Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-01-16
miscellaneous neaoine.
From Scott's Weekly Paper.
J~lan Shepp0rd--A Sketch.


The usual diminutiye, ragged piece OF
paper was put into my hands-directlng
me to see patient back Of No. - 18th
Street, for the Dispensary. fastened
oG. as usual, and after a considerable
.earch. in q severe storm, ! found, up a
narrow alley, a small dilapidated. frame
house. whose door, as it scraped the floor
n opening, admitted me into small, dark
room. which poverty seemed to have
marked for her own special residence
The broken panes Of glass had been
but i'll supplied by old newspapers. pasted
over the sash, and old clothes. or an old
hat, to keep out the cold damp air. These
also kept out the light; and it was with diff
fculty that could recognize lone couch
in the furthermost corner of the room, on
which Law a sick man. The woman who
erected me on my entrance, was tall, with
. long face. dark eyes and hair; her voice
was firm, and her manner cool and self
possessed, though evidently in the deep
est poverty and sorrow. She introduced
me, as soon as my eyes adapted them
selves 10 the diminished light of the room.
q tie "Docior." to the invalid, whom she
termed "Pappy." She told me he had
long suffered from severe cough, and
spit up great deal Of matter. was very
weak. had just had one Of his turns Of
splitting Of blood, &c. spoke to the
moor man, and he extended his hand,
which was thin. long and bonv. the nails
curying over the ends OF the fingers. as
they do sometimes in that terrible disease,
.he Consumption.
Ills eye frightened up when he address
ed me. and spoke Of sligM cough with
which he was troubled. If could but
relieve that. and the bleeding from the
lunps, he would soon be we'll He had
been long subject TO cough-did not
mind it much-but now, it was rather
worse than usual A fine, broad forehead =,
surmounied by few Struggling hairs. a.
bright eye, face where were the traces
OF protraciod disease and pain. both men
tai and bodily, and a wasted form OF about
fifty winters, and we may see the patient.
! soon discovered that the hopes Of my
poor patient for lfe-or even the return of
healih-were doomed to disappointment
The sound Of the breath. as it entered
the decaying lungs showed too clearly
fhat the hand of death was near. Ere
had finished my examination Of the case,
my manner perhaps Indicating the thoughts
which passed through my mind. heard a
low sob. which appeared to come from
the furthermost part Of the room. turn
ed suddenly. not until now conscious OF
smother person being near. and peering
into the darkness saw a poor boy. ap-
parently about l3 years old. whose head
was bent upon his breast and his body
drawn up in the attitude of extreme sor-
row. The mothcr-~hose calm voice had
assured me of noble. self posse sscd wo-
man, though poor and unknown--l now
observed turned aside her head. and
brushed away tear. which fell unbidden
down her ARE worn cheek. She evident
" saw that the husba and of her youth must
soon die. and that the long struggle with
disease and poverty. would to him. soon
be over. She quietly heard my drec.
tiOns for the administering Of palliating
remedies. and promised to attend 10 them
The boy raised his head as left the
room. and cast q glance Of gratitude to
the Dsrensary Doctor. who had come
through the rain and storm TO see his poor
father.
In few days called again. when
found my patient improved and cheerful,
but weak and deblitated. The son sat
by the dismal window. and was pouring
over some old books which he had the
mother informed mo. borrowed from a
friend. The quiet. almost stole cantour
Of the boys face. which resembled that Of
the mother more than that Of the father.
struck me as peculiarly short-sighted. he
had to keep his book within a few inches
of his eyes to read it. could see. how
ever. that he kept them upon me. as pro-
ceeded to address some words Of comfort
10 the mother. whom found more moved.
externally. than at previous visits NV
visits continued there until the old man
died. The good mother. anxious to know
whether the disease was likely to be trans
mitted to her darling and only son. re-
quested an examination of the BODY: her
wish was complied with.
Years passed on-perhaps six-and I
received message TO visit the same lone.
and retired dwelling. This time found
the mother i'll. and several weeks passed
away ere could reduce the disease.
did not this time see the boy: but the moth
eer. with q quiet smile of joy. told me that
her son was studying law. said moth
Ing-weii knew the difficulties attend
ing the acquisition Of one Of the learned
professions without the means. and then
were poor indeed. Ii seems that the son.
instead Of following the trade of his faith.
er, which was that Of halter. turned his
attention to the law-and his s.udious
habits well fitted him for the undertaking
After this. was not unfrequen,ly called
70 Psescribe for the widow, and her quie,
out Intelligent son. They still remained
IN tne poor frame. but his office was in a
conspicuous part Of the city
Reader. the last time was called to
prescribe for this lone widow and her ner.
severing son. found them occupv;no .
new three-story brick house. lighted nm
with gas. new mahogany furniture-,he
house his osra-and the mothers fare
smoothed Of half the wrinkles which i,
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