The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1851-10-02
Gelctte0.
Mechanics Home.

Oho cNchihS, III oiIo carry PdiC vi .n'
winter, the door-bell rang with energy
and the servant announced "a man. who
wished to see me. "a man is one thing
with a servant, gentleman another, and
a person. something different from either
The man stood in the hall, but 1 wonder,
ed why he had not been called gentleman
I puzzled where to place him myself Hi:
dress was very neat, but plain, and rather
coarse. His linen, that badge Of refine
ment, was white, in perfect order, and al
most elegant Everything about him
seemed substantial; but nothing gave a
clue to his position in life In all out
ward seeming, he was simply man,
When he spoke to me, his address was
simple, clear, direct, and with certain air
of self reliance, the furtherest possible
from vulgar buster.
Doctor said he, I wish you would 90
and see my child We fear he is threat
ened with Group
This case, which he described as we
went along, was pretty clear one, and |
hurried my walk still more, and in a few
moments we were at the door. We went
up, up, up, to the fourth story. The last
fight of stairs was carpeted, and small
lamp at the top lighted us up. An excel
lent and very durable kind of mat lay at
the door. You will see, in time, why
give these little particulars.
1 entered the opened door, and was
welcomed by rather pretty and remark
ably tidy woman, who could have been no.
body in the world but the wife of the man
who had summoned me.
q am glad you have come so soon,' she
said, in a soft, pure accent. Little Willie
seems so distressed that he can hardly
breathe , and the next moment, as we
passed th' ough narrow passage where he
lay, | heard the unmistakable croupy sound
that justly carries such terror to the parents
heart
{ Is it the Group, Doctor p asked the
father with voice of emotion, as [ bent
over the child-a fine boy, three years of
age.
1t is certainly the Group I said, and
a pretty violent attack. How long is it
since you thought him sick =
Not above an hour was the calm re-
ply. 1t was made calm by firm self
control. l looked at the mother. She
was very pale, but did not trust herself to
speak.
Then there is probably but little dan
GER l said, but we have something to do.
Have you the water here =
The husband went to what seemed a
closet, opened two doors, and disclosed a
neat pine bathing tub, supplied with the
Croton. This was beyond my hopes; but
[ had no time to wonder. The little fellow
was in high fever and laboring for every
breath. Taking him from his little crib,
where he lay upon nice hair mattress, fit
for prince to sleep on -, 1 took offhi clean
night-clothes, stood him in the bath tub and
made his father pour full upon his neck
and chest three pals of cold water, while l
rubbed them briskly with my hand. He was
then wiped dry, and rubbed until his
whole body was glowing like fame
Then | wrung a large towel out of cold wat
er, and put it around his throat, and then
wrapped him up in blankets. The brave
little fellow had borne it all without COM
plant, as if he understood that under his
fathers eye, no harm could come to him.
In fifteen minutes after he was wrapped
in the blankets, he was in a profuse pres
pcration, in a sound slumber, and breathing
freely. The danger was ovcr-so rapid Is
this disease and so easily cured.
Happiness had she'd a serene light upon
the countcnance of the father, and thrown
over the mothers face Il glow Of beauty.
| looked upon them, and was more than
ever puzzled where to place them. There
were no marks of high birth or superior
breeding-not a shadow of decayed gentil :
ity about them. 1t was rather the reverse
as if they were working up from a low rank
OF life to a higher.