the red acorn-第25章

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Rachel's　appetite　had　seemed　sufficient　for　almost　any　food；　but　she　confined　her　breakfast　to　two　or　three　crackers　of　hard　bread；　and　a　few　sups　of　coffee。　　The　pleasantry　had　failed　of　its　desired　effect。　　It　was　like　vinegar　upon　niter；　or　the　singing　of　songs　to　an　heavy　heart。

As　they　rose　from　the　table　the　Doctor　informed　her　that　he　and　the　Stewards　were　about　to　make　their　morning　round　of　the　wards；　and　that　she　had　better　accompany　them。　　She　went　along　without　a　word。

They　walked　slowly　up　and　down　the　long　aisles　behind　the　Doctor；　who　stopped　before　each　cot；　and　closely　examined　its　occupant's　tongue；　pulse；　and　other　indicators　of　his　condition；　and　gave　prescriptions；　which　the　Steward　wrote　down；　as　to　medicine　and　food。　　What　was　better　still　were　his　words　of　sympathy　for　the　very　ill　and　of　cheery　encouragement　for　the　convalescent；　which　he　bestowed　upon　every　one。

〃A　visit　from　Dr。　Denslow　does　a　sick　man　more　good；〃　whispered　〃Squills〃　to　Rachel；　as　he　saw　her　eyes　light　up　with　admiration　at　the　Doctor's　tactful　kindliness；　〃than　all　the　drugs　in　the　dispensary。　　I　sometiems　believe　he's　one　of　them　that　can　cure　by　a　simple　laying…on　of　hands。　　He's　just　the　opposite　of　old　Moxon；　who'd　counteract　the　effect　of　the　best　medicine　in　the　world。〃

〃No。　19；　Quin。　Sulph。；　grains　16；　make　four　powders；　one　every　three　hours；〃　continued　〃Squills；〃　repeating　the　directions　as　he　received　them；　〃Spiritus　Frumenti；　1　oz。；　at　evening。　　No。　2　diet。　No。　20；　Dover's　powder　10　grains；　at　bedtime。　　No　1　diet。　　You；〃　addressing　himself　to　Rachel　again；　〃will　do　even　better　than　Dr。　Denslow；　soon。　　Can't　you　see　how　the　mere　sight　of　you　brightens　up　everybody　around　here？〃

Rachel　had　no　reply　ready　for　so　broad　a　compliment；　but　its　assertion　of　her　high　usefulness　went　far　to　reconcile　her　to　her　position。

She　wondered　silently　if　her　mission　was　to　be　confined　to　posing　as　a　thing　of　beauty　and　a　joy　forever。

This　differed　much　from　her　expectations；　for　she　dreaded　at　each　step　lest　the　next　bring　her　fact　to　face　with　some　horrible　task；　which　she　would　be　expected　to　undertake。　　But　the　Doctor；　with　his　usual　tact；　was　almost　imperceptibly　inducting　her　into　her　duties。

〃Would　Miss　Bond　kindly　shake　this　powder　into　that　cup　of　water　and　give　it　to　that　boy？〃

She　did　so；　and　was　rewarded　by　the　recipient's　grateful　look；　as　he　said：

〃It　don't　seem　at　all　nasty　when　YOU　give　it　to　me。〃

〃Would　she　hand　tht　one　this　bit　of　magnesia　for　his　heartburn？〃

It　was　a　young　Irishman；　who　received　the　magnesia　with　a　gallant　speech：

〃Faith；　your　white　fingers　have　made　it　swater　than　loaf…sugar。〃

Rachel　colored　deeply；　and　those　within　hearing　laughed。

At　the　next　cot　a　feverish　boy　tossed　wearily。　　Rachel　noticed　the　uncomfortable　arrangement　of　the　folded　blanket　which　did　duty　as　a　pillow。　　She　stepped　quickly　to　the　head　of　the　cot；　took　the　blanket　out；　refolded　it　with　a　few　deft；　womanly　motinos；　and　replaced　it　with　a　cool　surface　uppermost。

〃O；　that　is　SO　good；〃　murmured　the　boy；　half…unclosing　his　eyes。　〃It's　just　as　mother　would've　done。〃

Dr。　Denslow　looked　earnest　approval。

Rachel　began　to　feel　an　interest　kindling　in　her　work。　　It　was　not　in　a　womanly　nature　to　resist　this　cordial　appreciation　of　all　she　did。

