The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-01-30


when the news came, and it fastened her depar-
ture. Their only child was the orphan Lucy, in
whose presence was now sitting, and learning
these particulars. On the death Of John, James
fastened to the place where he died, and much
to his amazement and horror, found the estate
of John so involved in complication of specu-
lations, that he was bankrupt, and not farthing
was saved from the wreck. He came back not
little depressed in spirits, and taking the death
of his brother harder than anybody supposed he
could. Indeed, he never seemed to be the same
man afterwards. But everybody admired and
praised his conduct toward his orphan niece. He
soothed her, and took her to his own house, and
assured her that she should never want. She
had never known the want of money, and the
loss of her property made no impression upon
her. 1t was for her parents and the endearments
| of childhoods home that she mourned. With
her uncle she lived. His own children were
sons, who promised to spend all the estate that
he had accumulated. Gradually, however, his
feelings toward Lucy seemed to undergo a
change. He seemed to grow cool, then distant,
. moody, and finally it was plain that her society
was irksome to him. About two years after the
death of his brother, he was called to go to Eu-
rope. While absent, cotton rose at once, and
the whole world seemed mad with the cotton
i speculation. James Braisley wrote home to his
agents to buy, buy-buy all they could. Let
tiers came fast and urgent, all urging buy, buy.
Soon the bubble burst, and thousands were ru-
ined. Just as it burst, James was leaving Eng
land for home. Then he began to figure up how
many orders he had written, how many bales
had been purchased, how much he had lost on
each, till he that he was bankrupt, and ru-
ined. The fact was, the bubble burst here so
early that his agents had not obeyed his orders.
Money had been his idol. He had lived for no.
thing else, and now his gods had been taken a.
way, as he supposed, and what had he left? He
figured and computed till he became wild, frant-
ic, and deranged and had to be brought home
in irons. When he reached his home, he did
not know his own wife, but seemed to recognise
Lucy, so far as to shudder, howl, and screech at
her presence. He could not bear the sight of
her person.
Such, in substance, was the story which the
poor girl told me with many tears. For my part
| could not sec anything in the young lady that
should make even mailman hate her. 1t was
evident that she loved him much and was very
grateful to him for his great kindness in giving
her home.
On taking leave, loaded my arms with the
French books, assured Miss Lucy Of my deep in
terest in the case, and promised to consider the
subject, and let her know my decision in few
days. How | fastened to my Office, and bor-
rowed a French grammar and dictionary, and
pored over the books day and night, [ need not
say. Never did poor fellow study harder to
acquire the language, to master the contents of
the volumes, and to acquire information, than
did during the three weeks that followed. BY
| the end of that time | was master of what SEEM
ed to be locked up in an unknown tongue. My
reader will bear in mind that half century ago,
the whole treatment of the insane was to bear
with them ifthey were gentle, and to chain them,
put them in cages and dungeons: and treat them
like wild beasts, if they were wild and frenzied.
The hope or the thought Of curing a deranged
person was not dreamed. Blu l now got new
idea in my head, and the very experiment caused
my heart to exult with excitement. At the end
of three weeks l called on Miss Lucy, and init
mated that / would undertake the case Of her
uncle, aiming at cure, on two conditions, viz:
that should have no one to interfere with me,
being allowed to manage my patient in my
own way, and that | should be allowed twelve
hundred dollars year. This last item seemed
to etagger the niece and the aunt, but assured
them that it would cost me every farthing OF
that sum to make my experiments, without any
compensation for my services. He i'm.
menscly rich, and what was that sum in compa-
rison with the saving of the MANI At length
they agreed to it all, and I was to be ready to
receive him in single week. | had no time to
lose in making preparations. procured a small
but convenient house, rather retired, with large
garden. | next procured two strong, handy,
patient young men, who were to obey my Or
!, ders implicitly. One was long legged fellow,
and the other, small, light, and quick cat.
next hired two saddle houses the hardest bittcd,
and the Understanding creatures could pro-
cure. Then good, faithful housckocper, and
. my accommodations were ready.
At the time appointed, carriage drove up to
my new habtation, and two men got out, drag
ging large, powerful man, cursing, swearing,
and resisting with all his might. | kept out of
the way till ssthe Doctor was sought for and
loudly demanded. At length carelessly went
into the room and taking no notice of the keep
F ers, but fixing my eye on the eye of the maniac,
and with smile gave him my hand with great
politeness, and said
"Mr. Braisley, believc:'
"Who, in the name of all Gods creation, are
you2" said he
"Dr. Asher, at your service still keeping
my eye on his. CDR. Asher, sir, the doctor who
takes care of so many deranged people"
sThe deuce you do!' growled my patient
But l saw that he gave in under my steady gaze
very slightly.
eyes, sir, that's my sole business, and cure
them, too
Il "Curc 'em, you son of night and darkness in
visible, you imp of JACKIE -lantern-you cure
i 'em, eh?''
''Certainly, SIR said l., with the eye fixed
sharply on his, and with the most imperturbable
gravity; "certainly, sir, never had a deranged
q or insane patient that did not cure He look
ed puzzled moment, and then broke out into
RI the coarsest invectives and abuse. l took no
notice of it, but applying small ivory whistle
to my mouth, | blew loud call, and my two
men appeared. "Fairlong, show Mr. Braisley
to his room. Stay: those irons on his hands must
be uncomfortable. Mr.. Braisley, now on your
honor promise me that you will be gentle and
quiet, and will take off those irons, and you
shall be free The men who came with him
began to demonstrate, and talked about him just
as they would about wild animal in chains.
paid no attention to them, but kept looking at
, my patient
II say, you owls head!'' said he.
CDR. Asher is my name, if you please, MIR.
Braisley," said l..
"Well then, Asher, Dasher, Thrashcr, Smash
er, whatever you be, you're queer one. Why,
don't you know for what they put these things
1I,S