Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-03-09
THE VISIT,


young physician, but recently married,invited
his wife to accompany him on visit to one
of his patients. i
'Yowlaie romancing, James; what. VisH
family without introduction or an inv'ta'ion'
or exchanging cards3'
.ln this family, my dear Amanda, there are
no ceremonies Of cards. said James; 'oot
they will not be the less pleased to see you
u never used to go to see poor people, SAID
Amanda, thoughtfully; but continued she,af-
ter short deliberaton, III 60 with you,
James, any where
They passed from the handsome street of
their residence to public square, and cross
ing over, entered a small alley, in which A
lnanda saw o row Of houses in a manner that
showed they were for the laboring class
Crossing the whole range, they entered the
last house, and at the last door DIR. Ledson
gave gentle tap. A common woman open
ed it, and welcomed him. Two chairs were
Immediately set, one with the back broken
off the other rlckety and unstable.
Before the fire were two little children
seated on the hearth, making a noise which
the attendant female valnly endcavored TO
quell. A girl of about ten years OF age came
out of small pantry bedroom, and smiled
as she spoke.
I In a large rude chair sat a thin female-
She rocked herself necessarily. She looked
up when Dr.. Ledson addressed her, but nei-
ther smiled nor spoke. Her complexion was
sallow by illness, her lower jaw had fallen
from its socket, and her teeth chattered with
the vain endeavor to close the mouth. On
receiving some nourshment from the hand OF
her companion, she seemed revived.
y am glad TO see you, Doctor, tho had
honpd IN hn ve hnen al oi from m wretch
edness before now. do not complain, but
my bones have started through the skin and
| sufer'--she shivered aud stopped an in
stant. 4 thought it very hard when | lost
my baby last summer; but ] see It was kind;
what would have become Of it now? ] must
leave these young ones, to take care OF them
selves, and my husband is none OF the steadi-
est
\ She did not weep-she was past that hu-
man feeling. Amanda looked on in silence.
She had learned more Of lte's state from the
scene than she could have acquired from vol
umcs. She felt now n wiser woman Mt cigh-
teen, than she would otherwise have been at
twenty-five.
1t brings down all our vanity and little re-
pinings, a spectacle Of such woe. Even the
almost total insensibility of the sick, was more
touching than ordinary sorrow. 1t gave
feeling Of so much that must have been endur-
ed before.
! is this your sister? said the woman.
! 'No,' said James, and Amanda smiled as he
replied, lit is my wife,
/ as it your wiie?' said she, showing some
/ vivacity. How sweet she looks. Can she
sing? On, can she sing II would no, live al
WAYS"
! How often had Amanda sung that careless
: ly before. She felt awed and humbed now
/ by every syllable that floated on her soft rich
tones around in the narrow apartment.
/ The dying woman looked up so thankfully
that she even looked pretty. A slight hectic
relieved her vivid countenance. She said
audibly, Il hear the angels singing now around
me- and then relapsed into monotonous
groan Of WEAKNESS.
\ The little girl shook hands beseechingly
ms the young couple left, and in a subducd
voice, Amanda whispered, ave will take care
of you."
Who like the physician, save indeed the
minister, is called upon to see human nature
IN every stage, III every shadow of tin!?-.
The rich and the poor, the delicate and tie
coarse, the learned and The ignorant, come
before him without disguise.
Amanda thought before that she loved her
husband: but luxury is a Dead Sea atmos-
phere, in which the noble passions sicken and
lie motonless. She clung to James arm as
she returned home, with feeling Of devotion
to him that she had never even imagined be
fore; and in the pleasure she experienced in
sotening the horrors of her fellow creatures
poverty she found every day new cause to.
rejoice in having shared her fortunes with
one, who, if be brought to her no addition of
the earth'S wealth, had taught her that there
is way Of employing it, that will awaken
the purcst delight.