A　few　cots　farther　on　a　boy　wanted　a　letter　written　home。　　She　was　provided　with　stationary；　and　taking　her　place　by　the　side　of　the　cot；　received　his　instructions；　and　wrote　to　his　anxious　parents　the　first　news　they　had　from　their　only　son　since　they　had　been　informed；　two　weeks　before；　that　he　had　been　sent　to　the　hospital。　When　she　had　finished　she　rejoined　the　Doctor；　who　had　by　this　time　nearly　completed　his　round　of　the　ward。　　As　soon　as　he　was　through　he　dismissed　Stewards　and　Wardmasters　to　their　duties；　adn　returned　with　her　to　her　room。　　It　was　so　changed　that　she　thought　she　ahd　made　a　mistake　when　she　opened　the　door。　　The　time　of　her　absence　had　been　well　employed　by　a　detail　of　men；　whom　the　Doctor　had　previously　instructed。　　The　floor　was　as　white　and　clean　as　strong　arms　with　an　abundance　of　soap　and　hot　water　could　scrupt　it；　the　walls　and　ceiling　were　neatly　papered　with　〃Harper's　Weeklies；〃　and　〃Frank　Leslies；〃　other　papers　concealed　the　roughness　of　the　table　and　shelves；　white　sheet　and　pillow…cases　had　given　the　cot　an　air　of　inviting　neatness；　and　before　it　lay　a　square　of　rag　carpet。　　The　window　was　shaded　with　calico　curtains；　the　tin　basin　and　dipper　had　been　scoured　to　brightness；　and　beside　them　stood　a　cedar　water…pail　with　shining　brass　hoops。

〃Ah；〃　she　said；　with　brightening　face；　〃this　is　something　like　living。〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　Dr。　Denslow；　〃I　imagine　it　IS　some　improvement　upon　the　sandy　desert　in　which　you　spent　the　night。　　I　hope　we　will　soon　be　able　to　make　it　still　more　comfortable。　　We　have　just　started　this　hospital；　and　we　are　sadly　destitute　of　many　of　the　commonest　necessaries　of　such　an　institution。　　But　everything　will　get　better　in　a　week　or　so；　and　while　I　can　not　exactly　promise　you　the　comforts　of　a　home；　I　can　assure　you　that　life　will　be　made　more　endurable　than　it　seems　to　be　possible　now。〃

〃I　do　hope　none　of　this　has　been　taken　away　from　any　sick　man　who　needs　it　more　than　I？〃　said　Rachel；　with　a　remembrance　of　how　much　the　boys　in　the　ward　needed。

〃Do　not　disturb　yourself　with　any　such　thought。　　Your　comfort　has　not　been　bought　at　the　expense　of　any　one　else's。　　I　would　not　give；　even　to　you；　anything　taht　would　help　restore　a　sick　soldier　to　his　regiment　or　his　home。　　My　first　duty；　as　that　of　yours　and　all　of　us；　is　to　him。　　He　is　the　man　of　the　occasion。　　All　the　rest　of　us　are　mere　adjuncts　to　him。　　We　have　no　reason　for　being；　except　to　increase　his　effectiveness。〃

The　earnestness　with　which　he　spoke；　so　different　from　his　light　bantering　at　the　breakfast　table；　made　her　regard　him　more　attentively。

〃I　begin　to　get　a　glimmering；〃　she　said　at　length；　〃of　the　inspiration　in　this　kind　of　work。　　Before　it　has　all　seemed　unutterably　repulsive　to　me。　　But　it　has　its　rewards。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　he；　lapsing　still　deeper　into　a　mood　which　she　soon　came　to　recognize　in　him　as　a　frequent　one　of　spiritual　exaltation；　〃we　who　toil　here；　labor　amidst　the　wreck　and　ruin　of　war　without　the　benefit　of　that　stirring　impulse　which　fills　the　souls　of　those　who　actually　go　into　battle。　　The　terrors　of　human　suffering　which　they　see　but　for　an　instant；　as　when　the　lightning　in　the　night　shows　the　ravages　of　the　storm；　encompass　us　about　and　abide　with　us　continually。　　We　are　called　upon　for　another　kind　of　fortitude；　and　we　must　look　for　our　reward　otherwise　than　in　the　victor's　laurels。　　We　can　only　have　to　animate　us　our　own　consciousness　of　a　high　duty　well　done。　　To　one　class　of　minds　this　is　an　infinitely　rich　meed。　　The　old　Jewish　legend　says　that　Abrahams　principal　jewel　was　one　worn　upon　his　breast；　'whose　light　raised　those　who　were　bowed　down；　and　healed　the　sick；'　and　when　he　passed　from　earth　it　was　placed　in　heaven；　where　it　shown　as　one　of　the　great　stars。　　Of　such　kind　must　be　our　jewel。〃

He　stopped；　and　blushing　through　his　beard；　as　if　ashamed　of　his　heroics；　said　with　a　light　laugh：

〃But　if　there　is　anything　I　fear　it　is　self…righteousness　which　cankereth　the　soul。　　Come；　I　will　show　you　a　sight　which　will　repress　any　tendency　you　may　ever　feel　to　exalt　your　services　to　the　pinnacle　of　human　merit。〃

