ALL FIVE OF THEM.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 26, 26 June 1902, Page 23

ALL FIVE OF THEM.

(Concluded from our last ) ' Well, how ate you getting on with your Hock of children ? ' asked the doctor when ho came home the next day. ' Oh, finely. I never believed that five children could mako .so little noise and disturbance.', ' Don't worry ; they'll soon be lively enough.' And they did indeed get lively. The very next day the doctor was astonished on his return home at tho great commotion. Tho two little ones were dancing and frolicking in tho middle of tho room on the beautiful Angora rug which was accustomed to lie before his wife's toilet table as undisturbed as a sacred treasure. Now one was on top and then tho other, now attacking and now defending, shouting and screeching at the top of their voices, their shoes and stockings stripped off in the excitement They tumbled about on the white rug like two little dogs, and tho doctor's wife was seated on tho floor near them laughing till tears filled her eyes. ' They are charming,' she assured her husband as sho sat drinking coffeo after dinner. ' And they aro very confiding already. They follow mo every step I take. If I give one something, the other opens his mouth wide. If I take one on my lap, the other cries, " We, too, Misses Do 'tor ' 1 Yes, they are very much attached to each other,' said the doctor 'It will be very hard to separate thorn.' His wife stirred her coffeo meditatively. 'Is it really necessary to separate them ■' ' she asked, looking doubtfully at her husband. ' What will you do, then *> I guess you don't want to keep both?' ' Why not "> If J can keep one, I can keep both ' ' Yes, if it isn't too much trouble for you.' ' Trouble 9 Oh, that is not much. I have the older sister for the present, you know. Sho takes almost all the care from mo. You can't imagine what a sensible little thing sho is ' * ' Just come here a moment and look m,' sanl the doctor's wife to him the next morning as ho was about to start out. She lot him peep cautiously through the halfopen door into tho children's bedroom. There sat tho two httlo onos on the edge of the trundle-bed in their night-gowns, while their elder sister stood before them with sponge and towol in hand. First sho attended to the hand of one and then to that of the other, now washing the face, nose, and ears of one, then of tho other . she managed tho difficult task so quickly and skilfully that the children did not find time to cry, though at times their faces weio seriously distorted. ' She is like a mother to them,' said Mrs. Brandt. ' And you ought to sco how handy and apt she is in other things i She helps Stina clean the -vegetables and wipe the glasses, an,d first you know sho is in the sitting room dusting, standing on a chair or footstool to reach Ten times a day she runs to the well to get fresh water for me, or ' Tho doctor hadn't time to listen to the full list of the girl's accomplishments-. That evening when his wife began to recount bhem he interrupted her : ' Well, if tho girl stands so high in your favor, you will be glad to hear what T ha,\o to tell you in regard to her future ' Well *> ' ' They aro ready to take the child and care for her at the grocer's across the way for a small compensation.'

