The Telegram

: Jewel

Mrs. Forbes entered Jewel's room after speaking with the doctor. The

little girl looked at her eagerly. A plan had formed in her mind which

depended for its success largely on the housekeeper's complaisance, and

she wished to propitiate her.



"I want to fix it so you can call me when you need anything, Julia," she

said. "The doctor has told you about taking the medicine, and here is a

little clock I'm goin to put on your table right by the bed, and I've

brought up a bell. I shall leave the farther door open so the sound of

this bell will go right down the backstairs, and one of us will come up

whenever you ring. Dr. Ballard says it's best for you to be quiet."



"Yes'm," replied Jewel. "Do you think, Mrs. Forbes--would it be too much

trouble--would he have time--could I see Jeremiah just a few minutes?"



"See who?"



"Jeremiah--the gentleman who lives with the horses."



"Do you mean my son Ezekiel?"



"Oh, yes'm. Ezekiel. I knew it was a prophet. He always speaks very

kindly to me, and I like him. I wish I could see him just a few

minutes."



Mrs. Forbes was very much astonished and somewhat flattered. "It's

wonderful, the fancy that child has taken to me and mine," she thought.



"Well, folks must be humored when they're sick," she replied. "Let me

see," looking at the little clock, "yes, Mr. Evringham's missed the

second train. There'll be five or ten minutes yet, and 'Zekiel's got to

wait anyway. I guess he can come up and see you."



"Oh, thank you, Mrs. Forbes!" returned Jewel.



The housekeeper made her way out to the barn, where her son in his

livery was waiting and reading the paper.



"The doctor's gone, Zeke, and the child wants to see you."



"Me?" returned the coachman in surprise. "Why the bully little kid!"



"Yes, come and be quick. There won't be much time. You watch the clock

that's side of her bed, and don't you be late."



'Zekiel followed with alacrity. His mother, starting him up the

backstairs, gave him directions how to go, and remained below.



Jewel, her eyes fixed on the open back door of her room, felt a leap

of the heart as Zeke, fine in his handsome livery, came blushing and

tiptoeing into the room.



"I'm so glad, I'm so glad!" she exclaimed in her soft, thick voice.

"Shut the door, please."



"I told you to remember you'd only got to say 'Zeke' and I'd come," he

said, approaching the bed. "I'm awful sorry you're sick, little kid."



"Did you ever hear of Christian Science, Zeke?" she asked hurriedly.



"Yes, I did. Woman I knew in Boston cured of half a dozen things. She

held that Christian Science did it."



"Oh, good, good. I'm a Christian Scientist, and nobody here is, and I

want to send a telegram to Chicago, to a lady to treat me. Nobody would

do it for me but you. Will you?"



It would have taken a hard heart to resist the appeal, and Zeke's was

soft.



"Of course I will," he answered. "Going right to the station now to take

Mr. Evringham. I can send it as well as not."



"Get some paper, Zeke, in the top bureau drawer. There's a pencil on the

bureau."



He obeyed, and she gave him an address which he wrote down. "Now this:

'Please treat me for fever and sore throat. Jewel.'"



Zeke wrote the message and tucked it into a pocket.



"Now please get my leather bag in the drawer," said the child, "and take

out money enough."



The young fellow hesitated. "If you haven't got plenty of money"--he

began.



"I have. You'll see. Oh, Zeke, you've made me so happy!"



The coachman's clumsy hands fumbled with the clasp of the little bag.



"I can do it," said Jewel, and he brought it to her and watched her

while she took out the money and gave it to him. He took a coin,

returned the rest to the bag, and snapped it.



"Say, little girl," he said uneasily, "you look to me like a doctor'd do

you a whole lot o' good."



Jewel gazed at him in patient wonder.



"Who made the doctor?" she asked.



Zeke stood on one foot and then on the other.



"God did, and you know it, Zeke. He's the one to go to in trouble."



"But you're going to that Chicago woman," objected Zeke.



"Yes, because she'll go to God for me. I'm being held down by something

that pretends to have power, and though I know it's an old cheat, I

haven't understanding enough to get rid of it as quickly as she will.

You see, I wouldn't have been taken sick if I hadn't believed in a lie

instead of denying it. We have to watch our thoughts every minute, and I

tell you, Zeke, sometimes it seems real hard work."



"Should say so," returned 'Zekiel. "The less you think the better, I

should suppose, if that's the case. I've got to be going now."



"And you'll send the telegram surely, and you won't speak of it to any

one?"



"Mum's the word, and I'll send it if it's the last act; but don't put

all your eggs in one basket, little kid. I know Dr. Ballard's been here,

and now you do everything he said, like a good girl, and between the two

of 'em they ought to fix you up. I'd pin more faith to a doctor in the

hand than to one in the bush a thousand miles away, if 't was me."



