Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-02-05
From the Knickcrbocker MagaSine
THE GOLDEN INGOT.

f'had Just retired to rest with my eyes al
most blind with the study of new work in
Physiology, by NJ Brown Lequard, when the
night.bcll was pulled violently.
1t was winter, and | confess grumblcd as
rose and went down stairs to open tho door.
Twice that week had been aroused long of.
ter mid-nightOn the most trivial causes. Once,
t1 attend upon the son and heir of wealthy
family, who had cut his thumb with pen
knife, which, it seems, he insisted on taking
to bed with him. And once to restore young
gentleman to consciousness, who had been
found by the Mortified parent stretched inscn-
sblc on the staircase. Diachylon in the ono
case, and ammonia in the other, were all that
my patients required; and had faint sus.
picion that the present summons was perhaps
OccaSioned by 10 case more necessitous than
those have quoted. / was too young in my
profession, however, to neglect opportunities.
II Is only when physician rises to very
large practice that he can afford to be inhu.
man. | was on the first step Of the ladder, so
humbly opened my door.
woman was standing ankle deep in the
snow that lay upon the stoop. caught but
dim glimpse Of her form, for the night was
cloudy; but could hear her teeth rattling
like cqstanetS-and as the sharp wind blow
her clothes close to her form, l could detect
from the sharpness Of the outlines that she
was very scantily supplied with raiment.
Come in, come in, my good woman said
hastily, for the wind seemed to catch eagerly
at the opportunity to make itself at home in
my hall, and was rapidly forcing an entrance
through the half-Opcn door. Come in, you
can tell me all you have to communicate in.
side
She slipped in like ghost, and closed the
door. While | was striking a light in my
office, | could hear her teeth still clicking out
in the dark hail, till 1t seemed as II some skcle-
ton was chattcring. As soon as obtained a
light, | begged her to enter the room, and
without occupying myself particularly about
her appearance, asked her abruptly what her
business was.
My father has met with severe accident,
She said, '0nd requires instant surgical aid
cntrcat you to come to him Immediately
The freshness and melody Of her voice start.
led me. Such voices rarely If ever issue from
any but beautiful FORMS looked ct her at.
tcntively, but owing to nondescript species
Of shawl in which her head was wrapped,
could discern nothing beyond what seemed to
be n pale, thin face, and large eyes. Her dress
was lamentablc. An old silk, of q color now
unrccognizab!c. clung to her figure in thsee
limp folds which are so eloquent Of misery.
Tho crcascs where it had been folded had
been worn nearly through and through, and
the edges Of the skirt had decayed into spe.
cics Of irregular fringe, which were clotted
and dscolOred with mud. Her shoes-which
were but half concealed by this scanty gar
ment-wcrc shapeless and soft with moisture.
Her hands were hidden under the ends of the
shawl which covered her head, and hung down
over bust, tho outlines Of which, although
angular, seemed to possess q certain grace.
A namelcss air of mystery which seemed to
hang over this wretched CdifiCe, created in me
q certain curiosity. Poverty, when partially
shroudcd, seldom fails to interest; witness
the statue Of the Yelled Bcggar, by Monti.
In what manner was your father hurtr
asked in tone considerably softencd from the
one in which put my first question.
lie blew himself up, sir, and is terribly
wounded
'Ahl He Is in some factory thODs'
mo, sir, he Is a chemist
"a chemist-why, he is a brother profess
sional. Wait an instant and will slip on my
coat and go with you. Do you live far from
here?'
I'm the Seventh Avenue, not more than two
blocks from the end Of this street.
SO much the better. We will be with him
in few minutes. Did you leave any one in
attendance on himG'
No, sir. He will allow no one but myself
to enter his laboratory. And injured as he is,
could not induce him to quit it.