Chapter 15 #2
Judith put the lamp on the table, then went to the back room where she’d left Roman’s sister. “Claudette, can I borrow your mirror? Roman says Daniel gave you one.”
“Of course.” She reached down to the reticule that she’d attached to her waistband.
She pulled the drawstrings apart and quickly produced the case, opening it to reveal the mirror.
“Daniel got this for my birthday. He says Queen Victoria has one very similar. At least, that’s what the store owner in Chicago told him. ”
Judith smiled. “That’s a beautiful gift.”
“Whatever are you going to use it for?”
“To reflect light from the lamp. Roman’s trying to see into the baby’s mouth.”
“How marvelous.” Claudette shook her head. “I would never have thought of that.”
Judith took the case and hurried back to where Roman was. She picked up the lamp and angled the mirror to reflect the light into the child’s mouth.
“Perfect. That’s very useful,” Roman said as he moved the tongue depressor to better see. “Poor baby. His throat is red and no doubt very sore.”
Sister Agnes returned with the basin of water. Roman’s mother followed close behind with a couple of towels.
“Sister, is he eating at all?” Roman asked.
“He’s taken very little sustenance. He won’t suckle. We’ve used an eyedropper to force it, but even so, he’s taken very little.” She put the water on the dressing table, and Roman’s mother did likewise with the towels.
“I’ve also brought my journal for their care.” Sister Agnes produced a small book from her pocket. “You can see for yourself what each baby has taken. I’ll put it here atop the chest of drawers.”
Roman removed the baby’s diaper. “Mother, we need to get his temperature down immediately and get some fluids into him. Otherwise, I fear he won’t be long for this world. We may already be too late. He was very small to begin with.”
His mother took the baby. Her expression betrayed her concern. Judith watched as she gently placed the infant in the water. He didn’t even respond.
Judith fought back tears. She had been in sad situations with babies before this. They were so weak and often couldn’t fight against illness. Recovery was completely up to God.
Roman washed his hands while Judith awaited instructions. They moved on to the next baby, who wasn’t quite as sick. He gave the child a thorough examination, then went to the next. By the time all four were tended, Roman’s mother was taking the baby from the bath.
Judith followed Roman in silence. She gave one last glance at Baby Boy 1 as Roman’s mother rediapered him. He didn’t even have a name. Not a real name. She whispered a prayer for God’s mercy and healing and swallowed the lump in her throat.
Upstairs, they found four more children in the first room. They ranged in age from three to five. All were girls and well enough that they began to cry when they saw people enter the room. They held up their arms from their beds, in hopes of being held.
Judith’s heart nearly broke. It wasn’t easy to see them in such a state of need.
Roman was certain that Baby Boy 1 would be dead before nightfall.
There was nothing he could do to save the child, and it put him in a foul mood.
For the benefit of the children, however, he knew he couldn’t let that be the attitude he revealed to them.
They were sick and hurting. They needed attention and love.
He checked each child as gently as possible, speaking softly and giving lots of smiles.
He was amazed at the work Judith was doing.
She didn’t complain about anything but jumped right in and did what she could to ease the suffering.
At one point she held two toddlers at once, doing her best to calm their tears. She seemed a natural at mothering.
Not needing her for the older children, Roman continued his rounds while Judith made her way back to the baby room. He wondered if she knew how sick Baby Boy 1 really was. He would tell Sister Agnes prior to leaving, but probably not say anything to Judith until later. Perhaps on the ride home.
He glanced at his pocket watch. It was nearly noon. He checked over Samuel, who was on the mend but still feeling poorly.
“Your fever seems to be gone. You’ll be feeling better soon.”
“I don’t like being sick,” the boy grumbled.
“If it had come during the school year, you wouldn’t have minded. I’ve heard you say before that you like getting out of school.”
Samuel gave him a big grin. “I do like getting out of school. But being sick now is wasting a good summer.”
Roman laughed. “You’ll soon be able to have fun again. Didn’t Sister Agnes tell me last time that you’ve been taking care of the three milk cows?”
“Yup,” the boy said proudly. “I get them milked in the morning and then again just before supper. Mr. Brannon has to do it while I’m sick. And probably after I’m gone. Did you know that I’m getting adopted?”
“I heard about that. Are you happy?”
The boy nodded. “I’ll have a real family, and that’s good.
And the Haglunds are good people. They were friends with my ma and pa before the Indians attacked.
I don’t remember them very much, but they came to visit me here.
They told me stories about when I was little, and a couple of those I could remember.
I like knowing that they can tell me about my folks. ”
“That is a blessing,” Roman said, repacking his bag. “When are they coming for you?”
“After I get well. Sister Agnes said there was no sense in sending me to them sick.”
“I think Sister Agnes is very wise.”
Roman extended his hand, and Samuel did likewise. They shook, and then Roman gave the boy one last smile. “Make your folks proud.”
“That’s what Sister Ann told me to do. She said I was a reflection of all they’d taught me when I was little. But I’ve been staying with so many other people since then that I don’t know that I can be a reflection of them at all.”
“Then reflect Jesus. That’s what we’re all supposed to do.” With that, Roman left Samuel and made his way back through the house. He found his mother and Claudette in the kitchen, helping put together lunch for the children.
“I’m glad that some of them are actually telling me how hungry they are,” Sister Ann was saying. “I’ll never again complain about the work associated with meals.”
