My liveliest interest was at once awakened.

“He has been sick, indeed!” I replied, as I laid my hand upon his white forehead.

I found his skin cold and damp.  The fever had nearly burned out the vital energy of his system.

“Do you give him much nourishment?”

“He takes a little barley-water.”

“Has not the doctor ordered wine?”

“Yes, ma’am,” replied Mrs. Ellis, but she spoke with an air of hesitation.  “He says a spoonful of good wine, three or four times a day, would be very good for him.”

“And you have not given him any?”

“No, ma’am.”

“We have some very pure wine, that we always keep for sickness.  If you will step over to our house, and tell Alice to give you a bottle of it, I will stay with Edward until you return.”

How brightly glowed that poor woman’s face as my words fell upon her ears!

“O, ma’am, you are very kind!” said she.  “But it will be asking too much of you to stay here!”

“You didn’t ask it, Mrs. Ellis,” I simply replied.  “I have offered to stay; so do you go for the wine as quickly as you can, for Edward needs it very much.”

I was not required to say more.  In a few minutes I was alone with the sick boy, who lay almost as still as if death were resting upon his half-closed eye-lids.  To some extent during the half hour I remained thus in that hushed chamber, did I realize the condition and feelings of the poor mother, whose only son lay gasping at the very door of death, and all my sympathies were, in consequence, awakened.

As soon as Mrs. Ellis returned with the wine, about a teaspoonful was diluted, and the glass containing it placed to the sick lad’s lips.  The moment its flavor touched his palate, a thrill seemed to pass through his frame, and he swallowed eagerly.

“It does him good!” said I, speaking warmly, and from an impulse that made my heart glow.

We sat and looked with silent interest upon the boy’s face, and we did not look in vain, for something like warmth came upon his wan cheeks, and when I placed my hand upon his forehead, the coldness and dampness were gone.  The wine had quickened his languid pulse.  I stayed an hour longer, and then another spoonful of the generous wine was given.  Its effect was as marked as the first.  I then withdrew from the humble home of the widow and her only child, promising to see them again in the morning.

When I regained the street, and my thoughts for a moment reverted to myself, how did I find all changed?  The clouds had been dispersed—­the heavy load had been raised from my bosom.  I walked with a free step.

Sympathy for others, and active efforts to do others good, had expelled the evil spirit from my heart; and now serene peace had there again her quiet habitation.  There was light in every part of my dwelling when I re-entered it, and I sung cheerfully, as I prepared with my own hands, a basket of provisions for the poor widow.