' So, are they ? ' She plied her knitting needles in feverish emotion. ' 1 can readily believe that they want her to take care of those two untrained rogues that lie in the dirt all day and to wash their dirty faces. And they ask n small recompense ? They aro not stupid. How long will it bo before tho girl will be grown, and they will have brought her up like a servant, with its costing them nothing at all ? That will amount to nothing. You well know I will not give tho girl away to that kind of life.' ' But what havo you got in view for her ? One ought to be glad if — ' ' What have I in view for her ? ' she interrupted. ' I will keep her.' ' But you have the two little ones already.' 1 Just on that account I need her, too. I cannot take care of them alone.' ' But you forget that sho must go to school after Easter.' ' There will bo time to spare for school. She ought to study diligently so as to becomo an intelligent* girl. Just think, Albert, how lovoly it will bo to have such a dear little daughter always in our home ! Do you say yes ? May 1 keep her ? ' The doctor said nothing. He took her head between his two large hands and imprinted a hearty kiss upon her rosy lips and then went out. Sho turned crimson. He had not done that in a long time. Yes, earlier ! But now — when one lives with another year after year ho gradually foregoes the custom of tenderness — ' He is, after all, a dear, good man,' she whispered softly to herself, whilo she lay down to rest with a happy smilo. ' How, now, I must ask. Can't you see where you aro running, boy?' angrily called the doctor the next day as on his entrance tho boy second in size rushed between his legs. Tho little one stood a moment stunned by tho force of the collision, then raised his excited little face with flashing eyes and said confusedly , ' Jt was only tho express train from Vienna,' then quickly drew back into tho next room. ' That boy is a veritable jack-of-all trades,' said tho doctor, looking pleasantly after the pretty boy. ' Yes, that ho is,' aflmned his wife. ' Sometimes he runs through the house as a steam-engine and sometimes a.3 a railroad, now he is a robber and now a policeman, now a wild animal, now a hunter But he must shout and run in everything. Without that it won't do.' 'I would forbid him to do it.' 'As if he could bo forbidden such a thing ! He cannot be otherwise. Tt is the excessivo merriment and roguery in him. I wouldn't say anything if ho would only leave mo in peace. But every moment ho comes and begs that I will sit in his waggon or in his boat or make him a whip or a sword. ' And do you willingly do all that ? ' ' What can I do when he bogs and entreats so hard "> And he has such nonsensical ideas ' A little whilo ago he was playing menagerie, and all of a sudden it occurred to him that ho wanted a crocodile, 'and would I lie so good as to crawl along' on all fours a little bit, I would mako such a wonderfully hno looking crocodile You can imagino that T had no desire to do it. But, will ,\ou bclio\e it, tho boy continued to beg until nothing remained for mo but ' ' To do his will and make a crocodilo '> Oh, wife, wife, that I could have been present ! ' The doctor laughed till he had to hold his sides. ' That must have been a spec-

tacle for the gods. Will you not repeat it for me ? ' But hia wife was unwilling. * ' Why are you not drinking out 6f your customary cup ? ' the astonished doctor asked of his wife. She blushed confusedly. ' The cup yes, tho cup is broken.' ' Broken ! Your cup out of which you have drunk since your girlhood, and by which you set so great store? Well, I would not have wished to be tho one to break it.' ' He did not do it purposely.' 'He ? What* he ? That is not to say Stina ? Perhaps the mischievous boy, what ? ' She only nodded. ' Well, I suppose you gave him a good whipping.' ' I wanted to in my first anger, but he didn't allow me to.' ' He didn't offer resistance ? ' asked tho doctor, with wrinkled brow. ' Oh, dear, no 1 But he waa so overcome with repentance and sorrow that I should have offended him to have pushed him from me.' ' And you preferred to pardon him, and you gave him some pennies for his fright, what ? ' ' No, only a handful of dried plums,' said his wife half aloud. ' Oh, you women, you women,' called tho doctor. ' Not one of you is like another. Only wait, in the orphan asylum there will be no dried plums given for a broken cup. The new manager is said to exercise a strict government.' 'In the orphan asylum ? ' asked the frightened wife. ' Yes ; I heard to-day that the admittance of the two older boys is aa good as decided. There is a meetings of the trustees next week, when the thing will be formally acted upon.' Sho gave her husband a second cup of coffeo and slowly said, ' So then the lovely boy haa to go to an orphan asylum ? ' ' Do you think they only take ugly children there ? ' ' The lively, joyous child ! ' ' They will soon break him of his excessivo merriment.' ' Yes, with the stick. It is no art to intimidate a defenceless child. No one asks whether they make a frank, happy-hearted boy thereby hypocritical and obdurate. Yes, if he were aa quiet and circumspect as his brother, he would be very well broughtl up in an orphan asylum, but with his temperament ! No, Albert ' — she bent imploringly towards her husband—' do not send the poor boy away ; let him stay here. One child raoro or less one doesn't notice. Is it not so ? You will let me have the boy ? ' ' For my part I have nothing against it, but ' ' That is to say, he stays. Oh you good husband ! But be quiet a moment. It seems as if I heard the boy outside on the stairs. There he sits perohed again on tho bannister, sliding down till he certainly will break hia neck. Oh, one has to worry herself with such a boy ! ' She had gone, and tho doctor gazed after her with a very contented smile. • A few days passed. The doctor had begged his wife to say nothing of the impending change of their fate until everything was finally decided. ' I am sorry that he has to leave alone,' sho said, whilo sitting near her husband a few evenings after, looking over the things that the oldest boy was to take with him to the orphan asylum. ' But you yourself must say that I cannot keep them all. He is the oldest, and, moreover, ho is so still and sensible ho certainly will feel content in the orphan asylum. 1 do not believe either that tho seperation from his brothers and sisters will bo especially hard for him. Ho does not seem to havo much feeling.' ' Perhaps he simply does nob show it. He was the favorite of his mother.' " And his brothers and sisters are all so much prettier and attractive