Jewel smiled on him from heavy eyes. "Did you ever hear of God's needing

any help?" she asked. "I'll never forget your being so kind to me,

never, Zeke; and when error melts away I'm coming out to the stable with

grandpa. He said I should. Good-by."



As soon as the plum-colored livery had disappeared Jewel drew herself

up, took the water pitcher between her hot little hands, and drank long

and deeply. Then with a sigh of satisfaction she turned over in bed and

drew Anna Belle close to her.



"Just see, dearie," she murmured, "how we are always taken care of!"



Mrs. Evringham saw Dr. Ballard's buggy drive away and lost no time in

discovering who had needed his services.



"It's the child," she announced, returning to Eloise's room.



"Poor little thing," returned the girl, rising.



"Where are you going? Stay right where you are. She has a high fever,

and they're not sure yet what it may be. Mrs. Forbes is doing everything

that is necessary. Father has waited over two trains. He hasn't gone to

the city yet."



At the mention of Mr. Evringham Eloise sank back in her chair.



"Dr. Ballard is coming again toward evening," continued Mrs. Evringham,

"and I shall talk with him and find out just the conditions. Mrs.

Forbes is very unsatisfactory, but I can see that she thinks it may be

something infectious."



Eloise lifted a suddenly hopeful face. "Then you would wish to leave at

once?" she said.



"Not at all. Father would surely hear to reason and send the child to

the hospital. They are models of comfort in these days, and it is the

only proper place for people to be ill. I shall speak to Dr. Ballard

about it to-night."



As soon as Eloise had seen her grandfather drive to the station she

eluded her mother, and gathering her white negligee about her, went

softly up to Jewel's room and stood at the closed door. All was still.

She opened the door stealthily. With all her care it creaked a little.

Still no sound from within. She looked toward the bed, saw the flushed

face of the child and that she was asleep, so she withdrew as quietly.



During the day she inquired of Mrs. Forbes if she could be of any

service, but the housekeeper received the suggestion with curt respect,

assuring her that Dr. Ballard had said Jewel would sleep a good deal,

and should not be disturbed.



Mrs. Evringham overheard the question and welcomed the reply with

relief.



Jewel ate the bread and fruit and milk that Mrs. Forbes gave her for her

late lunch, and said that she felt better.



"You look so," returned the housekeeper. The child had not once called

her upstairs during the morning. She certainly was as little trouble as

a sick child could be.



"If 't was anybody else," mused Mrs. Forbes, regarding her, "I should

say that she sensed the situation and knew she'd brought it on herself

and me, and was trying to make up for it; but nobody can tell what she

thinks. Her eyes do look more natural. I guess Dr. Ballard's a good

one."



"It don't seem to hurt you to swallow now," remarked Mrs. Forbes.



"No'm, it doesn't, she answered.



"Now then, you see how foolish and naughty it was the way you behaved

about having the doctor this morning. Look how much better you are

already!"



"Yes'm, I love Dr. Ballard."



"You well may. He's done well by you." Mrs. Forbes took the tray. "Now

do you feel like going to sleep again? The doctor won't come till about

six o'clock. Your fever'll rise toward evening, and that's the time he

wants to see you. I shall sleep in the spare room next you to-night."



"Thank you, Mrs. Forbes. You are so kind; but you won't have to,"

replied the child earnestly. "Would you please draw up the curtains

and put Anna Belle's clothes on the bed? Perhaps I'll dress her after a

while. It doesn't seem fair to make her stay in bed when it wasn't her

error."



"I don't think you'd better keep your arms out," returned Mrs. Forbes

decidedly. "I'll put up the curtains, but when you come to try to do

anything you'll find you are very weak. You can ring the bell when you

want to, you know. And don't take your medicine again for an hour after

eating. I'd take another nap right away if I was you."



When she had gone out, Jewel shook her head at the doll, whose face was

smiling toward her own. "You denied it, didn't you, dearie, the minute

she said it," she whispered. "Error is using Mrs. Forbes to hold me

under mortal mind laws, but it can't be so, because God doesn't want it,

and I'm not afraid any more."



Jewel put her hand under her pillow and drew out the two slips of paper

that bore her mother's messages. These she read through several times.

"Of course there are more, Anna Belle. I shouldn't wonder if there was

one in every pocket, but I don't mean to hunt. Divine love will send

them to me just when I need them, the way He did these. I'm sorry I

can't dress you, dearie, because you've just reflected love all the

time, and ought not to be in bed at all; but I must obey, you know, so

there won't be discord. I'd love to just hop up and get your clothes,

but you'll forgive me for not, I know."



