The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-08-13
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THE MIsER's ~DEATH.BED.

SCeHeS, which renQer MIN, 10 q Certdln eX-
tent, callous to those sights which would ap-
pal the stoutest heart, but still, in the course
OF a long practice, even he must encounter
some death-bed scenes, the recoliections Of
which will cling to him and which he may
be years In shaking from his imagination.
Such was that which l am about to describe.
For ten or twelve years, a bent and misera-
bic old man had been in the habit of clinging
each morning to my area rails, to beg of my
servants broken victuals. His appearance
was so haggard, and his tone and manner be-
spoke such a depth of misery, that | gave or
ders never to refuse him anything that had
come from the table; so that, at last. he grew
into a regular pensioner upon us, and we used
to expect him as regularly every morning as
our breakfast.
The name of the old ~mendicant we never
knew, nor where he resided. In fact, he sell
dom spoke a word to my servants; bur he
would come, in the heat of summer, when the
warm, genial sunshine lit even the worn flag
stones into beauty, and cling to the iron rails,
looking the only miserable, or at least the
most miserable, object in creation. In the
depth of winter, too, when the bleak north
east win blew fiercely and the binding snow
drifted through the air, he would come, and,
still clinging to the rails, while his rags f1ut-
tered around him, wait for his daily dole.
This had gone on so long, that one morn
ing, when he did not come, | felt quite uneasy,
and there was a general inquiry through the
house as to whether any one had seen the old
man. The next morning passed away, and
still he came not. began to think he must
be Ill or dead, and, wondering at the usual
hour for another week, we began to forget the
old beggar who had visited us so long. But
one morning, however, he was brought to my
recollection again, somewhat singularly.
was told that a young girl was waiting In
the hall to see me, and going out to see her,
she told me that a Mr.. Temple wanted me
IS soon asI could go to him.
Where does he reside 2" | said.
She named a low, wretched street in Soho,
and wondering at the address, | said
WHO is Mr.. Temple2"
Il don t know" said the girl. "He lodges
with NV mother, sir"
"You are quite sure he sent for me 2"
Eyes, sir. We did not know his name I'M
nj this morning, and he's lived with us since
/ was born"
'.Indeed !. that's odd enough. Is he very
ilr
"Oh, very he's a groaning So"
well, run back, and tell him I'll call as
early as.I can in the course of the morning."
The girl departed, and about half past elev-
en- | found myself sufficiently ~disengaged to
call upon my new patient in - street, So
no. The house was miserable and dirty In
the extreme, and upon asking for Mr.. Tenn
pie a slip-shod grinning-looking woman
screamed up the kitchen stairs
ATS three pair backIp
"The what F"I said.
"The three pair back, to be sure !" re-
replied the woman, just showing her head on
a level with the passage.
Cant you show me his room I" said |.
Who are you, l wonder 2' screamed the
m Hoity-toity! Show you up. In
deed |! Perhaps you'd like a mould candle,
too 2"
Positively declining the candle, l assembled
the staircase, surmising that the three pair
back must be up three flights of stairs, and
a back room somewhere.
When | arrived at the landing place at the
very topmost story of the house, | heard a low
moaning sound proceeding from a room to my
left, and pushing open a low black door, en-
tered one of the most miserable rooms that |
had ever seen.
Jug was upon the floor, and by its side an
CNl SAACCl3 QUILL % " use " gar
den pots. In one corner Law what at first ap-
peared to be a mass of old rags, but the groans
that proceeded from amongst them told me
that a human being was there.
"Has he come-has he Gomez" cried a thin
voice, as if struggling with pain.
"Did you send for me 2' said l..
"Thieves, murder, helpr' suddenly cried
the same voice, and from among the mass of
rags and filth, a long skinny arm protruded,
grasping a pistol
own I was a little alarmed, and said has
tily-" 1 am Dr."
"You-have not come to rob me, then 2"
"You, you |. certainly not"
But-but-you know if you had have
nothing. Mind, nothing-nothing :"
"Isyour name Temple 2" l said.
"Haw he screamed. " how do you know
that . No. mol am a beggar."
"a Mr.. Temple sent for me-"
"Stay, stay Fasten the door place the
Jug against It. We've shall be robbed else.
Not that | have anything to lose. No no (; |
am miserably poor, wretchedly poor"
"Then you should apply for assistance"
said /, where you have a right to demand it.
III was to give you a prescription, you could
not get it made up for nothing, you know"
" No, no." he replied. "IIknow. Look
at me-look, doctor, look"
He raised himself on his arm, and in the
thin emaciated face of my strange patient |
recognized the old beggar who used to cling
to my area rails.
Al do r~ecollect you,"I said.
You do now
"And your name is Temple, is it not
"Templep 2" he screamed ; IS who says my
name is Temple"
Your own messenger"
"Then-then-I must have raved."
What complaint have your said /.
Slowly he drew his hand from under the
rags, and letting an old furnished guinea drop
from his clenched first, he said, with a deep
sigh
"There-there's your fee"
al do not require it of you 2" said l.
Then then | will keep it. Don't tell
anybody you saw it, or ! shall be robbed"