Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-05-11

but the most part lying on the ground, waiting
until their turn should come to be admitted, but
often before night the half of them were carried
to the cemetery instead Of the infrmary.-As
may we'll be supposed, the task of the physicians
was no light one, and finally they were Obliged
to organize their labor, and force themselves to
repose certain time every day, and take the
service in turns, in order to be able to bea" up
under the extraordinary efforts they were called
upon to make.
One day, young physician, he who twenty
years later was known as the celebrated DIR.
Soulie, was leaving the hospital to 60 and take
his turn Of repose servant man, brcathleSs and
pale, met him at the gate and asked if h" was
physician. The doctor answered in the al rrn-
ative, and the man begged him, for Gods sate,
to 90 to house in the neighborhood and see
sick person. Although against the rule they
had established, the doctor consented, and was
conducted to the house oy the servant, who
showed him into large handsomely furnished
room In tn room the doctor remarked first
a tall, handsome woman, with her hair all in
disorder, and her face pale as corpse, standing
near and screening a chld which lay upon So
ia. Around her was collected 4 group Of twelve
young girls, who looked to the doctor to be Of
nearly the same age, and made him suppose it
was boarding school, particularly as the young
girls all wore dark green silk dresses and had
their blond hair braided and tied with blue rib
bons. The doctor could see no difference be-
tween any of them tGey all had fair skins,
small blue eyes, light hair, iIng noses and large
mouths; but before he could ash any questions
about them, the woman advanced hulJledly, and
seiziug him by the arm, led him to the sofa, and
in hoarse voice, said, Look at that child
The doctor looked-bcforc him lay beautiful
sittie girl Of about ten years of age, but utterly
different from the others Her hair was black
as midnight, and hung in ringlets over her shoul
ders; her ewes were closed, and her hvid COM
plexon and contracted features showed that the
dreadful disease had seized upon her
Open that window said the doctor, and
bring some vinegar Immediately to rub the
child's body
What y cried the woman, she has not got
the plagucY
why, certainly did yoa not know it? an
swered the doctor
No, no; take her away, take her away-shc
shau't stay here to kill us all-Come, my daugh
ters, come away, quick Oh. the wretched !
child, she will be the death of you.' and she
pushed the twelve girls out of the room and
went after them.
But the doctor sprang after her.
Are You the mother Of that child' he
asked.
yes: but take her away-shc shan't stay hero.
she must be put to bed aid ;akcn care Vi,
said the doctor
She shall not have t I'D il ,..-.D D,u9 -
her &wav.'
'l5u; w:4cr. H.. - AZ" A,r'.--o..,,e-. :..@
VIII die if T,n,"y,
4 d NJ cAr: taac nrr TO tn. hospital: a.y-
whorr. onIy l<' her away from Ihi> a,u...
Tuou;ii Aorrili"d !y In" lrc'.u- tA,o,.s>c, D.,
this uunauyaI mother, the doctorrrieoa Il moment |
to persuade her to do something ior her chthh;
but finding it useless, and seeing that if he left
the little girl in the house, she would die from
neglect, he took her in his arms, wrapped her
in blanket, and carried her to the hospital,
where he was fortunate enough to find vacant
bed for the little sufferer The doctor then made
some inquiries concerning her parents, and learned
that Monsieur Domergue was manufacturer OF
large means and his wife really the mother Of
thirteen children, all daughters, and duly regis
tered at the Mayors Office as having been born
in seven years. Six times Madame Domerguc
brought pair into the world, all wonderfully
resembling each other light hair, blue eyes, fsir
skin and sharp features. The mother adored
them, and her pride and joy was at its climax
when she found her family again about to be
increased. But alas this time she was disap-
pointed, for little girl arrived, but without any
This alone would have been enough
to have turned her Eothrr's heart from her, but
besides this she was entirely different from the
twehe others. The mother could see n0 beauty
in her clear brunette complexion, her black curl
ing hair, dark eyes and exquisite features, and
from the moment of her birth, little Esther was
an isolated being, unlovcd and uncared for
While her sisters were dressed in silk, she wore
cotton, and while they were fed upon dainty
food, she eat with the servants in the kitchen.
As she grew she gave her mother fresh cause
for dislike for whereas her sisters were endowed
with intcects of the most mediocre order, and
learned the simplest thing with tie greatest diff
ficuty, Esthers talents and 1uicKncss of percep-
ton made ner the wonder of her sisters. See
ing this, and that her twelve pets were likely to
be thrown into the shade, Madame Domcrcuc
stopped E,ther's lessons entirely, and the most
the poor child could obtain was permission to
remain in the room while her sisters were with
their teachers. BY this means she was enabled
to learn a great deal, and afterwards often said,
these were her only happy hours. The father of
this large family, though kind hearted man, was