The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-12-21
M(istellaneous.
THE WOMAN WITH ONE HAND.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

VIZ hVs Hhoos'.
: in any supernatural manifestations or ap
pearances whatever / beg any one who may
. peruse this narrative to understand that an
no supertitious creature, afraid Of my own
J shadow, lending an attentive ear to old wo
mems stories, and seeing "something white
in every corner where the shadows gather
thickly after dusk. II is scarcely likely that
an old surgeon who has stood beside so many
dying pillows, and watched 80 many spirits
: take flight from racked and wounded bodies,
should tremble at the thought ola dlsem-
bodied soul. know too well the release
death often is to poor pain.strickcn mortals,
to fear their voluntary return to the scenes
Of their unbappiness and suffering. Neither
am ] the victim of disordcrcd nerves or fcvered
Imagination. l have performed operations
in which one trcmor of the hand would have
been fatal-where, had my hand swerycd but
a hairs breadth to the right or left, would
have been murderer. Nay, can do what
many able, energetic men have found i'm
possible, for have had those dearest to my
soul beneath my hand, and though each
moan Of anguish, each flutter of the heart,
went through my every nerve, the kindly
cruel knife worked on us steadily rs though
il carved a block of scnseless wood. The
portrait of myself which hangs above the
mantel yonder, is not that OF dreamer or
maniac, and yet should pronounce the man
who told Inc such tale rs am about to
commit to paper a fit inmate for a lunatic
asylum. Even now pause before write
the words, and am half inclined to fling aside
the pen, lest any who should peruse the story
should pronounce old DR.. Greystock mad
And what il they should do so? know that
every scene shall record has passed before
my eyes, that my mind is calm and clcar,a
my senses unimpaired. Shall |, who never
faltcred when | know that one false move
ment would send the cruel steel through
dear brothers loving heart, turn coward
now, and hide the truth lest the world should
laugh at me? | will not. Come on, my
gray goose-quil, and do your task, ere am
grown so old that the story shall be deemed
the dwelling of a childish brain.
Twas born in quiet and retired country
village. My father mingled the professions
of doctor and apothecary, and at times drew
teeth or set fractured limb-anything for a
living, poor man, for he had large family,
and neither property nor the expectations OF
u legacy. His patients were distributed over
wide tract of country, and during an un-
healthy season he was often upon horseback
from morning until night, enduring the
scorching sun OF summer, the cold blasts OF
winter, or the miasmatic yapors OF the marshy
ground over which he was called to travel upon
caRS WhdtpkISaags'Ssr yTfSsFst With &S fever
During his frequent absences, lpresided over
the pills and portions, mixed washes, made
up prescriptions, and amused myself by the
perusal of several works upon anatomy which
graccd tho book.shelyes Of the room behind
the shop. Thcscience was my chief delight,
and in q little while the determination to be-
come a surgeon filed my mind. Much ex.
perience had made me doubt tho power OF
medicine. Tho mysteries OF the unseen ma
chincry within us might battle the most
learned, but tho surgeon, dealing with the
outward man, could see his work, and really
benefit his fellow creatures. / knew the
strength of my nerves, and the value they
would bS to me in thesurgical profession and
| declared my intention to adopt II before l
had reached my sixteenth year. My father
was pleased, and gave his consent at once
but there were some prcliminaries to be ar
ranged, and some funds to bc accumulated,
before could enter upon regular course oil
study. Meanwhile, stayed at home, inn
patiently and gathered all could from books
and from my father instructions. The time
passed tediously enough, forI was anxious to
commence my career, and start upon the
high road to wealth and emnence; and many
were the anxious days and slccplcss nights
which spent ere the time arrived which
witnessed my departure for the city. AT
last, however, all was ready. bado adieu
to my mother, my fath,r, and my younger
brother. from whom had never yet been
separated for one night, and with heart
which beat with high hopes, even amid the
grief of parting, took my place in the stage,
and left, for the first time, the home oil my
glad childhood.
In a month, | had become accustomed to
the separation, and thought only OF my pro-
fession.
Medical students are generally wild, rcck-
less and dissipated. | was neither. The
discretion OF old age seemed to come suddenly
upon me. shared my comrades stories,
but refused to mingle in their orgies, for l
had determined to retain my strong nerves
and unshaking hand to the last. Neycrthe.
less, was general hyorite, and formed
many friendships among the giddy band'
which lasted long after they had become gray
headed men. There was one among the
number, whose name was Robert Redlaw-a
gay, handsome boy he was, full Of fun and
| lrolic, and terribly fond of practical jokes,
but, nevertheless kind hearted, and generous
to a fault, for he would have given his last
penny to one who seemed in need of IL. To
the living hc was oil tenderness; to the
wounded wretch at the hospital hishand was
soft us any woman's, and have seen his eyes
gil with tears while he inflicted necessary
pain; but to tho dead he seemed heartless-a
lifeless body being Of no more value, IN MS
eyes, than the trunk Of q dead tree.
"would you value your old violin caseT
he would say, when any one demonstrated
with him upon the subject. "The strings
broken-nay the instrument dcstroyed-oi
what value Is that which was but formed for
its protection? For my part, when my soul
has taken flight, care not what you do with
this combination of flesh and bones which
now contains it." And upon this principle
he seemed to act inyoluntarily.
One night-oh, how well l remember 1t
a cold, black evening in mid-winter-l sat
alone beside my frc, absorbed in meditation.
The book had been reading lay beside me
upon the table, and my candle burnt low
within the socket, for it was nearly one
o'clock, although had not retired. Sud.
denly was aroused by q loud ringing Of my
door bell, and the sound Of sand thrown
against my window from without, and light
ing another taper, descended and opened the
door. .
There, upon the steps, stood Robert Red
law and four other fellows students, all the
worse for liquor, and all in boisterous spirits.
"Let us in, old fellow!" by George! we've
made night Of II. Such punch rs we'vc
been having ut Tom B--s while you have
been mOping over your mu'ty books. You