Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-04-18
THE MECHANICS HOME.

THE MECHANICS HOME.
One evening, in the early part of the winter, the
door-bell rang with energy, and the servant an
nounced mdn who wished to see me. A sman' is
one thing, with a servant, gentleman another,
and "a person. something different from either-
The man stood in the hall. but wondered why he
had not been called gentleman. was puzzled
where TO place him myself. His dress was very
neat, but PLAIN, and rather coarse His linen, that
badge of refinement, was wi t, in perfect ORDER
and almost elegant. But nothing gave clue 10 his
position in life. In all outward seeming, he was
simply man. When he spoke to me, his address
was smpls, clear, direct, and with certain air of
sef-reliance, the urtherest possible from vulgar
buster.
Doctor he said, Il wish you to come and see
my child. We fear he is threatened with the
Group
lput on my hat and prepared TO accompany him;
lor II the case were as he supposed there was no
tire to lose. In this disease single hou- may
make lies difference.
In moment we were in the street and walking
briSkly up one of our broad avenues. The child
he said, had been playing out of doors, had eaten
heartily at supper, gone TO sleep, and walked up
short time since very hoarse, with a croaking
cough. The case was pretty clear one, and /
hurried my. walk still more, and in few moments
we were at the door. We went up, up, up, TO
the fourth story. The last flight of stairs were
carpeted and small lamp al the top lighted us up
An excellent and very durable kind of mat lay at
the door. You will see. in time, why give these
little particulars.
entered the open door, and was welcomed by
| rather pretty and remarkable tidy woman, who
could have been nobody in the world but the wifi.
of the man who hal summoned me.
Il am glad you have come SON. she said, in
soft, pure accent. Little William seems SO dis
tressed that he can hardly breathe;' and the next
| moment as we passed. through n narrow passave
where he lay, heard the unmistakable croupy
sound, that carries such terror TO the parents
heart.
10 fiao r.
voice of emotion, as bent over the child-a
fine boy, three years of age. aa.
ut is certainly the Group sail, sand pretty
violent attack How long is it since you thought
him sick?'
Not above half an hour was the calm reply.
1t was male calm by firm self-conlrol. looked
ut the mother, she was very pale, but did not trust
herSelfto speaa.
Then there is probably but little danger Isaid
but we have something to do. Have you the wa
Ter here?' $500
The husband went TO what seemed a closet,
opened two doors, and disclosed neat pine bath
lhg-tub, supplied with the Crotou. This was be-
You'd my hopes, but had no time TO WONDER
he little fellow was i'll high fever and laburing
Tor every treath. Taking him from his little crib,
where he lay upon nice hair mattress, fit for
prince TO sleep on, l took off his clean night
clothes, stood him in the bathing tub, and made
his father pour full upon his neck and chest, three
pals of cold water, while rubbed him brskly
with my hand. he was then wiped dry, and rub
Then wrung large towel out of cold water and
put it round his throat, and then wrapped him up
IN blankets. The brave little fellow had borne 1t
all without cnmplaint, as if he understood that
undec his fathers eye no harm could come to him.
In fifteen minutes after he was wrapped in the
blankets, he was IN a profuse perSpiration, in a
sound slumber, and breathing freely. The danger
was over-so rapid was this disease and so easily
cured.
Happiness had shed a serene light upon the conn
tenauce of the father. he
er's face glow of beauty. l looked upon them,
and was more than eve; puzzled where to place
theti There was no marks of high birth or silpe-
rior breeding, not a shadow Of decayed gentility
about them. 1t was rather the reverse, as if they
were working up from low rank of life TO high
er.
looked around the room. 1t was the room.
Every thing in it was perfectly neat and orderly
The bed, like the crib, was excellent but not cost
~. The White counterpart did not cost more than
ten shillinss-yet how beautiful it looked The
white window curtains were shilling muslin, but
their tolhS hung as richly as If they were danask
and how very appropriate they seemed! The
bath, with its snug folding doors, knew had not
cost, plumbers bill all, more thanten dollars.
The toilet table of an elegant form, and complete
| ~ covered, had no doubt was white pine, and
cost half dollar. The pictures on the wall were
beautifully tinted ithographs-better, far better
than, oil paintings lave seen in the houses of
mlllnonares; yet they can be bought for from three
| to hve shllingS, and dollar piece had framed
tueLl' Line moor naQ carpet that seemed to match
everything, with its small. neat figure and light
chamber coor 1t was jewel of q rooln in as
perfect keeping in all its pats if an artist had
designed il. go
| Leaving the little boy to his untroubled sleep
and giving directions for his bath on his waking.
we went into the other room, which was different
ly but just as neatly arranged. L might have
answered for aparlor only it had cooking stove,
or an artists studio, or Dining room. 1t was
hung with pictures-heads, historical pieces and
landscapes; all such man of taste could select
and buy cheap; but which, like good books, are
invaluable. And, speaking of books, there, was
a hanging library on one side of the chimney
whlch,a single glance assured me contained the
very choicest treasures of the English tongue.
The man went to a bureau, opened drawer and
took out some money. 1856 sG0e-
'.Wtlat is your fee, doctor?'' he asked, holding
the bills so as to select one TO pay me.
Now, had made up my mind, before had got
halfway up the stairs that might have to wait
for my pay-perhaps never getit, but all this had
changed. could not, as / often do, inquire into
the circumstances of the man. There he stood,
ready TO pay me, with money enough; yet it was
evident that he was a working man, and far from
wealthy. had nothing left but TO name the low
est fee. Is i
"0ne dollar does not seem enough, said he;
you have saved my childs life, and have been al
more trouble thanto merely write prescription.
Do you work for your living" I said, hoping
to solve the mystery. NJ issfrss,s
He smiled aud held out his hand which showed