And then came the great miracle.
My child awoke and began to cry. It was a faint cry, oh! so thin and weak, but it went thundering and thundering through me. There was a moment of awful struggle, and then a mighty torrent of love swept over me.
It was Motherhood.
My child! Mine! Flesh of my flesh! Oh God! Oh God!
All my desire for my baby's death to save it from the pains of life was gone, and my heart, starved so long, throbbed with tenderness. I raised myself in bed, in spite of my nurse's protest, and cried to her to give me my baby.
"Give her to me. Give her to me."
"By-and-by, by-and-by," said the nurse.
"Now, now! I can wait no longer."
"But you must take some food first. Emmerjane, give her that glass of milk and water."
I drank the milk just to satisfy them, and then held out my arms for my child.