St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-02-19
NUMBER 25.

gent call, put off the visit until to-mor-
row morning." remarked Mrs. Minor.
81 Oh yes, do father" said one of
the children.
"Fll tell you all what I will do" re-
turned the doctor, smiling as he rose,
" after | have seen by whom and for
what am wanted"
Doctor Minor left the room and went
into his Office. There he found a slen-
der, timid looking girl, who seemed
not over fifteen or sixteen years of age.
She arose from chair as he entered {:
and, as she did so, turned her face to
the light, and he saw that her features
were soft and delicate, and that her
face was pale, and its expression anx-
ious. He did not remember that he
had ever met her before.
Well, my DEAR" the kind physi-
clan said, in mild, encouraging voice;
" do you wish to see me for any thing
very particular -
The stranger hesitated a moment.
and then said, timidly,
My father is very sick"
And then looked earnestly in his
face, as if half afraid to prefer re-
quest that he would visit him.
Who is your father -
Mr.. Gray
>" Where does he live"
" In - street, not far from here.n
Mr.. Gray? Idon't remember him.
But is there any thing serious the
matter? How long has he been sick ?"
He hasn't been we'll for great
while. But he has been so much
worse for q week past, that mother is
afraid, unless something is done for
him, that he will not -"
The girls voice trembled so that she
did not venture to utter the word that
was on her tongue.
Don't you know the nature of the
disease Of which he is suffering ?"
He has u bad cough, and gets
thinner and palcr, and weaker every
day
Is he much worse, just now ?"
On yes, sir. \ great deal worse
Worse since when ~
Since yesterday. He got very wet
in the rain, and has had fever and
pains all over him. Tonight he coughs
all the while, and can hardly get his
breath. You will come to see him,
doctor, tonight, won't you ?"
\ man with even less feeling and
less conscientious in the discharge Of
| his duties than Doctor Minor. could
not have hestated moment to COM
ply with the almost impIoring request
of that young girl to visit her father.
:" Yes, | will so with you at once,'
he replied. Sit down for few mo-
ments, until l set myself ready
:" You won't have to so out tonight
fathcr?" said. Mrs. Milnor, looking up
into her husbands face, as he entered
the family sitting-room, bright with
happy countenances. The children's
faces all expressed their hope that he
would not be obliged to leave them.
Yes" he replied. DUTY calls me,
and must go.'
But is the call an urgent one p
The night is cold and stormy"
Not too cold nor stormy to pre-
vent poor young girl from Drawing
the rain and wind for the sake of her
sick father"
"Who is she ?" asked one of the
children, her sympathics at once
laroused.
l don't know. But she has a sweet
young face, and from its paleness and
anxiety, | should say that trouble has
visited her heart too early. But, she
is waiting for me, and l mustn't linger
here"
So, taking a light, Doctor Minor
went up to his room, and prepared him
self to so out. 1t was but Il short
time before he joined the waiting girl
in his office.
my dear child" he said to her. now
contrasting his own warm and heavy
cloak with the thin shawl that was
wrapped around her shoulders, "you
have come out too thinly clad for so
cold and stormy a night
The girl did not reply, but moved to-
wards the door, as if thinking, not of
herself and the storm, but Of her sick
father. Doctor Minor followed her,
and they were soon moving down the
street in the driving rain. They went
on in silence, the girl all the way a
few steps in advance of the doctor,
Notwithstanding he kept quickeninS
his pace, to keep up with her. In
about five minutes they stopped at one
of half dozen mean looking houses,
in which none but the very poor lived.
A rap quickly brought a middle aged
woman to the door The doctor and
his companion entered.
"This is my mother, DOCTOR" said
the latter, as soon as the door closed,
speaking with graceful ease that
surprised the physician. Nor was he
less surprised to find in the mother,
lady-like manner, that bespoke one of
polished education.
II have sent for you, DOCTOR" she
said, +" to see my husband, who is, I
fear, dangerously i'll. He ought to
have had medical aid earlier but we
are ~