Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-03-18
NO. 81

and the warm weather was near at hand.
DIR. Falk had sometime before satisfied
himself that Aunt Sarah had conceived
inquietudes without occasion. He limited
this fact to her, but in vain. Like Com
modors Trummon's wife. in Smoilet's Pc
regrine Pickle, the old maid could not
r~enounce the illusion. Suzette and the
Doctor could not undeceiye her without
exciting her anger, and they were obliged
to leave her to her ridiculous belief
: Indeed, she makes me uneasy" said
Suzette to her husband one day, because
she torments herself without cessation
and oftentimes seems almost out OF her
Wits
sit is true that she actually isl said
the doctor; 'and she is possessed with a
fixed idea, that constitutes a veritable
monomania. All the medicines in the
world would prove inadequate to extir-'
pate it. l see no other way than to drive
off one illusion by ~plunging her into am
other. When the time comes l will bass
off our child as hers.
But viii she believe it?" asked Su-'
zette.
If she does not, she will be cured,''
answered he.
A short time afterwards Suzette dis
appeared from her aunt's room. The
doctor announced that she had met with
a serious accident.
All" said Aunt Sarah. has the been
.prematurely called to mourn the death of
her infant"
at is too true" sighed Falk.
Alas poor women, that we are y ex-
claimed Aunt Sarah, signing in her
turn.
The doctor advised her to be as calm
as possible, and the conversation termi-
mated.
A day or two afterwards, at the ~esvffest
dawn. Aunt Sarah was awakened in a
singular manner. Somebody sprinkled
water in her face, and held volatile salts
to her nose. She opened her eyes and
saw the doctor near her.
Great Cod" she exclaimed, +" am I
dying What is the matter, my neph-
ew y j
"Silence !~.silence +! my dear aunt" said
the doctor artfully. Merely make me a
sign that you feel better"
tHdb ! bStbOl chC dSh60s AMI
"Yes, better" said Falk; for four
hours you have been in q fainting fit, but
now you have come out of it. All will
be we'll, and the child is a charming
boyr
Heaven be praised !" calculated Aunt
Sarah, and she desired to see Ethe dear
child.
Truly" said the crafty. doctor, that
is the first consolation of a mother; it is
the recompense of her sufferings. 1t shall,
soon be brought to you"
But the secret"-said Aunt Sarah.
II have managed that matter" replied
her nephew. Il have given out that the
infant is my wife's, and you must allow
her to nurse it. The whole household
suppose it to be hers"
God bless you. my nephew said his
aunt; "how shall | ever repay your pru-
dence, your kindness, your counsel. You
are an angel!
The doctor went out. The aunt tremblcd
with both JOY and fear. She turned
towards the front of the bed. The table
was covered with walls and surgical
instruments. A nurse now brought in
IHC SHllui WAlCu SlepI SW0GCly. sarah
did not say a word. she contemplated it
a long time, wept bitterly. covered it
with kisses, aud said to the doctor, who
was left alone with her "Ah, it is the
living image Of the trumpeter / 1t seems :
as if was looking upon his breathing
miniture. God have mercy upon his
soul l'
After several weeks of strict regimen,
Aunt Sarah. still a little weak, went out
from her chamber. She took great
pleasure in rocking the cradle and carry
ing the beloved infant in her arms. The
first visit was to church, to thank God
for the favor which had been ~vouchsafeIT
her. She next went to her notary and
drew up a will bequeathing her entire
possessions to the doctor, reserving. how.
ever o most liberal pension for the child
of the trumpeter.
In this manner, thanks to his amt
DR.. Falk became suddealy a rich man,
and the faculty Of medicine attained to
honors that were vainly sought BY phi
losophy, law and divinity.