Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-06-23
M 7 S o d u u a 81 & o
(Fron the Passion Flower. }
Il II z VISIT.

In one of the freezing days of our climate
a young physician but recently married invi-
ted his wife to accompany him on a visit to
one of his patients.
"Y on are romancing James what /! visit
family without introduction, or an invitation,
or exchanging cards 20
''ln this family, my dear Amanda, there is
no ceremony of cards." said James, ''but they
will not be the less pleased to see YOU"
~ never used to 60 to see poor people,"
said Amanda, thoughtfully, "bu,," continued
she, after short deliberation, "l'll go with you,
James, any where"
They passed from the handsome street of
their residence 10 public square, ant crossing
over, entered small Alley, i'm which Amanda
- "ri'0, 'SoS i1 - '..-...-- H.. ei.oweu
they were for the laboring class. Crossing
the whole range they entered the last house,
and at the first door DIR. Ledson gave a gentle
rap. common woman opened ii, and well
! coined him.
Two chairs were Immediately set, one with
the back broken of, the other rickety and un-
stable.
Before the fire were too little children, seat
ed on the hearth, making a noise which the
attendant female endeavored to quel. girl
about ten years of age came out of small pam
try bedroom, and smiled as she spoke.
In large rude chair, sat thin female.
She rocked herself necessarily. She looked
up when DR.. Ledson addressed her, but neither
smiled nor spoke. Her complexion was sallow
by illness, her lower jaw had fallen from its
socket, and her teeth cl,attcred with the vain
endeavor to close the mouth.
At receiving some nourishment from the
hand oil her companion, she seemed revived.
vi am glad to see you, doctor, though had
hoped to be released from my wretchetlness
before now. lido not complain, but my bones
have started through the skin, and suffer-
she shivered and stoppedan instant Thought
it very hard when lost my baby last summer;
but see it was kind what would become oil
1t now j must leave these, young enough
to take care Of themselves, and husband is
none ofthe steadieSt." She did not weep. she
was past that human feeling Amanda look
ed in silence. She had learned more of liCe's
state from this scene than she could have ac-
CURED from volumes. She felt now wiser
| woman at eighteen, than she could otherwise
| have been at twenty-five.
| spectacle Of such woe brings down all
our vanity and little repinings Even the al
most total insensibility of the sick, was more
! touching than ordinary sorrow. 1t gave feel
| fore
DIS this your sister? :" said the woman.
| NO." said James, and Amanda smiled as
he replied, sit is my wife"
! us 1T your w:fe?" said she, showing some
vlvacity slow sweet she looks. Can she
sing Oh, can she sing, 81 would not live al
ways 20
How often had Amanda sung that careless
ly before. She felt awed and humbled now
by every syllable that foacd on her soft, rici
tones around the narrow apartment.
| The dying looked upso thankfully, that sh,
even looked pretty. A slight hectic revived
| her llvId countenauce. She said audibly. g
hear the angels singing now around me,' ant
then relapsed into monotonous groan O
WEAKNESS.
| The little girl shook hands beseechingly a.
the young couple retired, and in a subduet
voice Amanda whispered, "we will take car,
| of you"
| Who like the physician, save indeed tn,
minister, is called upon to see human nature
IN every stage, in every shadow Of tint
The rich and the poor, the delicate and the
coarse, the learned and the ignorant, come be-
fore him without disguise.
Amanda thought before, that she bad lovet
her husband; but luxury is dead sea at mos
here, in which the noble passions sickeu ant
lie motionless. She chung to James, arm a.
she returned home, with feeling Of devotion
to him, that she had never imagined before
and in the pleasure she experienced in soften
ing the horrors other fellow creatures poverty
she found every day new cause to rejoice ir