Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-01-04
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morcester DaiIp 5pr.
IL LEAK Ea d u ) El.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.
PART TEN.
CHAPTER XXI.
NURSE AND PATIENT.
Il-...--I


was not far; only at the summit of the hill. We
passed but one man. doubted if we should have
got home without assistance; the BOYS steps
were uncertain and tremulous He made no
complaint, however, and was strangely uncon-
cerned about himself, if l may say so strange a
thing.
Leaving him in the hall for moment shrunk
into corner Of the window-seat and staring with
an indifference that could scarcely be called
wonder, at the comfort and brightness about him.
/ went into the drawing room to speak to nv
guardian. There found Mr. Skmpole, who had
come down by the coach, as he frequently did
without notice, and never bringing any clothes
with him, but always borrowing everything he
wanted.
They came out with me directly, to look at the
boy. The servants had gathered in the hall, too;
and he shlvered In the window seat with Charley
standing by him, like some wounded animal that
had been found in ditch.
'This is sorrowlul case,' said my guardian,
after asking him question or two, and touching
him, and examining his eyes, what do YOU 7
say, Leonardo
you had better turn him out said Mr. Skin4N
pole
what do you mean, enquired my guardian,
almost sternly.
MY dear Jarndyce, said Mr. Skimpoe, you
| know what | am: am child Be cross to me.
4 q b.
| lection to this sort Of thing. | always had when
was medical man. He's not safe. you know.
There's a very bad sort of fever about him.
| Mr. Skimpoe had retreated from The hall to the
| drawing room again, and said this in his ary
way. seated on the music stool as we stood by
| You'll say it's childish, observed Mr. Skim
| pole, looking gaily at swell, dare say it
may be; but an child, and | never pretend to
be anything else. If you put him ont in the
road, you only put him where he was before He
will be no worse off than he was, YOU know.
Even make him better off, if you like. Give him
slxpence, or five shIlngs, or five pound ten
| you are arithmetlcians, and | am not-and get
| rid of him.'
'And what is he to do lhen'' asked my guar
! dian.
Upon, my life,' said Mr. Stimpole, Struggling
his shoulders with his engaging smile 4 have not
the least idea what he is to do then. But have
| no doubt he'll do it,
'Now, is it not "a horrible reflection, said my
sul'1ials - wSsn 4 re easy
VIDE 9Pen INV sick boy in the kingdom
care OF " a. returned Mr. Sklmpole,
you'll pardon the simplicity of the question, COM
ing as it does from a creature who Is perfectly
simple in worldly maters-but, why isn't ne
prisoner then' p
MY Guardian stopped and looked at him with
whimsical mixture Of amusement and indignation
in his face.
sOur young friend is not to be suspected of any
deIicacy, | should imagine said Mr. Skimpole,
unabashed and candid. sIt seems 10 me that 1t
would be wiser, as well as in certain kind OF
way more respectable, if he showed some mis-
direct energy that got him into prison. There
would be more of an adventurous spirit IN 1t, and
consequently more Of a certain sort Of poetry
4 believe returned my guardian, resuming his
uneasy walk, that there is not such another child
: on earhas yourself
DO YOU really?' said Mr. Skimpole; 4 dare
say! But, confess don't why our young
! friend, in his degree, should BOT seek to invest
himself with such poetry as Is open to INN. lie
is no doubt born with appetlte-probably
/ when he is in a safer state OF health, ne has an
excellent appetite. Very well. At our young
friends natural dinner hour, most likely about
noon, our young friend says in effect to society,
81 am hungry; will you have the goodness to pro-
, duce your spoon and feed me Society, wing
! has taken upon itself the general arrangement
The whole system of spoons, and proiessesf
: have a spoon for our young friend, does not
!. duce that spoon; aud our young friend therf
: says, sYou really must excuse me II selY
d | Now, this appears to Ms q case oil mlsdlre~
r energy, which has certa
it, and a certain amount Of romance; and dom
! know but what | should bel more interested il
our Young friend, as an illustration of such
q than merely as Il poor vagabond-whch any on
can be-.
in the meantime, ventured to observe, 81
IN is getting worse.
- In the meantime, said Mr. Skimpole, cheel
re fully, 'as Miss Summerson, with her practici
good sense, observes, he is getting worse. Their
fore. | recommend your turning him out belc
= he gets still worse
The amiabe face with which he said it, thin
I shall navpr tnrGqt
sOf course, little woman observed my qua
dian. turning to me, Il can ensure his admiss,
iuto the proper place by merely going there
- enforce it, though it's bad state OF things whe
on in his condition, that is necessary Buu gro,
- Ing late, and is a very bad night, and the boy
worn out already. There is bed in the Who'll
some loft room by the stable; we had better ke
him there till morning, when he can be wrapp
up and removed. Wen do that
. 'sOp said Mr. Sknpole, with his hands up
= the KEYS Of the piano, as we moved away. "A
you going back to our young friend &
70 Yes said my guardian.
slow envy you yonr constitution, Jarndyc'
returned Mr. SkimpoIe, with playful admira,iC
D. sYou don't mind these things, neither does M
Summerson. You ready at all times 10
anywhere, and do anything. Such is Viii!
'od' have no viii at all-and no Won't SIM
Can't
K. sYou can't recommend anything for the boy
. suppose p said my guardian, looking back o'
his shoulder, half angrily; only half angrily,
IS he never seemed TO consider Mr. Skimpole an
countable being.
k. sMy dear Jarndyce, ] observed a bottle
cooling medicine in his Rgckst, and i is lmpo
bic for him to do better than 10 take 1t. You
Ia tell them to sprinkle little vinegar about
20 place where he sleeps, and to keep il moderaI
!, cool, and him moderately warm. But It is m
- imperlnence in me to offer any recommended
. Miss Summersou'has such knowledge Of de
iety, ana soon capacisy io' 'e - ao'
e. n, he Continued.