"On a beautiful morning in the fall of 1917, the following incident occurred in a Protestant hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. The men's ward of about forty beds was practically filled. Among the patients was an elderly man who was not confined to his bed but was permitted to walk about the ward. He was rather reserved in manner, he was not given to saying much, but he appeared to observe closely what was going on.

   Among the nurses was a young girl who was a general favorite because of her constantly cheerful disposition -- her winning smiles and kind, encouraging words. She fairly radiated Christian sunshine and joy. On this morning she was assigned to a patient who was critically ill and not expected to recover. Miss K----- set about her task in her usual attractive manner, efficient, gentle and considerate. All the while she smiled into the sick man's face and spoke words of hope and cheer to lift him out of his sadness.

  The old gentleman, who had been walking about, hobbled up and stood watching her intently. After a few moments, he blurted out in a very brusque but sincere and meaningful way, and in a voice heard distinctly throughout the ward: "Miss K---,

do you know, if I were so sick that the doctor said I must die, and if you were to look at me and smile -- I just wouldn't!"

  I saw it all; and I shall never forget the ripples of approving laughter, which brightened up the whole ward. Everyone felt that the old man's remark was an excellent and deserved tribute to the winsome personality of the little favorite nurse, whose Christian character was ever expressing itself in cheerful smiles, comforting words and kindly deeds."

Roy V. Derr.