第55章

When she had finished she rejoined the Doctor, who had by this time nearly completed his round of the ward.As soon as he was through he dismissed Stewards and Wardmasters to their duties, adn returned with her to her room.It was so changed that she thought she ahd made a mistake when she opened the door.The time of her absence had been well employed by a detail of men, whom the Doctor had previously instructed.The floor was as white and clean as strong arms with an abundance of soap and hot water could scrupt it, the walls and ceiling were neatly papered with "Harper's Weeklies,"and "Frank Leslies," other papers concealed the roughness of the table and shelves, white sheet and pillow-cases had given the cot an air of inviting neatness, and before it lay a square of rag carpet.The window was shaded with calico curtains, the tin basin and dipper had been scoured to brightness, and beside them stood a cedar water-pail with shining brass hoops.

"Ah," she said, with brightening face, "this is something like living.""Yes," answered Dr.Denslow, "I imagine it IS some improvement upon the sandy desert in which you spent the night.I hope we will soon be able to make it still more comfortable.We have just started this hospital, and we are sadly destitute of many of the commonest necessaries of such an institution.But everything will get better in a week or so, and while I can not exactly promise you the comforts of a home, I can assure you that life will be made more endurable than it seems to be possible now.""I do hope none of this has been taken away from any sick man who needs it more than I?" said Rachel, with a remembrance of how much the boys in the ward needed.

"Do not disturb yourself with any such thought.Your comfort has not been bought at the expense of any one else's.I would not give, even to you, anything taht would help restore a sick soldier to his regiment or his home.My first duty, as that of yours and all of us, is to him.He is the man of the occasion.All the rest of us are mere adjuncts to him.We have no reason for being, except to increase his effectiveness."The earnestness with which he spoke, so different from his light bantering at the breakfast table, made her regard him more attentively.

"I begin to get a glimmering," she said at length, "of the inspiration in this kind of work.Before it has all seemed unutterably repulsive to me.But it has its rewards.""Yes," said he, lapsing still deeper into a mood which she soon came to recognize in him as a frequent one of spiritual exaltation, "we who toil here, labor amidst the wreck and ruin of war without the benefit of that stirring impulse which fills the souls of those who actually go into battle.The terrors of human suffering which they see but for an instant, as when the lightning in the night shows the ravages of the storm, encompass us about and abide with us continually.We are called upon for another kind of fortitude, and we must look for our reward otherwise than in the victor's laurels.We can only have to animate us our own consciousness of a high duty well done.To one class of minds this is an infinitely rich meed.The old Jewish legend says that Abrahams principal jewel was one worn upon his breast, 'whose light raised those who were bowed down, and healed the sick,' and when he passed from earth it was placed in heaven, where it shown as one of the great stars.Of such kind must be our jewel."He stopped, and blushing through his beard, as if ashamed of his heroics, said with a light laugh:

"But if there is anything I fear it is self-righteousness which cankereth the soul.Come; I will show you a sight which will repress any tendency you may ever feel to exalt your services to the pinnacle of human merit."While leading her to a remote part of the hospital he continued:

"Of course greater love hath no man than this, that he gave his life for that which he loves.Considered relatively to the person the peasant who falls in the defense of his country gives just as much as the Emperor who may die by his side.In either case the measure of devotion is brim-full.Nothing more can be added to it.But there are accessories and surroundings which apparently make one life of much greater value than another, and make it a vastly richer sacrifice when laid on the altar of patriotism.""There are certainly degrees of merit, even in yielding up one's life," said Rachel, not altogther unmindful of the sacrifice she herself had made in coming to the front.