Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-01-03

uduC uim nuuuutT.
"Well," said he, in Q whisper, "what's
to be done?"
! The young man and the physician,
were conyersing inaidibly together fer a
moment.
" No sir" said the physician, moth
ing in the world would induce me to at
tempt it. Having no confidence in my
own power, you know, sir, it is not like
lily tt.;sf should succeed
"If you were not on the boat, under
the circumstances, and at the request of
those interested, | would attempt it,
But it is understood that you refuse and
if her father will trust me, | will save
her if can. Captain, you know me.
have not but good motives"
The father had listened. The calm,
cool manner of the young student weighed
much in his favor After look at his
child, who still seemed in the sleep Of
death, the low peculiar breathing sound
attendant upon such cases, being the
only sound of life and sure symptom of
the nature of the hurt, he took the young
mans hand and said:
&c Do what you think best. Save her
if you can. God help you~ He kissed
her and walked away, repeating the
prayer for her safety.
A request was made for those whose
aid was not necessary, to retire from the
cabin, which was of couse, complied
with. The physician, to his credit be it
spoken, remained to assist in an act
which he dare not be principal in. The
instruments having been carefully ar
ranged, and everything that prudence
could suggest attended to, the young
lady was placed on q table to undergo
the fearful operation. There was to her
no dread. She could feel 70 pain
Sensation, to her was lost faculty. But
the loss Of self possession in the operator
"a lack of knowledge and judgment in
a critical moment, might make of the in
strument used to save life weapon of
sure destruction. The physician secured
her head; in position the most conve-
nient, the student removed from the in
jured spot, the golden curls, as he took
the scalp in his hand to make the neces-
sary incision through the intcgument.
Twas evident success would attend his
efforts. His hand trembled not. In a
moment part Of the scalp was daserted up
the bone was visibe--the saw about to
do its work. Such silence a frightful
wound appeared, and though inflicted
upon one who felt not the knife, still it
called forth terrible feeling ofsuspense
But short time had been occupied by
the young operator; when, removing
piece Of the skull Of a circular form, the
brain, with its thousand vessels distended
with blood, showed plainly thro' its COW
ering membrane.
Her father walked about the cabin
not daring to look in the direction which
bis child was lying. After various at
tempts to speak, he turned, saw the
blood, necessarily lost, trickling down
her livid cheeks, and covering in its
course the loose locks that had been
spared.
2" Is she alive? Do not answer me-
still must ask. o, Ellen, Ellen p
Expressions like these escaped from
his lips in tones Of heart sinking despair.
No attention was paid to him by the opo-
rator. who was proceeding to the last
stages Of his task, with as firm hand
and determined heart as if tho instru-
ments were arting on marble. A mo-
menfs pause for reflection and consulta-
ton, had enabled him to decide upon an
important point. Applying a level to
the depressed portion Of the skull, it
was with some difficulty raised, and
signs of returned consciousness were
evident. She moved her hands, and
raised them to her head. The eye ofthc
sufferer resumed its natural Office. and
from her lips came the words Of trans
port:
Father, am safe / am better p
The transition from death to life, SO
sudden, was like the charm of the ma
gician's art. Overcome by tho change
her father sank in chair, and was not
disturbed till the proper dressings were
applied and the operation complete -
The party was soon after landed at the
town where intended to spend some
| DAYS, and with the Young surgeon. | as