The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-03-31


You couldn't have the heart now to go off an
leave q poor manned fellow here in the bush,
to starve all alone by hisself, or be clawed an
chawed up with wildcats, could ye?S
Could Herman? He sprang out once more
for the man, IN his piteous supplication, had
raised his head and shoulders, supporting him
self on both hands, to look for him, let 20, the
bandage, bled again, and again sunk, moaning
and swooning. He frightened the bandage,
cut open the pantaloon, and looked at the wound.
If he could, he would dress it before anybody
came, watch the patient from his lurking place
until somebody came, OF, if that should NOT hap
pen before dark, get Ichabod to help him carry
the man to the boat, and row him in it to some
place where he could be- properly tended.
Would taking up the artery be enough? No,
At would not, ne saw. The young man must
lose his leg or his life.
If all warriors were likewise compassionate
surgeons, compelled to heal the wounds they
made, it is possible that mankind would be
IconfeRed to forego mnch Of the advantage,
which, as some religious moralists inform us,
they now derive from the wholesome exercise
Of shooting and being shot by one another.
Even the overseer in the jail of New Orleans,
who was forced to nurse the girl he had fog-
ged, is said to have declared that he would
never treat another so, for he found blessed
teaching of Experienced "it was too much for
any one bear"
misery of his discovery, he said, I" Make your
then he sat down by his side, took his head
upon his knee, famed him with his hat, and
wai.ed patiently. He had not long to wait. A
hairy muzzle was presently thrust between
them and bloodhound licked the sufferers
face. Herman looked over its shoulders down
the path. Three men were coming up.
"Hullo, Noble What have you been and
done to yourself?" cried they.
"He has been shot by person in the wood"
said Herman. i'rr
whats yer name, an what's yer busness?"
am physician"
That's luck, anyhow"
| y, iSWhy, Noble Who shot YEP"
% D--n It'll How should know"
|" Think twas the nigger.?"
,a" reckon" Herman shook his head at
him and he corrected himself obediently !:
No twan't l remember, now, of his not hav-
in hothin but knife" ''"'
Bled a lot, amt he 2" soA Gus
!" Most to death. D-----n YOU all. I'd ha
died here for all you, if it hadn't been for the
doctor" .r .-f,.
"Bad hurt, stranger?"
al fear so. He will need to be put to bed
presently, and have good nursing"
Bones smashed 2"
"Yes.n
Think ye can mend emf"
"No," said Herman, laying the patients
head gently down, rising, and taking his ques-
toner aside.
Reckon til have to come of, them
won't it ?"
"Yes. Is there any place near here where
l.. l.
'"Reckon not. Well have one or two on us
to stop an camp down with him har', till he's
got over the wust on it,
Have you either of you saw Of any kind ,"
"No."
"A file? We might make saw, perhaps,
out of one of your bowie-knives."
Wall, no; hain't; JEFF, ha' your"
"What2n
SCOT file? Doctor wants one to make
saw"
"No. Samson has, though haint ye?''
| A saw !! What for 2" cried Noble, catching
the word; and, getting no answer, he rolled
sgrovelling on his face, and sobbed and scream
ed like child, while Herman, bidding Samson
take the file out of hearing, and prepare the
knife, vainly endeavored to soothe and encour-
age him. The knife was brought back, and
handed to him with twelve small teeth notched
in the edge, tolerably smooth, sharp, and even.
Giving the leg for moment into Samson's
hands, he stepped into the bushes, and presently
returned with his coat buttoned TO his chin,
and his linen torn in strips for bandages. By
good luck, he had roll of sticking plaster and
skein of sewing-silk, as usual, in his pocket:
IL suppose, of course, you none of you have
drop of ether?"
Either? I'll be burned if know what
| It's q, .di raa tf
GOSH It's that thar hllaby-water, that
the man-carvers to the horspittles gives the
niggers an Paddles, to snuff out of sponges
afore they cuts 'em up They goes off whole
into sweet snooze, an wakes up in SO many
pieces, they can't find 'emselves, haw, haw !!
No, reckon we haint got much O. that thar
in the bush har', stranger. You'll have to chop
him with his eyes open, 'thout you sews 'em up.
Wen hold onto him, an keep him in order, soon
as yer ready. Hold yer noise, Nobel l never
see such a thunderin big coward Thar was
my brother Elderkin, slashed his own hand off
with one cut, when the mad dog tasted on it,
an made his niger hold red hot axe to it, till
it stopped bleedin, an grinned all the time like
a COON"
!" For Gods sake, don't talk so before him |
Have you no laudanum ~"
"Lodnum? What would we care that round
for? Reckon he'll go to sleep without nothin
| he's so skeery -, -. Aaai
Herman felt that there was some sense in
this suggestion, and that neither his patients
| nerves, nor his own, were likely to be tranquil
lied by waiting to hear more of this sort of con-
yersation. He went mp to the poor fellow, and
said, kindly II
:" am very sorry to see You in so much
trouble; but come, now, try to pluck up good
heart, and behave like a man and I'll do my
very best to relieve you as quickly as possible.
See look at my watch see how fast it goes
Before this second hand has run round twice,
twill be over, if you'll only keep still.
He had never before performed any consider
able operation without the aid of ether, and of
skilful assistants. The poor wretch's outcries
under his knife narrowed his very soul, and made
him feel constant and almost irresistible i'm
pulse to throw down the instrument, and give
up the business; while Mobiles struggles in the
hands of the three who held him, for he was
naturally vigorous youth, and still little in
liquor, added to his difficulties and distress.
The cries at length sank into gasps. The
vessels had been secured. The sticking plaster
was applied successfully, and the last bandages
we're going on, when the mufaed sound of hoofs
trotting on the turf was heard, and there was
start, an exclamation, and a burst of laughter
from the attendants. Herman looked up, and
saw a stag, rudely harnessed with thongs of
list and raw hide into a large red wheelbarrow,
in which sat little old negro woman with a
shriyelled, shiny, jetty face, set in golden rim
of Bandanna-7a sight halfgrotesque, halfpic-
turesque-an emblem of our wild, glorious
South, driven and hampered by Slavery.
T. Hullo, nanny, who be your an wizard ye
come from7 an WIZARD yer get SO much
team?" .ets
She jumped out just in time to seize the head