The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-11-12
WESTERLY, r l., THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 70, 1857.

: must 20 after the Doctor His wife an
' daughter caught glimpse of him as h
passed the window, and needed but ont
| glance to assure them some misfortune
: They both met him at the door, and tllt
mother exclaimed = 'H.o ~ ..
J, For mercy's sake father, what is thu
, matter Is Ned killed = .
mo, no, but David Benton, poor fel
low, has fcllcd a tree on himself and i:
crushed almost to death. You must q
over, and tell his mother, Hetty. Hi
father, he says, has gone to the sawmill.
Send the boy after him at once. | am
going after the DOCTOR
lie spoke rapidly, and his hand was
already on the latch, when Hannah
caught his arm and asked,
'Where is he? Where have you left
him . .... ..
Ned is bringing him home. l left
them at Muddy Creek, and they must
be in the Hollow by this time but,
Lord bless me, my child, how white you
are Are you sick = . G.t
Hannah did not stay to reply, but
caught down her hood and sped out of
the door and up the street like the wind.
Barker made II movement as if to call
her back, but ssme thought seemed to
retain him. They stood gazing after
her for moment, and then their eyes
again met, ali the human was visible in
the old man Is face.
She has gone to meet them, he mur-
INJURED, I" Well, let her go,,-let her
go. All will soon be over with the poor
boy.' .. .r 3 .. -.
Gently did kind Hetty Barker per-
form her painful task, and with thought
full care, relieved the mother Of all the
arrangements for her son S reception, for
for she, poor woman, could only stand
at the window and watch with her dim
fearful. eyes, for the appearance of the
sled. When it came in sight they saw
Hannah seated upon it, supporting the
head of David in her lap AS they
drew up at the door, the father arrived
accompanied by two or three of the more
distant neighbcrs, and with their assis-
tance the poor young man was carried in
md laid upon the bed
Barker soon returned with the sur
yeon. lie did not stop at his neishbors
but rode directly on to his own house -
After caring for his rcoking horse, he I.
walked slowly back to bis gate, and stood
,or some limo, with his hand on the latch
rs if resolute, while the lately reused
spirit OF humanity struggled fcarlully |
with the long cherished inmates Of the /
heart, pride and self-will for the master
ly. The past came up before him with /
It's mighty influences. lie thought Of
ihc time when he and Benton had play
ed together as children, of their youth !
and manhood, of their marriages and
the years Of pleasant intercourse that
before the pride of wealth
lad taken possession Of his soul, as mis-
ortuc and envy had cmbttered his
leighb bors and, as he stood beside this
mage Of earlier days aud contrastcd it
With the fairest that scli-love could draw
If the present, bis heart grew sick,
humanity triumped. Needless of his
ash VOW never to darken his neighbor's
he rapidly passed the gate,
md paused not uutil he had returned
he silent pressure Of Annie Benton's '
land met the pleased glance OF his wife
md daughter, and followed the former to
he room OF her son. ..
No one manifested surprise at his en- {
rance, save the sufferer himself Some
hing like gleam of pleasure passed
Yer his face, US at sign from tho sur g
con, the old man approached aud took /
station by his bed, where he could rem /
Ter some slight assistance in the exam
patton that was about to be made.
The surgeon understood his business, t
nd in less than an hour the broken t
mbs were set, and everything done for
lac Young man 5 comfort that his skill I
nd experience could suggest. Then, r
,hcn the neighbors, with friendly offers
f service, departed, and the women ,
cain came in with stealthy footsteps, q
Barker began to feel awkward and uu- .
asy Ills 6rst impulse was to withdraw I