THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND. MAY 17, 1908,
SHE VISITS A HOSPITAL.
One day when Fluffy Ruffles was prepar
ing for a drive
She got. this message, "1 am hurt, but very
much alive;'
I'm in St. Matthew's Hospital, so bring
your aunt along
And cheer me with a story or some gossip
or a song.'
Joe Traddles' name was signed to this, and
Fluffy said, "Poor man,
I'll go and visit him at once ; it's lucky
that I can.
To-morrow would have been too late, as
Aunt is going West,
And calling on a man alone she . doesn't
think is best."
Through some mistake -they'd placed poor
Traddles in the general ward,'
And when dear Fluffy saw him there it '
touched a tender cord.
He lay there in a fitful doze; she stroked
his burning brow.
He woke, and half .delirious, said, "Dear
Fluff, I've got you now.
"I am so happy since you came to be my
little wife."
Fair Fluffy blushed, her aunt looked
shocked and cried, "Upon my life U
What is the fellow saying ? Have you
married him, my dear ? -
But Fluffy shook her head, and said in-
accents loud and clear,
'The poor boy's hot with fever and his
tongue is in a dream;
He thinks we're married, but his thoughts
are not just what they seem. '
I'll sing to him and he'll forget." And-
then sweet Fluffy sang.
And through the ward her mellow voice
in tones melodious rang.
It may have been coincidence, but ere
she'd sung a bar
Joe Traddles opened wide his eyes and
said, "Oh, here you' are.
fTwas very good of you to come. I met
two beastly tramps,
Who got .my my money, throttled me and
damaged both my lamps.
'I stopped your singing; sing some more;
'twill do the others good." ,
es, do," chimed in a passing nurse, so
Fluffy said she would.
rTwas magical what happened ere she'd
" sung a single verse,
Toward her came each orderly, each
patient and each nurse;
And surgeons at their operations, hearing
Fluffy sing, .
Came marching in their aprons white not-.
caring for a thing
But FIufrys voice. Their patients being
etherized and prone,
Stayed where they were, till coming to,
they found themselves alone, .
And then the magic of that voice made
them forget their pain,
And feebly calling out they said, "Oh, sing
that song again."
But when the song was ended FlufrVs
aunt said, "Come along,
I never new the power that lay hidden in
a song. ,
"And if I'd keep you single I must take
you home from here,
There's not a- man who wouldn't like to
wed with you, I fear."
Dear Flurry blushed, shook hands with
Traddles, smiled on all in sight
And loud a little cripple yelled "Oh, she's'
all right, all riant!"
(COPYRIGHT. 1908, BY THE NEW YORK HERALD CO.
AU Rights Reserved.
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