And unable to resist the plea, Mrs. Rose called Kitty (who was by no means unwilling) from her work, to swing her little daughter "just for five minutes."
Mrs. Rose having finished her cooking stood at the window for a while, to watch the little maid as she ascended higher and higher.
"Kitty must leave off now," she said to herself, and was just about to call her in, when to her terror and anguish, the rope of the swing suddenly broke, and little Elsie was thrown with considerable force to the ground.
THE ROPE OF THE SWING SUDDENLY BROKE,
AND LITTLE ELSIE WAS THROWN TO THE GROUND.
There had echoed one sharp scream of fear from the childish lips, and then followed a sudden silence, which seemed to paralyze the mother's footsteps.
Quickly recovering herself, she flew to the spot where her darling lay, and lifting her gently from the ground she carried her indoors, bidding Kitty at the same time run with all possible speed for a doctor. After waiting as it seemed to the agonized mother an eternity, the doctor arrived, and examined the still unconscious little girl.
"Doctor," said the poor mother, "I beseech you to tell me, is there serious injury?"
Dr. Webster, who was himself the father of a little child about Elsie's age, looked compassionately at the widow's white, strained features.
"I fear, Mrs. Rose," he answered, "the back is somewhat injured, and there has been a great shock to the system; but keep up heart and hope, she is young and her constitution is good. I will call again this evening and bring my partner with me."