Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-02-02
The REPUBLICAN.
my CHRISTMAS.

call me DIR. Bob-probably because my
hair is always short-bobbel off you
know.
have wife AMI four innocent chill
drsn- Doctors, always have children; they
are not so much of luxury to them as to
some other people | call my Children in
then they do play the very duce with my
medicines; but then that shows a COM
msudahle spirit of research and inquiry
Mrs Jarvis says ii is mischief. When
Young Bob one day gave the cat blue
pill. she went so far as to say that ii was
piece Of downright cruelty; but assured
her that it was only an experiment Illus
trating lbs inclination toward his fathers
profession. and that for my par. !idn't
csre il he physickel all the cats in town il
shereby he qualified himself for usefulness
in the walks Of medicine. which his father
80 adorned. Ihsve noticel since then that
we have no cats in Our house; either my
logic or Bob's experiment was successful
= There are some people in my line who
never take time to enjoy a holiday. I'm
not ous of that sort. believe Christmas,
FOR instance, was meant for me as much as
FOR other men. and try always to enjoy
j, in rational way. And that brings me
TO my story.
One year ago had memorable Christ
mas experience. Rather. | bad memoir
able Christmas-eve Sitting in my coy
rsrlor. with my wife at my elbow. cha,
ting with her OF the morrow, there came a
Nsulden ring of the door bell, sharp. quick,
decisive. Who was sick now?
Biddy thrust in her heal at the door:
Mrs. Jones' little boy. sir. says his sis
tsr's very sick. and you're wanted to come
right over. SIR
Who was Mrs Jones? | hal tolera-
bly, large circle of acquaintance. knew
any quantity Of Smiths. host Of Browns.
bnt not single Jones' And what if [
did? Was bound to leave my comfort
able nest on Christmas-eve to serve fam
Wy had never heard OTTO administer
rhubsrb anu ipecac to some yoangster
neoding. more than any thing else. per-
haps. to be let alone? There, right before
me. hanging in a row, were four stockings
representing four pair of little feet now
snugly ensconced under coveret and blank
st-stockings which wife AMI had prom
isod ourselves all sorts of amusement and
satisfaction in filling in the name OF Santa
Claus. Must abandon that pleasure, and
plunge ont into the driving snow, maybe
on Tools errand? Couldn't have one
night to myself?
"Plsas. sir, the lad says his sisters very
sick, AMI won't you come right away"
twas Bddy's voice, and it roused me
20 the actual situation" Perhaps my
little girls would have . merrier Christ
mas, | thought to myself, If answer this
call of the little stranger.
Iwen..
il was cold. dismal, barren place to
which the thinly clad. shiveriHg boy led
me. An old. rambling house, with bro
ken windows, creaking doors, and want
everywhere. Nor was that the worst In
one main room into which the whole iami-
ly appeared crowded, a drunken, ragged
wretch lay, in heavy sleep upon the floor,
while over the little bed pale. wen faced
woman leaned with despair in her eyes,
three half clothed children. with hunger in
their faces, clutching her skirts, clamoring
for bread. And on the little bed, moan
ing and gasping. lay a child with AZ sweet
Sface as ever angel wore--a child whose
little life seemed nearly ended.
It was pronounced case of scarlet ie-
yer. the scourge of childhood. The dis
ease seemed to be running its course rap
idly; q few hours must decide the fate Of
the sufferer. | was not slow in meeting
he al sl-,H
feeling the time to be short. Meanwhile
the mother cried and prayed by turns. the
children crouching around her.
Cod be mereifrll" she said, again and
again, sometimes adding. ''save her, doc
tor. save herr
Then. after while, winning her gradu-
ally. from herself, she told me her story;
how, once happy household, intemper-
a7ce in the husband and father had bro't
them to want and misery; how already one
child had gone to Potter's Field because of
hunger unsatisfiej; how Tom, the oldest
boy, was .. sea, but was expected home
every day
"He wrote that he'd be here on Christ
mas. sir. and that he'd bring his pockets
full of presents for the children. They've
all been dreaming about it ever since; and
Mary--that's the name Of the sick one, sir,
and she's his favorite-talks about him in
her."
"Why don't he Gomez" 1t was a weak
voice that spoke. the sufferer was deirious
again. He promised me a doll. and Pm
tired of waiting. Hon't you tell him o
hurry" Then moment after. Ibid you
hear the angel. mother? 1t was bright
angel. aud sang so very sweetly, Come
with me. come with me. Mary" l want
20 60. mother. Bat what will Tom say?
He'll want to kiss me; and who'll take
care OF the doll?" For q moment all was
still. Then we heard.
''Now lay me down to sleep,
lPray the Lord my soul to keep
I'm an old doctor,-and I'm used to
strange scenes, but that was too much for
me-. As for the mother. she fell right
down in a paroxism of grief, and all the
shivsring little ones cried As If thsir hearts
would break. Only-t drunken brute in
the corner was unmoved.
."0h, il Tom way only here" at lsst the
mother iaoaned. "maybe he could do some