatever might help to make me useful
there. Dr. Sandford attended only to business and not to me,
till the whole round was gone through. Then he said, "You will let me take you home now, I hope."
"I am at home," I answered.
"Even so," said he smiling. "You will let me take you from
home then, to the place my sister dwells in."
"No, Dr. Sandford; and you do not expect it."
"I have some reason to know what to expect, by this time. Will
you not do it at my earnest request? not for your sake, but
for mine? There is presumption for you!"
"No, Dr. Sandford; it is not presumption, and I thank you; but
I cannot. I cannot, Dr. Sandford. I am wanted here."
"Yes, so you will be to-morrow."
"I will be here to-morrow."
"But, Daisy, this is unaccustomed work; and you cannot bear
it, no one can, without intermission. Let me take you to the
hotel to-night. You shall come again in the morning."
"I cannot. There is some one here who wants me."
"Your cousin, do you mean?"
"Oh no. Not he at all. There is one who is, I am afraid,
dying."
"Morton," said the doctor. "Yes. You can do nothing for him."
But I thought of my hymn, and the tears rose to my eyes.
"I will do what I can, Dr. Sandford. I cannot leave him."
"There is a night nurse who will take charge. You must not
watch. You must not do that, Daisy. I command here."
"All but me," I said, putting my hand on his arm. "Trust me. I
will try to do just the right thing."
There must have been more persuasion in my look than I knew;
for Dr. Sandford quitted me without another word, and left me
to my own will. I went softly down the room to the poor friend
I was watching over. I found his eyes watching me; but for
talk there was no time just then; some services were called
for in another part of the ward that drew me away from him;
and when I came back he seemed to be asleep. I sat down at the
bed foot and thought my hymn all over, then the war, my own
life, and lastly the world. Miss Yates came to me and bent
down.