Again Jewel put her hand under her pillow and drew forth her copy of

"Science and Health." "I'll read to you a little, dearie." She opened

the book to page 393 and read, "Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist

all that is unlike God." Jewel paused and thought for a minute. "You

might think, Anna Belle, that that meant rise against Mrs. Forbes, but

it doesn't. It means rise against all error, and one error is believing

that Mrs. Forbes is cross or afraid." She went on reading for several

minutes, passing glibly over familiar phrases and sticking at or

skipping words which presented difficulties.



While she was thus employed Eloise again stole quietly to her cousin's

door, and hearing the soft voice she grew pale. Her mother had exacted

a promise from her that she would not enter the room until Dr. Ballard

consented, so after a minute's hesitation she fled downstairs and found

Mrs. Forbes.



"I think the little girl must be worse! She is talking to herself

incessantly."



Mrs. Forbes regarded the pale face coldly. "I guess there's some

mistake. She was better when I saw her half an hour ago. I'll go up in a

minute."



The minute stretched to five; Jewel had slept scarcely at all the night

before, and by the time the housekeeper had laboriously reached her

door, her voice had grown fainter, then stopped, and she was sound

asleep.



"I wish Mamzell would keep her finger out of this pie," soliloquized

Mrs. Forbes as she retraced her steps.



When Mr. Evringham returned from the city, his first question, as Zeke

met him, was concerning Jewel.



"Mother says she's slept the most of the day," replied the coachman, his

head stiff in his high collar and his eyes looking straight ahead.



"H'm. A good sign does she think, or is it stupor?"



"I couldn't say, sir."



Reaching the house, a long pasteboard box in his hands, Mr. Evringham

found that his grandchild was still asleep.



"I fear the worst, Mrs. Forbes," he said with nervous curtness. "When a

stupor attacks children it is a very bad sign I am told. I'll just ring

up Ballard."



He did so, but the doctor had gone out and was intending to call at the

park before he returned.



"I really think it is all right, Mr. Evringham," said Mrs. Forbes,

distressed by her employer's uneasiness. "Dr. Ballard expected she'd

sleep a great deal. He told me not to disturb her."



"Oh, very well then, perhaps it is not to be regretted. Kindly put those

roses in the deep vase, Mrs. Forbes."



"Yes, sir." She took up the box. "Besides, Mr. Evringham, if she does

get worse, you know the hospital here is one of the very best, and

you"--



Mr. Evringham wheeled and frowned upon the speaker fiercely. "Hospital!"

he ejaculated. "An extraordinary suggestion, Mrs. Forbes! Most

extraordinary! My granddaughter remains in my house."



Mrs. Forbes, crimson with surprise and mortification, retreated. "Very

well, sir," she faltered. "Will you have the roses on the dinner table,

Mr. Evringham?"



"No. Set them here on my desk if you please." With this Mr. Evringham

began walking up and down the floor, pausing once to take up the yellow

chicken. During the day the soft moan, "I wanted you so all night,

grandpa," had been ringing in his ears.



"Mrs. Forbes has no understanding of the child," he muttered, "and of

course I cannot expect anything from the cat and her kitten."



With this he began again his promenade. Mrs. Forbes returned with the

roses, and simultaneously Mr. Evringham saw Essex Maid arching her neck

as she picked her steps past the window.



"By the way," he said curtly, "let Zeke take the Maid back to the barn.

I'll not ride to-day."



"It's very fine weather, sir," protested Mrs. Forbes.



"I'll not ride. I'll wait here for Dr. Ballard."



The housekeeper went forth to give the order.



"I never saw Mr. Evringham so upset in my life," she said in an

awestruck tone.



"I saw the governor wasn't real comfortable," returned the boy. "Guess

he's afraid he's goin' to catch the mumps or something. It would be real

harrowin' if he got any worse case of big head than he's got already."



Mr. Evringham was little accustomed to waiting, and by the time Dr.

Ballard appeared, his nervousness had become painful. "The child's slept

too much, I'm sure of it, Ballard," was his greeting. "I don't know what

we're going to find up there, I declare I don't."



"It depends on whether it's a good sleep," returned the doctor, and his

composed face and manner acted at once beneficially upon Mr. Evringham.



"Well, you'll know, Guy, you'll know, my boy. Mrs. Forbes saw you

coming, and she has gone upstairs to prepare the little girl. She'll be

glad to see you this time, I'll wager."



The broker, roses in hand, ascended the staircase after the physician.

Mrs. Forbes was standing at the foot of the bed, and the room was

pleasantly light as they entered. Jewel, the flush of sleep on her

cheeks, was looking expectantly toward the door. Dr. Ballard came in

first and she smiled in welcome, then Mr. Evringham appeared, heavy

roses nodding in all directions before him.



"Grandpa!" exclaimed the child. "Why, grandpa, did you come?"



