“I know it, Pop,” Sally said miserably.  “You growed old in the hills afore you ever seen the Settlements.  But sence I got a sight of whut folks is a-doin’ down here, ‘pears like I can’t be reconciled to goin’ back.  ‘Tain’t the work back home, nor the lonesomeness, tho’ the Lord knows the only folks thet ever does pass is when they’re totin’ deads down the creek bottom.  Hit’s the feelin’ of bein’ shet off from my chanct.  Ef I could git a larnin’ I wouldn’t ask nothin’ better then to go back an’ pass it along.  When I see these here gals a-larnin’ how to holp the sick, an’ keer fer babies, an’ doctor folks, I lay here an’ steddy ’bout all the good I could do back home ef I only knowed how.”

“You do know how,” Pop declared vociferously; “ain’t you bin a-lookin’ after folks thet’s ailin’ around the Fork fer a couple of years or more?  Ez fer these new-fangled doctorin’s, they won’t nary one ov ’em do the good yarbs will.  I’d ruther trust bitter-goldenseal root to cure a ailment than all the durn physic in this here horspittle.  I ben a-studyin’ these here doctors, an’ I don’t take much stock in ’em; instid of workin’ on a organ thet gets twisted, they ups and draws hit.  Now the Lord A’mighty put thet air pertickler thing in you fer some good reason, an’ ther’s bound to be a hitch in the machinery when hit’s took out.  Hit’s a marvel to me some of these here patients ain’t a amblin’ round on all fours from what’s been did to their insides!”

“But think whut the doctor did fer me,” urged Sally.

“I ain’t fergittin’,” Pop said suddenly, “an’ I’ve paid ’em fer hit.  But ef they calkerlate on yer takin’ root here, they’re treein’ the wrong possum.  You’re a-goin’ home along o’ me to-morrow.”

That afternoon he left the hospital, and several hours later was seen walking up Monument Street with his arm full of bundles.

“I believe he’s been buying clothes to take Sally home in!” said one of the nurses, who was watching him from an upper window.  “He asked me this morning if I knew a place where he could buy women’s togs.”

“It’s a shame he won’t let the girl stay,” said Miss Fletcher.  “I have been talking to the superintendent, and she is quite willing to let her do light work around the hospital and pick up what training she can.  I should be glad enough to look after her, and there’s a good night school two blocks over.”

“Why don’t you talk to the old man?” urged the nurse.  “You are the only one who has ever been able to do anything with him.  Perhaps you could make him see what an injustice he is doing the girl.”

“I believe I’ll try,” said Miss Fletcher.

The next morning, when she came on duty, she found Sally’s bed the repository of a strange assortment of wearing apparel.  A calico dress of pronounced hue, a large lace jabot, and a small pair of yellow kid gloves were spread out for inspection.

“I knowed they wuz too leetle,” Pop was saying, as he carefully smoothed the kid fingers, “but I ’lowed you could kerry ’em in yer hand.”