A PATHETIC STORY FROM THE SEA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2427, 19 November 1892, Page 3

A PATHETIC STORY FROM THE SEA.

Advices from New York, dated September 26th, gives the following touching story :—A touching story of sisterly affection on the part of a child is told of a little passenger by the steamer Bothnia, now in quarantine in the harbor. Edith and Muriel Keeling aged nine and six respectively, travelled by the steamer with no relative or guardian in charge of them. Three years ago they went to England, where they had been staying with friends. Upon the death of their father their mother married again, and the children travelled by the Bothnia to rejoin their mother here. On the voyage they became the pets of the ship, talking of nothing but home. Edith was seized with hemorrhage of the lungs, and on Sunday, the 11th inat., the doctor thought she would be unable to survive the night. He told some of the passengers this, and Muriel overheard him. A little while afterwards two passengers, Mesdames Frethey and Blackie, went to the children’s state room and found them lying in each other’s arms, Muriel sobbing violently, and one of the ladies told the little girl what she had heard. “ They say you are going to die.” “ Oh, don’t leave me,” she moaned piteously. The ladies tried to soothe the agitated little ones, and Edith replied, “ I know I cannot live long, but I should like to live to see mamma. It will break her heart if Muriel goes back alone.” Captain Hewitson, upon learning the facts, asked the doctor if anything could be done to prolong the girl’s life. The doctor suggested a larger room, and the captain gave up his own cabin to the children. The two ladies already named nursed Edith, who constantly spoke of her mother, whom she expected to meat in New York. The mother is now Mrs Lewolf, and she resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She did not appear when the vessel reached that port on Saturday. Edith was bitterly disappointed, and completely broke down with grief. She cried “ What shall Ido I There is so little time left! ” Mrs Frethey endeavored to comfort her, and soon after accompanied her to the Ellis Island Hospital. Immediately after the patiert was admitted, Mrs Lewolf arrived in New York and hurried to tire hospital. Edith lying prostrate in bed, opened her arms to clasp her, crying joyfully, “Oh, mamma, I am glad to have seen you again. I have brought Muriel safeatress the oeean, as I promised you.” She then fainted away. The doctors say she can only live a few days.—Dalziel,