There was no mistaking the joy in her tone. Dr. Ballard paused in

surprise, while the stockbroker approached the bed.



"I brought you a few flowers, Jewel," he said, while she pressed his

disengaged hand against her cheek.



"They're the most lovely ones I ever saw," she returned with conviction.

"They make me happy just to look at them."





"Well, Jewel," said the doctor, "I hear you've been making up for

lost sleep in great shape." His eyes, as he spoke, were taking in with

concentrated interest the signs in her face. He came and sat beside the

bed, while Mr. Evringham fell back and Mrs. Forbes regarded the child

critically.



"Well, now, you're a good little patient," went on the doctor, as he

noted the clear eyes.



"Yes, Dr. Ballard, I feel just as nice as can be," she answered.



"No thickness in the voice. I fancy that sore throat is better." The

young doctor could not repress his smile of satisfaction. "I was certain

that was the right attenuation," he thought. "Now let us see."



He took out the little thermometer, and Jewel submitted to having it

slipped beneath her tongue.



As Dr. Ballard leaned back in his chair to wait, he looked up at Mr.

Evringham. "It is very gratifying," he said, "to find these conditions

at this hour of the day. I felt a little more uneasy this morning than I

confessed." He nodded in satisfactory thought. "I grant you medicine is

not an exact science, it is an art, an art. You can't prescribe by hard

and fast rules. You must take into consideration the personal equation."



Presently he leaned forward and removed the thermometer. His eyes smiled

as he read it, and he lifted it toward Mr. Evringham.



"I can't see it, boy."



"Well, there's nothing to see. She hasn't a particle of temperature.

Look here, little one," frowning at Jewel, "if everybody recovered as

quickly as you have, where would we doctors be?"



Turning again and addressing Mr. Evringham, he went on, "I'm

particularly interested in this result because that is a remedy over

which there has been some altercation. There's one man to whom I shall

be glad to relate this experience." The doctor leaned toward his

little patient. "Jewel, I'm not so surprised as I might be at your

improvement," he said kindly. "You will have to excuse me for a little

righteous deception. I put medicine into that glass of water, and now

you're glad I did, aren't you? I'd like you to tell me, little girl, as

near as you can, how often you took it?"



"I didn't take it," replied the child.



Dr. Ballard drew back a little. "You mean," he said after a moment, "you

took it only once?"



"No, sir, I didn't take it at all."



There was a silence, during which all could hear the ticking of the

clock on the table, and the three pairs eyes were fixed on Jewel with

such varying expressions of amazement and disapproval that the child's

breath began to come faster.



"Didn't you drink any of the water?" asked Dr. Ballard at last.



"Yes, out of the pitcher."



"Why not out of the glass?"



"It didn't look enough. I was so thirsty."



They could not doubt her.



Mr. Evringham finally found his voice.



"Jewel, why didn't you obey the doctor?" His eyes and voice were so

serious that she stretched out her arm.



"Oh, grandpa," she said, "please let me take hold of your hand."



"No, not till you answer me. Little girls should be obedient."



Jewel thought a minute.



"He said it wasn't medicine, so what was the use?" she asked.



Mr. Evringham, seeming to find an answer to this difficult, bit the end

of his mustache.



Dr. Ballard was feeling his very ears grow red, while Mrs. Forbes's lips

were set in a line of exasperation.



"Grandpa," said Jewel, and the child's voice was very earnest, "there's

a Bible over there on the table. You look in there in the Gospels, and

you'll find everywhere how Jesus tells us to do what I've done. He said

he must go away, but he would send the Comforter to us, and this book

tells about the Comforter." Jewel took the copy of "Science and Health"

from under the sheet.



"God's creation couldn't get sick. It's just His own image and likeness,

so how could it? And when you can get right into God's love, what do you

want of medicine to swallow? God wouldn't be omnipotent if He needed any

help. You see I'm well. Isn't that all you want, grandpa?"



The appeal of her eyes caused the broker to stir undecidedly. "I never

did have any use for doctors," he thought, after the manner of many who,

nevertheless, are eager to fly to the brotherhood for help at the first

suggestion of pain. Moreover, the humor of the situation was beginning

to dawn upon him, and he admired the fine temper and self-control with

which the young physician pulled himself together and rose.



"I am glad you are well, Jewel, very," he said; "but the next time I

am called to prescribe for a little Christian Scientist I shall put

the pellets on her tongue." He smiled as he took up his case and said

good-by.



Mr. Evringham followed him down the stairs, heroically resisting the

impulse to laugh. Only one remark he allowed himself as he bade the

doctor good-by.



"You're quite right, Ballard, in your theory. Jewel has been here only

three days, but I could have told you that in doing anything whatever

for her, it is always absolutely necessary to consider the personal

equation."