Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-06-04

terly; "why, should think what is spent
upon that child in nurse and drugs would
| be a comfortable income for us. 1t is
enough to make any man envious to see
how unequaily money is distributed.
There are those people the Westerns, roll
| ing in wealth, and without labor to gain
| it, while the more / fight and struggle, the
worse off am What do they know of
trouble? Grace, my girl" he cried pas
sionately, 81 wish [ had never married
you, to drag you down to this p4verty!" !"
"Hushl oh, hush I" sobbed Mrs. Ross,
| the tears streaming down her cheeks !;
have we not been happy through it all,
and have ever seemed to mind? Be pa
tient, and times will brighten; but please
| -please-do n'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, and 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 am, darling" he cried,
"to nope and growl as | do, envying,
hating and maliciously regarding my
neighbors because they make money and
| I 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 a 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 .aa H.| ~
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
for him, his whole being seemed to di-
late, and he in fancy performed some
great cure. p ~ 1NH +'}'s
eff he had had opportunity" she
thought to herself, and then signing re-
sumed her task, one that betokened q
change at hand in their little household,
with helplessness 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 a 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 it ?" 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 yesi one says plenty of bitter and
stupid things when in trouble" said John
Ross "But what is it?"
"Jane tells me their little boy is dy-
ing" i t.t-. - : {.
/ "What, that fine little fellow that
looked heartiest of the hearty
Z" 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 it is to late u
Poor little chap p exclaimed Mr.. 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 chapH he muttered
again, and then aloud, "God forgive me
Grace. What blind fools we are and j
was envious of those people,"
Father and mother we're bending over
the cradle, when there came rattle OF
wheels, 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. 7
"For mercy's sake, Mr.. Ross, pray
come! My poor boys dying" and before
he could recover from his surprise the
surgeon was hurried hatless into a
brougham, thrust in almost by the excited
parent, the horse was fl 1gged, and John
Ross just had time to wave an adieu tC
his wife at the window before the car
riage was turned, and they were going al
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, in s
voice choked with emotion
"And now fear we are too late. Oh
that | had come last night"
"Calm yourself" said Mr.. Ross. "I
may be that / could do no more than YOU
regular attendant"
Don't tell me that, sir |" exclaimed the
father, augrily. My child has beer
neglected-shamefully neglected. THAI
man came to my house last night from
some public dinner, and feel sure now
though did not detect it then, that h,
was ignorant of what he was doing. Blu
+ quick, sir, follow mem
In another minute John Ross was il
the chamber before the little sufferer, lyin!
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 weepin.
woman raised her red eyes, and Joined he
hands supplicatingly, as if to say, ooh
save oh, save my child" !"
Wealth was there, glancing from ever,
article OF furniture in the handsome room
but the cold grim shade that visits tn
palace with the same stern justice as th
lowly cottage seemed to be there waitin!
, for few brief moments ere he elaine.
his own.
For moment John Ross thought h
was too late, and his brow knit with dis
/ %ln L