Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1830-12-30
FEMALE FORTITUDE.
From the Diary of a late London Phvsicit


Il had for several months been in con-
slant attendance on Mrs. ST., Young
married lady, Of considerable family and
fortune, who was the victim of that terrible
scourge of the female sex-a cancer. To
great personal attn actions, she added un-
common sweetness ofdisposition and the
forttude with which she submitted to the
agonizing inroads Of her malaGy, together
with her ardent expressions ofgratitude for
such temporary alleviations as her anxious
medical attendants could supply, contribu-
ted to inspire me with very lively interest
in her fate. can concientiously say, that
during the whole period Of my attendance,
l never heard a word Of complaint at all
from her, nor witnessed any indications of
impa'ience or irritability. found her,
one morning, stretched on the crimson sofa
in the drawing-room and though her pal
lid features, and gently corrugated eye
brows, evinced the intense agony she was
suffering,-on my inquiring what sort Of
night she had passed, she replied in a
calm but trcmulous tone, sOh, Doctor, ]
have had dreadful night-but I am glad
Captain St was not with me-for it
would have made him very wretched -
AT that moment 6ne ilaxen-haired little
boy, her first and only child, came running
into the room, his blue laughing eyes, gilt
tering with innocent merriment. took
him on my knee, and amused him with my
watch, in order that he might not disturb
his mother. The poor sufferer, after ga
xing on him with an air ofintense fondness
for some moments, suddenly covered her
eyes with her hand (oh, how slender-how
snowy-how almost transparent was it y
and ! presently saw the tears trickling
through her 6ngers---but she uttered not
word. There was the mother! The ag-
gravatcd malignity of her disorder render
ed an operation at length inevitable. The
eminent surgeon, who, jointly with myself,
was in regular attendance on her, feelingly
communicated the intelligence, and asked
whether she thought she had fortitude e.
nough to submit to an operation. She as
sured him, with a sweet smile Of resigna-
ton, that she had for some time been sus-
pecting as much. and had made up her
mind to submit to it-but on two cOndi-
tions-that her husband (who was at seal
| should not be informed of it till it was over
and that during the operation she should
| not be in any wise bound, or bliDdfolded.
Her calm and decisive manner convinced
me that remonstrance would be useless
| Sir - looked at me with doubtful air.
She, observed it; and said, see what
you are thinking, Sir -; but hope to
show you that woman has more courage
than you seem to give credit for In short.
after the surgeon had acquiesced in the lat
ter condition-to which she had especially
demurred-a day was fixed for the opera.
tion-subject, Of course, to Mrs. ST.
state Of health.
When the Wednesday arrived, it wa
with some agitation that entered 81
Is carriage in company with himsel
and his senior pupil. Mr.. -. l coul'
scarce avoid a certain nervous tremor-un
professional as it may seem-when l saw
the servant place the operating case on th
seat Of the carriage. Are you sure tina
you have every thing ready. Mr.. -? in
quired Sir -, with calm and bushes
like air, which somewhat irritated me. o
being assured of the affirmative, and afte
cautiously casting his eye over the case {
Instruments to make assurance doubl
sure, we drove of. We arrived at Mrs.
l-'s-who resided few miles frol
town-about two o'clock in the afternoon
. and were Immediately ushered into tn
=" once saw the life Of patient lost. merely throes
the want Of s1ch audable Precaution - that OF
-, in the present instance. An Ind:sPensaIps =.
sruent was suddenly required in the midst OF the OF
GRAFTON, and the dunay Of the operator ana thos
around him, there was none a. hand