than he,' said the astonished wife.' ' Perhaps that very thing made him so much the dearer to his mother ? ' The doctor's wife reflected a little. ' Well, of course to his mother. But I will noti say anything against him. He does what I want him to do, is industrious and willing, but I can find no heart in him. Ho can, of course, visit his brothers and sisters often and have good friends in us.' The doctor made no reply. But when his wife went .to bed that night she had a certain feeling of dissatisfaction with herself, without exactly knowing the reason why. ' Just see whether I am not right about the boy,' said Mrs. Brandt the next morning as the doctor remained sitting a few minutes after he had finished his breakfast. 'Ho has been sitting there a long time motionless and speechless. There is no life in him. His brothers and sisters may play and shout about him as they please, but he doesn't even notice them.' ■ h ' Come here, my boy,' the doctor called to him as he sat in the corner holding his head in both hands. ' Does anything ail you ? ' ' My head pains mo/ ' Since when ? ' * Since always.' 1 Since always ? That means, I guess, since you came here, doesn't it? ' The boy nodded. ' And what else pains you ? ' 1 My eyes and my neck, and sometimes I feel dizzy.' 'So ? And no one has heard a word of all this ? ' The doctor felt bis pulse, listened to his breathing, and then said : 'Go to your room now and lie down. I will come to you immediately.' His wife had listened in silent anxiety. ' I hope you don't consider him seriously sick ? ' ' Very seriously. As well as I can judge ha is coming down with brain fever.' She clasped her hands in terror. ' And just now ! What shall I do with the other children ? ' ' Well, well, the disease is not contagious, but he needs absolute quiet. It» will be best if I report at once to the hospital and have him taken there. It 13 possible that the disease may take a bad turn.' ' Do you think he will die ? ' The doctor shrugged his shoulders. ' He haa carried the disease too longi unobserved.' His wife became suddenly very serious and quiet. ' Then the boy shall not be allowed to go to the hospital,' she said resolutely. ' But you wanted to have him leave anyway.' ' Yes, if he had kept well. My heart is not much drawn to this child, it is true, Cut just for that reason I will do my duty by him I could never enjoy the other children if I should allow their brother to die in the hospital.' 'That is all very fine,' said the doctor, quietly, ' but where will you put him ? Perfect quiet is indispensable.' ' He can lie in Stina's gable-cham-ber. It is sunny and quiet there. Stina can get up her bed in the kitchen while he is sick.' ' H'm, that would do. But who would take care of him ? Neither you nor Stina has time.' ' No, but I will let old Mrs. Miller, who took such good care of mo two years ago, como. When she has to rest I will stay with him. Don't make any objections. I guess I can sacrifico a few nights if you can stand at the call of your patients day and night the year round.' Tho doctor pasvsed his hnnd fondly over bis wife's head and said : 'Well, then, in God's name make your preparations with Stina. Meanwhile I will send the nurso and the necessary things from tho druggist's.' • Hard days and still harder nights followed. It seemed as if the boy

