Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-10-23
rENALE FORTI'tuDE.


lone often hears of the great firmness OF the
female sex, and their powers OF enduring de-
gree of physical pain which would utterly break
down the stubborn strength of man. An interest.
inp exempli6cation of this remark will be found
in the short narrative immediately following The
event made a strong impression on my mind at
the time. aud thought it well worthy OF an en-
try in my Diary.
..I had for several months been in constant at
tendance on Mrs. St. young married la
DIV. of considerable family and fortune, who was
the victim of that terrible scourge OF the female
sex-a cancer. To great personal attraction she
added uncommon sweetness of disposition: and
the fortitude with which she submitted to the az
onizing proads of her malady, together with her
ardent expressions of gratitude for such Temporal
~ alleyiat,ons as her anxious medical attendants
could supply. contributed to inspire me with
very lively interest III her fate. | can consclen-
tiously say, that during the whole period OF my
attendance, | never heard word OF complaint
fall from her. nor witnessed any indications Of
impatience or irrtabIity. found her one morn.
inc. stretched on the crimson sofa in the drawing
room: and though her pallied features. and gently
corrugated eve -broNs, evinced the intense agony
she was sufftrns.--on my mquiring what sort OF
night she had passed. she replied in calm but
tremulous tone, Oh. Doctor, have had dread
fal night-but am glad Captain St was not
with me-for it would have made him very
wretched. At that moment fine flaxenhaIred
little boy, her first and only child, came running
into the room, his blue laughing eyes gl'tterlnS
with innocen, merriment. | took HIM on my knee
and amused him with my watch, IN order that
ne might not disturb his mother. The poor sui
ferer, after gazing on him with an ar OF intense
fundness for some moments. suddenly covered
her eyes with her hand ooh, how slender-how
snowy-hOw almost transparent was it!)-and
presently saw the tears trickllng through her
hngers-but she uttered not a word. There was
the mother! The aggravated ma'ignty OF hcr DIS
order rendered an operation at length ine'i'abic.
The eminent surgeon, who. Jointly with myself
WAS in regular attendance on her, feellngly COM
municated tie intelligence. and asked whether
she thought she had fortitude enough to submit
TO an operation.
She assured him with sweet smile of resigna-
tion. that she had beeu for some time expecting
as much, aud had made mp her mind to submit
to it-but on two conditions-that her husband
who was then at sea should not be informed of
it till il was over; and that during the operation
she should not be in any wise bound. or blindfud-
ed. Her calm and decisive manner convinced
me tnIt Tetllntlsil dlNt hVu'u pS uSSiSNS' A'
looked at me with doubtful air. She observed
it, and said, =. | see what YOU are thinking. Sir
-. but hope to shew YOU Il at a woman has
more courage than you seem willing to give her.
credit for In short after the surgeon had &C.
ouiesced in the latter c0ndition--to which he had
especially demurred-a day was fixed for the
operation--suhject Of course. to Mrs. St IS
state of health. When the Wednesday arrived.
il waswith some agitation that entered Sir IS
carriage in company with himself and his senior
pupi Mr.. / could scarce avoid certain
nervous neutrality-suspicious. as 1t may seem
when saw the servant place the operating case
on the seat of the carriage. Are you sure you
have every thing ready. Mr.. -: inquired Sir
-. with calm and business-like air. which
somewhat irrltated me. On being assured OF
the affirmative, and after cautiously Casting his
eve over the case of Instruments to make assn.
rance doubly sure. we drove oft. We arrived
at Mrs. SITS. who resided a few miles
from town about two O'Clock in the afternoon.
and we're Immediately ushered into the room in
which the operarion Was TO be performed-a back
p,,;or. the window of which looked into beau
it'll garden. ! shalt be pardoned. | hope, for
acknow lodging, that the glimpse caught ct the
paie and dlsordercd cOuntenanCe of the servant
rs he retired. alter shelving us into the room,
some what Disconnected me, tor IN addition to the
deep interes felt in the fate If the lovely suffer
or. | had always an adherence for the operative
part Of the profession. which many years ofprac-
tice did not suffice to remove. The necessary
arrangements being at length completed, com
sisting of hateful array of instruments. cloths.
-sponge,-warm water, &c. &C.-a message
was sent 10 Mrs. ST.: to inform her all was
ready.
Sir r was just making jocular and not
very wel-timed allusiou to my asitated air. when
the door was opened and, Mrs. - entered.
followed bv her two attendants. Her step was
frm-her air compassionate her pale features
irradiated with a smile-sad however, as the
cold twilight of October. She was then about
twenty six or seven years ofase-and under all
the di,adyantageous circumstances IN which she
was placed. looked at that moment beautiful
woman. Her hair was light aburn. aud hung
back neeiectedlv over forehead and neck white
as marble. Her full blue ewes which usually
beamed with delicious pensivc expression from
beneath
~" the soft anguor of The dropping id.'
were now lighted with the glitter OF restessness