The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-06-03
"Look at that" said John Ross one day,

"Look at that" said John Ross one day,
as two nurses passed the window in charge
of a perambulator fitted with an awning,
and containing tine-loOking boy of scme
months old" look at that" he said Bit
terly; "why, should think what is spent
upon that child in nurse and drugs would
be comfortable income for US. 1t is
enough to make any man envious to see
how unequally money is distributed.
There are those people the Westerns, roll
it, while the more fight and struggle, the
trouble? Grace, my girl" he cried pas
sionately. II wish I had never married
you, to drag you down to this poverty I"
"Hush oh, hush I" sobbed Mrs. Ross,
the tears streaming down her cheeks
and have l ever seemed to mind Be pa
tient, and times will brighten; but please
please se-dOn't-speak@
Mrs. Ross could say no more. for her
sobs choked her utterance. Her hus-
bands words had seemed to cut her to the
heart, for of late he had grown more bitter
and less hopeful. Instead of flying to his
books for comfort, aud studying hard, he
had grown moody and peevish, in spite of
her loving attentions; and many night,
while he slept had her pillow been wet
with tears as she vainly tried to pierce the
cloud of gloom that seemed to close them
in on every side.
"What bear l am, darling" he cried,
"tO nope and grOwl as | 40, envying,
hating and maliciously regarding my
neighbors because they make money and
| don't There, never mind. I'll make
old TOmpkins want me for partner yet.
An hour after he was making notes,
and eagerly studying up case reported
in the medical journals, now shaking his
head and calling his wife's attention to
what he considered fallacies, or great
blunders, and pointing out what would
have been his course under the circum-
stances-nOt dwelling upon it with any
show of assumption, but proving all he
said step by step from the experience of
those learned in the great science of medi-
cine.
And in spite Of her aching heart, and
their poverty, Mrs Ross eyes lighted up,
and her thinly-cut nostrils dilated with
pride as, letting her needlework fall in her
lap, she gazed upon the high, slightly
bald forehead and deep thoughtful eye of
her husband, as, wrapped in the case be-
for him, his whole being seemed to di-
late, and he in fancy performed some
great cure.
"If he had had opportunity" she
thought to herself, and then signing re-
sumed her task, one that betokened a
change at hand in their little household,
with helpIessness and expense attendant,
and she sighed again, but only to check
herself, and look anxiOusly to see whether
her husband had noticed her despOnd-
ency.
But John Ross was too busily intent
upon his studies, toiling on eagerly until
called to visit some unremunerating pa
tient, from whom he had returned weary
and worn to renew his work.
Two months had glided away. and
their affairs were at such low ebb that
John Ross would have given away ut
terly to despair had he been left alone
They were seated at breakfast once
more, when Mrs. Ross spoke:
"Such bad news, dear"
"What is p" said her husband, not
raising his eyes from the paper.
"YOu remember saying that the West
erns, with their wealth, did not know care !"
"Ah yes! one says plenty of bitter and
stupid things when in trouble" said John
Ross. But what is it ="
"Jsne tells me their little boy is dy-
ing"
"What, that fine little fellow that
looked heartiest of the hearty" ?"
II fear so. Jane heard it from one of
the nurses, who says the Westerns are
already heart broken, and the poor wO-
man sobbed herself as she spoke of it.
1t seems that they wanted to have more
advice, but Mr.. TOmpkins said it was not
necessary, and now it seems il is to late" !"
"Poor little chap !" exclaimed MIR. Ross,
dropping the paper and gazing where his
own child lay, by whose side Mrs. Ross
was now kneeling, to assure herself of its
safety. Poor little chapp he muttered
again, and then aloud, God forgive me,
Grace. What blind fools we arel and |
was enviOus of those people"
Father and mother were bending over
the cradle, when there came rattle of
wheels, a horse was dragged upon the
launches at the gate, the bell rang furi-
ously, and as Mr. Ross hurriedly opened
the door, the rich Mr. Western seized
him by both hands.
=" For mercy's sake, Mr. Ross, pray
come My poor boys dying" and before
he could recover from his surprise the
surgeon was hurried hstless into a
brougham, thrust in almost by the excited
parent, the horse was hJgged, and John
X )ss Just had time to wave an adieu to
his wife at the window before the car
riage was turned, and they were going at
full gallop through the village toward the
hall
On their way Mr.. Ross learned all the
particulars he could respecting the child's
illness; how the family attendant had
treated it as of little moment. and the
child had gradually sunk, till as he finished
his account Mr.. Western exclaimed, i'm a
voice choked with emotion
"And now | fear we are too late. Oh,
that had come last nightp
"Calm yourself" said Mr. Ross. "It
may be that ] could do no more than your
regular attendant"
Don't tell me that, sir |" exclaimed the
father, angrily. My child has been
neglected-shamefully neglected That
man came to my house last night from
some public dinner, and feel sure now,
though l did not detect it then, that he
was Ignorant OF what he was doing But
quick, sir, follow mer
In another minute John Ross was in
the chamber before the little sufferer living
pale and wasted upon its weeping moth
er's knees. Fer moment the young sur
geon was almost unnamed, when, look
ing at him as her last hope, the weeping
woman raised her red eyes, and joined her
hands supplicatingly, as if to say, ooh
save-oh, save my child y
Wealth was there, glancing from every
article of furniture in the handsome room
but the cold grim shade that visits the