could not wait to follow his mother. Hour after hour he lay at fever heat calling her name, until the parched lips refused to speak. ' I have very little hope,' said the doctor, when several days later, after % careful examination, he was about to leave the boy for the night. 'If the fever does not abate early to-morrow morning he is lost.' ' Then I will stay with him tonight,' said his wife decidedly. ' You will wear yourself out ' 'Do not worry about mo. What one must do, that he can ' Tho doctor lovingly clasped her hand. 'If you need me, call me.' The hours of the night passed slowly by. With wide-open eyes the boy tossed restlessly about on his bed moaning and wailing, ' Mother, mother,' and ever again ' Mother ' sounded piteously through the room. The heart of the doctor's wife melted in compassion. Stroking his cheeks, she bent over him caressingly. The boy's countenance suddenly changed. 'Is it you, mother ? Are you here at last ? ' He threw both arms tightly about her neck and drew her so near that her cheeks touched his. A feeling of joy stole over her as tho fearful tension of his limbs relaxed and his heart beat less violently. But as often as she attempted to loose herself from his arms, he cried out in anguish. Nothing remained for her but to draw her feet carefully upon the bed and lie close beside him. His regular breathing assured her that Ho was asleep, and while she raptu-*-ously pressed her cheek against that of the boy who had called her mother, sleep closed also her weary eyes. Tho sun was shining brightly when she awoke. Her husband stood bending over the bed. She started up in fright. ' I hope I have not been asleep.' ' You have, indeed. But see here.' He pointed to the boy, who lay in a deep, sweet sleep, with drops of perspiration covering his brow. ' He is saved, thanks to you.' Tears of joy filled her eyes. ' The danger is over,' continued the husband. ' Once on the road to recovery he will recuperate rapidly. Perhaps he will bo sufficiently improved in fourteen days to be removed to his new home.' 'Do you indeed supposo that I would allow the boy to be taken away from me after this ? ' asked the doctor's wifo softly. 'Ho has called mo mother, and although he only did it in his fever, I will be a mother to him. He belongs to me.' 'So you would rather send tho younger boy to the orphan asylum 9' ' No, I will not do that.' ' Or the girl ? ' ' Certainly not.' ' But you still less wish to givo up tho two little ones ' ' I will keep them all five.' ' All five ? ' Tho doctor's voico had an uncertain sound. ' You'll allow yourself to bo carried away by your good heart. Consider how risky it is with strange children ; ono never knows what is in them.' ' That cn.n bo said also of one's own children.' ' They tako our kindness as their rightful claim.' ' They have a right to do so.' ' And when they are grown up it suddenly occurs to them that they ara not our children.' ' If we were truo parents to them this would not bo so.' ' And all tho trouble and work they make.' ' I will gladly take that upon myself. But — ' sho glanced anxiously at him — ' perhaps all five are too many for you ? ' 'Me ? ' Ho took both her hands) and said : '* Anna, when tho poor mother was struggling with death, and could noti dio because of her distress for her children, I bent over her and said : "I will take the children and they shall bo all my own."

" All five ? " she asked incredulously „ AJ\,n^'" X replied, "so help me God. Thereupon she died in peace.' ' ' Poor mother,' whispered his wife, hiding her face in his shoulder. Suddenly she raised her head. ' But, Albert, if you promised that, you brought the children into the house with the express purpose of keeping them all.' He nodded assent. ' But what if I had not been wi.ling ? ' ' I knew your heart.' 'So 0 And if you knew my hearti why did you not come confidingly and tell me what you wished ? ' The doctor put on a somewhat critical expression. ' You wanted on that very day to have new floors and modern style of carpets and curtains and ' She was about to interrupt hidl when a feeble sound came from the bed. The boy lay there with clear, feverish eyea looking over at her. Had he heard what she had said ? Did he suspect what decision she had made ? ' Mother,' he whispered softljr, stretching out his weak hand to her. She threw herself down on her kneea before the bed. ' Yes, my child, I will bo your mother.' She covered his faco with kisses and sat down on the bed beside him, and, tenderly smoothing the moist hair from his forehead, said, smiling through her tears : ' What fine soft hair he has ! And such good honest eyes ! And —' ' Now that sounds like a genuine mother,' sailed the doctor, laughing. ' I see already you will spoil the child in a most terrible manner.' ' You don't say so. But, listen, thero are tho other children outside in tho hall. They would like to get) in. Can they bo admitted ? ' The doctor was already at the door. Thero stood tho little group of children, huddled together as they had been a few weeks previous, tho little ones in front and the older ones in the background. But this time they were not so timid and bashful. They tripped confidently nearer, and while the two little ones climbed into tho lap of the doctor's wife, and tho two older ones crowded close to her, they gazed cautiously at their brother, who lay upon the bed before them /so pale and still. With ono hand sho held that of tha sick boy and with tho other tightly clasped tho other children ; and, beaming with joy, exclaimed to her husband ' Our children. ! May God bless them and make them happy ! ' ' All five ! ' added the doctor.—From tho German.