While　leading　her　to　a　remote　part　of　the　hospital　he　continued：　〃Of　course　greater　love　hath　no　man　than　this；　that　he　gave　his　life　for　that　which　he　loves。　　Considered　relatively　to　the　person　the　peasant　who　falls　in　the　defense　of　his　country　gives　just　as　much　as　the　Emperor　who　may　die　by　his　side。　　In　either　case　the　measure　of　devotion　is　brim…full。　　Nothing　more　can　be　added　to　it。　　But　there　are　accessories　and　surroundings　which　apparently　make　one　life　of　much　greater　value　than　another；　and　make　it　a　vastly　richer　sacrifice　when　laid　on　the　altar　of　patriotism。〃

〃There　are　certainly　degrees　of　merit；　even　in　yielding　up　one's　life；〃　said　Rachel；　not　altogther　unmindful　of　the　sacrifice　she　herself　had　made　in　coming　to　the　front。

〃Judged　by　this　standard；〃　the　Doctor　continued；　〃the　young　man　whom　we　are　about　to　see　has　made　a　richer　offering　to　his　country　than　it　is　possible　for　most　men　to　make。　　It　is　almost　shames　me　as　to　the　meagerness　of　the　gift　I　bring。〃

〃If　you　be　ashamed　how　must　others　who　give　much　less　feel？〃

〃He　was　in　the　first　dawn　of　manhood；〃　the　Doctor　went　on；　without　noticing　the　interruption；　〃handsome　as　a　heathen　god；　educated　and　wealty；　and　with　high　aspirations　for　a　distinguished　scientific　career　fermenting　in　his　young　blood　like　new　wine。　　Yet　he　turned　his　back　upon　all　thisupon　the　opening　of　a　happy　married　lifeto　carry　a　private　soldier's　musket　in　the　ranks；　and　to　die　ingloriously　by　the　shot　of　a　skulking　bushwhacker。　　He　would　not　even　take　a　commision；　because　he　wanted　that　used　to　encourage　some　other　man；　who　might　need　the　inducement。〃

〃But　why　call　his　death　inglorious？　　If　a　man　braves　death　why　is　any　one　time　or　place　worse　than　another？〃

〃Because　for　a　man　of　his　temperament　he　is　dying　the　cruelest　death　possible。　　He　had　expected；　if　called　upon　to　yield　his　life；　to　purchase　with　it　some　great　good　for　his　country。　　But　to　perish　uselessly　as　he　is　doing；　as　if　bitten　by　a　snake；　is　terrible。　Here　we　are。　　I　will　tell　you　before　we　go　in　that　he　has　a　bullet　wound　through　the　body；　just　grazing　an　artery　and　it　is　only　a　question　of　a　short　time；　and　the　slightest　shock；　when　a　fatal　hemorrhage　will　ensue。　　Be　very　quiet　and　careful。〃

He　untied　a　rope　stretched　across　the　entrance　to　a　little　wing　of　the　building　to　keep　unnecessary　footsteps　at　a　distance。

〃How　is　he　this　morning？〃　he　asked　of　a　gray…haired　nurse　seated　in　front　of　a　door　curtained　with　a　blanket。

〃Quiet　and　cheeful　as　ever；〃　answered　the　nurse；　rising　and　pulling　the　blanket　aside　that　they　might　enter。

The　face　upon　which　Rachel's　eyes　fell　when　she　entered　the　room　impressed　her　as　an　unusual　combination　of　refinement　and　strength。　Beyond　this　she　noted　little　as　to　the　details　of　the　patient's　countenance；　except　that　he　had　hazel　eyes；　and　a　clear　complexion　asserting　itself　under　the　deep　sun…burning。

When　they　entered　he　was　languidly　fanning　himself　with　a　fan　which　had　been　ingeniously　constructed　for　him　by　some　inmate；　out　of　a　twig　of　willow　bent　into　a　hoop；　and　covered　by　pasting　paper　over　it。　　He　gave　a　faint　smile　of　welcome　to　the　Doctor；　but　his　face　lighted　up　with　pleasure　when　he　saw　Rachel。

〃Good　morning；　Sanderson；〃　said　Dr。　Denslow；　in　a　repressed　voice。　〃How　do　you　feel？〃

〃As　usual；〃　whispered　Sanderson。

〃This　is　Miss　Rachel　Bond；　who　is　assigned　to　our　hospital　as　nurse。〃

A　slight　movement　of　Sanderson's　head　acknowledged　Rachel's　bow。

〃I　am　so　glad　to　see　you；〃　he　whispered；　taking　hold　of　her　hand。　〃Sit　down　there；　please。〃

Rachel　took　the　indicated　seat　at　the　head　of　the　cot。

〃Doctor；〃　inquired　Sanderson；　〃is　it　true　that　McClellan　has　had　to　fall　back　from　before　Richmond？〃

〃I　have　tried　hard　to　keep　the　news　from　you；〃　answered　Dr。　Denslow；　reluctantly。　　〃I　feat　it　is　too