“Where’s Judith?” Roman asked, placing his bag by the back door.
“She’s with the babies,” Sister Agnes said. “She said she wanted to give them a little extra love.”
Roman wasn’t surprised. In his short time of knowing Judith, he could easily tell her heart was quite tender. He went to the infant room and opened the door as quietly as possible. Inside, Judith sat in the middle of the room, humming and rocking Baby Boy 1.
He smiled at the sweet picture of motherly love. Judith looked up and met his gaze. It was only then that he noticed the tears on her cheeks.
“What’s wrong?” He moved closer.
Her expression was one of resignation. “He drew his last breath a few minutes ago. He’s safely in the arms of Jesus now.”
“The death of a child . . . a baby is never easy to experience,” Roman said as he and Judith sat in the garden that evening.
“No, that is for certain.”
She’d been so quiet after the Sisters had taken the baby away to prepare him for burial. Roman had thought she might say something on the ride back to the Ashton house, but instead she had withdrawn into her thoughts, and even Claudette couldn’t seem to bring her around.
Roman had taken his mother and sister home and cleaned up after leaving Judith at her grandfather’s house, but he couldn’t stop thinking about her.
That was why he returned. He no longer cared that she was an Ashton, nor that she lived in a house probably built with profits from his father’s financial ruin.
As they sat in the growing twilight, Roman wanted only to offer her comfort and reassurance. “The poor little guy was just too weak. I think he was most likely born before his full term. He started life with a great disadvantage.”
“What happened to his mother?” Judith asked, her voice barely audible.
“Died giving him life. She was unmarried and had no family.”
“Forced, no doubt, to work at unpleasant tasks,” Judith said, shaking her head.
“Roman, it must stop. These poor girls who have no one get caught up in the trap of being used in such horrific ways. We must create help for them, even if society is against them in their moral outrage. Mrs. Van Cleve made a comment asking, ‘Where are the men who have created these circumstances?’ They pay no penalty, suffer no shunning, and endure very little trouble for their deeds. But the girls involved . . .” Her voice faded.
Roman reached over to take her hand. He knew it was more intimacy than was called for, but he couldn’t help himself. “We will find ways to help them. I promise you that much.”
For several long minutes, Judith said nothing. She clung to his hand as if Roman were offering her a lifeline.
“There’s just so much wrong in this world,” she finally said.
“I’ve seen so much of it firsthand. Death and sorrow, misery and suffering.
How can anyone just walk by and leave the wounded on the side of the road?
Why do we lack a heart of compassion when we are all so in need of love and understanding? ”
Roman couldn’t have loved her more than he did in that moment. She truly was the only woman he could imagine having at his side. For the rest of his life.
“I know that God has the world in His hands,” Judith continued. “I know that He sees each sparrow fall. But why, Roman, why must the children suffer so much?”
He met her gaze and saw the tears that had formed.
He let go of her hand and reached up to touch her cheek.
“I could tell you how this is a fallen world and that sin cares not for whom it harms. That the devil seeks to destroy all that God loves, but that God will have His way in the end.
But I know that would not offer you comfort now.
“The only choice given to us is that we do what we can to be God’s servants and do His work.
You are a most persuasive woman, Judith Stanford.
You have convinced many to help, and you aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty and do some of the hard labor that is required.
You have such a tenderness toward the less fortunate, and your actions have helped so many. ”
“But it’s not enough, Roman. A handful here and few dozen there.
It’s not nearly enough. There are orphans and destitute families all over this country.
Good people who are trying their best and still failing.
Then others come in to take advantage of them, and they suffer all the more.
” She sniffed back tears. “What is to be done?”
Roman reached into his coat and pulled out his handkerchief.
He smiled, and instead of handing her the cloth, he dabbed her wet cheeks.
“We keep praying. We keep working to right wrongs and better those who cannot better themselves. We look for the needs instead of ignoring them, and we expose them to the world so that all might know the truth. Jesus told us to love one another as He loved us. Somehow we need to convince our fellow man that this command is just as relevant today as it was when Jesus said it.”
“Sometimes it just seems that it’s so little.
Those children today were struggling with sickness, but even more so they long for love.
They need to be cared for by a mother and a father.
They need families around them so that in their sickness they can be watched over in tenderness.
Not that the Sisters weren’t wonderful with them, but they are only two older women with limited resources and strength. ”
“But that’s how it starts,” Roman said, giving her a smile.
“Someone cares and then another and another. Together they form a group and begin to help. Others join in, and soon truly amazing things start to happen. God calls each of us to do our part, Judith. You cannot do everyone’s job.
Keep focusing on your calling, and God will bless your obedience. ”
She nodded and eased back against the cushioned chair. “I know you’re right. There’s just so much to do.”
Roman chuckled. “Just remember, you don’t have to do it alone.”
“Again, you’re right.”
“Since you’re in a mood to think positively toward me, I’d like to ask you to accompany me to the Wagners’ party. I don’t feel I can avoid it, and having you there with me would make the evening so much more bearable.”
She met his gaze, and Roman lost his heart. “I would really enjoy that. Grandfather wants me to attend, but I was dreading it.”
He wanted nothing more than to kiss her but refrained. “Then I will pick you up just before eight.”
Perhaps that evening could end in a kiss.