Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-03-01
From The Diary of late Londos Physicia,,.
THE VICTIM.


OF pleurisy, chained me a prisoner to my
room for several weeks. Ny companion,
whose name was st. Glare, was a young man
OF high spirits ard lively temper, and though
naturally kind and aflecuonate, escaped, as
often as he could, irern the constraint Of a
SICK room. In one of his walks, he CHANGED
10 encounter young lady, who he fell in love
with, as the phrase IS, at first sight, and whose
beauty he dwelt upon With warmth of en-
thusiasm. not little tantallzing to one like
himself, who could not even behold it The
lady, however, quilted DawGsh very sudden
ly, and left my friend in ignorance of every
other particular concerning her, than that
her name was Smith, and her residence in
London. 81 vague direction he, however,
tresolved to iollow up. We returned to town
sooner than we otherwise should have done.
IN order that the lover might commence bis
inquiries. My friend was worthy Of the no
mantle name he bore. Melville st Clare-a
man that was the delight of all his boarding
school cousins. and the jest Of all his acquain-
lance IN the school.
de was the sole son Of Thomas st. Clare,
OF Clare Hail, in the county Of -, No
IN Hanover Square, ami Banker. No. -,
Lombard street An eccentric man did the
worlu count him. every odd" remarked the
the old man should insist upon his son study
ing medicine and surgery, when every one
knows he will inherit at least ten thousand a
year" Nothing TO do with it, was the ar
gument OF the father; 'svho can tell what is
to happea 10 funded, or even landed proper
~, IN England The empire OF disease takes
40 the world, and in all is quarters, medical
knowledge may be easily made the key to
competence and wealth.
While quietly discussing in my own mind
the various relative merits between two modes
of operation for political aneurism, at my
lodgings IN town, some three weeks after our
return from the country of hills and rain,
(some ungailanty and Of thick ANGLES also, J
my studies were broken in upon by mes
senger, who demanded my immediate com
pliance with the terms OF note he held In
his hand. 1t ran thus:--
"Let me pray you to set off instantly with
the bearer In my carriage to your distressed
friend Nj Sr. CLARE"
On reaching the house, the hines were
down and the shutters closed; while the knock
er muflied, bespoke note of ominous pre-
paratioa.
How are you?" inquired, somewhat re-
lieved by seeing my friend up; and though
looking wan, bearing no marks of severe Ill
ness. 81 hope nothing has happened"
"Yes, the deadest arrow IN Fortunes qnI.
yer had been shetland found its mark. Al
three, this morning, my fathers valet called
me up, to say that bis master was IN conyul
sions Suspectng it to be return OF apo
plexy, despatched him for Abercrombie.
and on reaching his room, found my fears
verified. Abercrombie arrived, he opened
the temporal artery. and sense returned,
e.
what arrangement he had made in my favor
respecting the property; and on my suggest
ing that his books might previously require
to be looked over, he interrupted me by say
ing il was useless You are the son OF ru.
ined man. | started. Yes, such have |
been for the last twenty years. have seca-
red to you thousand pounds, TO finish Your
education and that is all that calamity has
left 10 my aower to bestow " For some mo-
ments was led to doubt his sanity
sWhat then, can be contained within these
two massive chests SO carefully secured?"
''Old parchment copies of my mortgages.
Your fortune has only changed IN aspect; be-
lore YOU were 10 existence, the author oil your
being was Geggarl My credit alone has sup
ported me. have with difficulty been able
10 invest in the funds for your wants the pal
try sum mentioned May you prosper bet
ter than your father, and the brightness OF
your day make up for the darkness OF his
closing scene. Gods blessings
'.I1s head sunk on the pillow, and falling
into comatose state he slept for four orfive
hours when his transition from time to eter-
nifty was as gentle as it was unnoticed For
my part, merely remain here till the last
offices are performed. All his affairs will be
committed to his solicitors, when the fortune
and residence which looked forward to en-
Toying as my own must be left to Others"
Courage, my dear fellow" said |, there
is no space too great to admit OF the suns
rays enlivening it-neither is that hearth ex
istence which hope may not mhabu
The funeral was over. the mansions OF his
father relinaotshed. and St Clare himself du-
Nv forgotten his friends. The profession,
which he before looked on as optional IN Its
pursuits. was now to become the means OF
his existence; and in order to pursue IT with
greater comfort to ourselves, we took spa
cious rooms. which enabled US to live toge-
ther, in - street, in the neighhourhood
of our hospital One morning, itso happen
ed that had something to detain me al home
and St. Clare proceeded by himself to his
studies. From the brilliant complexion and
handsome countenance of a former day, his
appearance had degeneratcd into the pale
and onsumptive look of one abont to follow
the friend for whom his sable livery Of VIC
was worn"
"Give me Joy. Dudley? Joy, say. for iift
| is bright once morel" exclaimed 81 Clare