Medill High School - Medillite Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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THE MEDILLITE 105 left George quite a large sum of money. Upon preparing to- leave the ship, he discovered that his valise which help-some money and im- portant papers had disappeared. Other complaints similar to this were heard from the other passengers. Mr. Cadwell was then left without wifejhome, ormoney. He had only Peter and resolved to devote his life to making him the kind of a man his mother would wish himto be. I U p ' ' . - - I Ili The great city of New York favored Mr. Cadwell with employ- mentqthe first day of his search. I-Ie and Peter, only four years of age, lived in a small room in a poor section of the city. Mr. Cadwell worked very hard and soon saved enough money to-send Peter :to a private schoolgfor boys. ' - I - A- . 'f 4f . r. 1 V ' 12 YEARS ELAPSED if. ' Mr. Cadwell had bought a small cottage in the suburban section of New York and Peter was home with him for the summer vacation. Soon after his son's .return home, Mr. Cadwell became very ill and Peter remained at his bedsidenall Hay., The sick man was delirious andtin his delirii1m,Peterjheard hinf say, Yes, Eunice, I 'am taking good care of Peter and he is a big boy now. ' ' Q f ' Peterghad grown to be a handsome young man: he was tall and had aifinegathleticlbody, and his 'dark eyes and black wavy hair re- minded Mr. Cadwell of his lost'wife.Q .. I 'i Q I 1 The physicians ,reported Mr. Cadwell out of dangerlbut he still requiredicarefuljattention. 'The nurse who had charge of Mr. Cad- well was suddenly called away and in her place Nurse fEunice 'Cad- 'welll '-Armstrong was sent. Hearing of her destination, sheghad' a faint hope of this being the George Cadwell whom :she had 'lost on that eventful night twelve years ago, but she immediately put all such thoughts out of her head as being impossible. Seeing Peter, her hopes were increased, nevertheless, she made no effort of investigation as George was too ill for such discussion. However, when she and Peter were out on the veranda one day, Peter who had taken a great liking to her, broached the subject as to why she took up nursing as a pro- fession. It was then that she told her story. ' She had a far away look and her eyes grew misty as she braced up enough courage to tell him of her long hidden sorrow. Well, a quick breath and then, It was twelve years ago while my husband, my son and I were coming to America from France, a great storm arose. The tumult on the ship was unbearable and many were leaping into the ocean hoping to be rescued. I had become sep- arated from them and thinking that they had jumped overboard I did likewise. I believe them to be drowned as I haven't heard anything in all these years concerning them. I was saved by fellow pas- sengers in a life boat and we reached an inhabited island. It was a year later that I was financially able to go to New York. Upon my arrival, being heartbroken and alone, I decided to become a nurse and thus be employed where I could help others. Then it was that I changed my name-adding the last name Armstrong and letting my surfliame become my middle name, she concluded, heaving a deep sig .

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104 THE MEDILLITE YS O

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106 THE MEDILLITE Peter had been stirred by her story and there was a faint remem- brance of having heard his father tell.of a similar disaster while on board ship enroute for America. Peter felt a chill go through him. He seemed to feel hot one minute and cold the next. He dug his finger nails into his palms to control his emotions. Mrs. Armstrong sat very still, her eyes were clouded with tears. Peter attempted to speak but no words came. A few seconds passed in silence. Mrs. Arm-arm-strong! or I-I-should say M-M-motherg5fbe- cause I think you are my man-mother! ' 'P The words were spoken with diiiiculty but he looked straight at her when he spoke. Mrs, Armstrong turned her face in astonish- ment but she slowly shook her head and made an effort to speak but the words stuck in her throat. Peter did not allow this to pass unfinished. He took her into his sick father's room where he asked him to tell of the ship wreck that had occurred so many years ago. Mr. Cadwell told his tragic story although he was unaware of the reason for doing so. Peter turned to Mrs. Armstrong and cried excitedly, I knew it! Dad, he continued, wringing his hands, Oh, Dad, she's our mother. Mr. Cadwell was too surprised to believe this and heard the story over again from Mrs. Armstrong. As the three sat together happy over the reunion, Eunice with one arm around Peter and the other around George, lifted her eyes heavenward and whispered thankfully, God, I thank thee, my serv- ices have not been in vain! A 0 ij ' X gall .5 , s: rf lqffwl' kmllurfl.lllillllilfikf,illllflllllllll 5'Wl1,gll,,lllll1f, M '.wllll'lflrn1, - A -.-1 ,.,..- -4