The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-12-06
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
The Mechanics Home.
BY 7. L. NICHOLS.

uJuuccd q man who wished To see inc. \ =. man.
i on thing with Il servant, a gentleman
another, and q " person something different
from either. The uan stood in the hall. but /
wondered why be had not been called a gentle
man. | WAS puzzled where to place myself. His
dress was very neat, but plain and rather coarse.
His linen. that badge Of refinement, was white,
in perfect order, and almost elegant. Everything
about him seemed substantial but nothing gave
Inc q clue 70 his position in life. In all outward
seeming he was simply a man W hen he
spoke u me, his address was simple, clear. direct,
and with Il certain air Of selt-reliance.
a" Doctor, he said, d" wish you to come and
see ny child. We fear he i threatened with the
Group"
l put on my hat and prepared to accompany
him for if the case were as he supposed. there
was no time 10 lose. In this disease i single hour
may make a LIES difference.
In q moment we were in the street. and walk
ing briskly up one Of our broad avenues. The
child. he said, had been playing out Of doors, had
I eaten heartily, At supper, gone 10 sleep, and walked
up, a short time afterwards, very hOarse, with 4
crOupy cough. The case was u pretty clear one.
and 1 hurried my walk still more, and IN Il few
moments we were II the door. Wewent up-up
up To the fourth story. The last flight OF steps
was carpeted, and a small lamp at the top lighted
IL up. An excellent and very durable kind Of
mat lay at the door. You will see in time why |
give these little particulars.
| entered the open door, and was welcomed by
q rather pretty and remarkable tidy woman, who
could have been nobody IN the world, but the
wife Of the man who had summoned me.
" | am glad you have come 50 Soon, - she said
in q soft pure accent. - Little William seems so
much distressed that he can hardly breathe -
and the next moment, as We passed through IL
narrow passage 70 where he lay, ! heard the UNI
mistakable crOupy sound, that Justly carries such
terror 10 u parent heart.
" i ii the Group, DJctOr?' asked the father
with u voice Of emotion, as | bent over the child
IA fine hoy, three years of age.
- II l. certainly the Group, and a very violent
attack. How long Is it since you thought him
sick?''
- Not above an hour, Was the calm reply. It
was made calm by a firm selfcOntroi. looked
at the mother. She was pale, but did not trust
herself to speak.
L. Then there is probably but little DANGER
| said = but we have something to 10. Have
you the water here?
The husband went to what seemed a closet,
opened two doors. and disclosed a neat pine bath
ing tub, supplied with Croton. This was beyond
my hopes but | had no time to wonder. The
little fellow was in a high fever, and laboring for
every breath. Taking him from his little crib,
where he lay on Il nice hair mattress, fit for a
prince to sleep on, | took off his clean night
clothes, stood him in the batL-tub, and made his
father pour full upon his neck and chest three
pals of cOlt water, while | rubbed him briSkly
with my hand. He was then wiped dry, and
rubbed until his whole body was in II glow. Then
/ wrung Il large towel out OF the cold water, and
put 1t around his throat, and then wrapped him
up in blankets.
complaint, Is if he understood that under his
fathers eye no harm could come TO him. In IF
teen minutes after he was wrapped in the blankets,
he was in a prJluse perspiratiun, in Il sound SUM
Der, and breathing freely. The danger was over
SO rapid * this disease, and 50 easily cured.
Happiness had shed a serene light upon the
counteuance of the father, and thrown over the
mothers face Il glow of beauty.
| looked upon them, and was more than ever
puzzled where 70 place them. Had no marks of
high VI superior breeding, not the shadow of de-
cavcd %gcntility about them. 1t was rather the
reverse, as if they were working from Il low rank
of life up to Il higher.
| looked around the room. 1t was the sleeping
apartment. Everything in it was perfectly order
". The bed. like the crib, was excellent. butn o
expensive. The white counterpane did not cost
over ten shillings. vet how beautiful it looked
The white window-curtains were shilling muslin,
but their folds hung as richly as if they were
damGSk-and how very appropriate they seemed
The bath, with its snug iOiding-dOors, | knew had
not cost, plumbers bill and all, more than ten
dollars. The toilet-table, of an elegant form,
and completely covered, | had no doubt was
white pine, and cost half Il dollar. The pictures
on the wall were beautifully tinted Autographs,
better. far better than oil paintings | have seen
in the houses Of millIynarios vet they can he
bought for from two to FIVE sbillIngs, and Il dollar
Il piece, framed. The floor had Il carpet, that
seemed To match everything with its small, neat
figure and light chamber color. IL was Il jewel
of Il room, in as perfect keeping with all its parts
as if an artist had designed it.
Leaving the boy To his untrOubled sleep, and
giving directions tor his bath on waking, w went
into the other room, which was differently hat
Just rs neatly arranged, 1t might have answered
for Il parlOr. only il had a cooking-Stovc or an
artists studio, or a dining-room. 1t was hung
with picturcs-hcads, historical pieces. and land
scapcs all such as Il man OF taste could select and
buy cheap, but which, like good books. are iuNal-
liable. And, speaking OF books, there was a
hanging library on one side of the chimney,
which Il single glance assured me, contained the
very choicest treasures OF the English tongue.
The man now went to a bureau, opened a
drawer, and took out some money. " hat Is
your fee, Doctor, he asked, holding the bills 50
as 10 select one to pay me-.
Now | had made up my mind, before | had got
half way up the stairs. that ] should have to wait
for my pay, perhaps never get it but all this had
changed. | could not, as | often did, inquire
into the circumstances of the man. and graduate
my price accordingly. There he stood, ready TO
pay me, with money enough yet it was evident
ne WAS a Woodworking man. and far from being
wealthy. | had nothing left but to name the
lowest fee.
One dollar does not seem enough said he.
- You have been at more trouble than merely to
write Il prescription
DO you work for your living?" l asked,
hoping to solve the mystery.
lie smiled, and held out his hand, which
showed the unquestionable marks of honest toll.
You are Il mechanic?' | said, willing to
know more of him.
Take that said he, placing a two-dollar
note in my hand. with a not-to-be-refused air,
- and | will crafty your curiosity for there is
no use pretending that you are not a little curl
Gus
There was a hearty, respectful freedom about
this, that was irresistible. | put the note in my
pocket, and the man, going to a door, opened it
into a closet Of moderate size, and displayed the
bench and tools Of a shoemaker.
" You must be an extraordinary workman
said |, looking around the room. which seemed
almost luNurigus: bur WHOM | looked at each