The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1871-11-18
a SGeazrT GE sEHST;Es

II was Il cold blti.teriilg winters
night IN the year OF 1861. The wind
e;'ne ia heavy gusts, TIL >iing down
the streets, and tearing round tie
houses, as If iii search of an opening
| by Which To enter and gain SHELTER
from the fast falling SNOW. It beat
against the windows. rilmbled in tlie,
chimney. and even went SO far AZ to
tear OFT some of the States on the roof
i'll it mad ilnpctuo ity. Now and
then the sharp patterot ilailstone. was
/ heard. aud 4 few OF them rolled down
the chimney. falling. splitting and
/ Spiu1tcrin.. on the blazing Goals be-
meath.
But the storm did not effect me per-
Soually. for wa> comfortably seated
! opposite Il roaring fire. ina snug. cosy
literary, enjoying a cigar alid a ci,at
with my old frielal, DIR. Fielding. The
iibrary-it was Fielding 's-w;ls one
of the most perfect | ever saw tine
! walls were covered With books, except
ing over the ehimney-pieec, and that
ing glass. The furniture was all
carved oak, and-oll. rare luxury -
every chair was an easy one. The
deep red curtains We're drawn, and
hung Ia graceful folds from their gold
en corni,ts. y huge moderator laup
Shed Il nellow light over the table,
which ut present WAS entirely devoid
i ofbookS. they had given place to Il
box of Ilayaiias 4 go0tl-Sizet. dccantcr
of brandy. sugar. lemons. and all the
ether ingredients for Il good o!d-1usii-
ioned glass OF punch.
Fielding was Il fine clever fellow,
who had not oliy made Il great nanle
in his profession. Il,t Il gooti->sizcd for
tune, which lie had settled down to en-
Joy. BY settled down one nu:t
not imasine that my friend had entirely
retired far from it. Perhaps he
never worked harder in his lfic than ut
the period am now speaking about,
only he selected his own patients.
Lord Tom Noddy might write to him
a hundred times. Offering as many
gui.iu:ls ifhe would bit come and look
ut Il pimple that had presuElptuosisiy
dared to grow on his lorlsliip's face.
but Fielding would not bulge an inch.
On the other hand. if he heard OF any
real case OF sickness. ne would hurry
OFT TO it, although he knew lie would
never get Il penny for his trouble.
Fiaiding's great delight was i'll liter
azure. He had dabbed in it {, little.
and belonged to all the literary clubs
in London. He would do anything
itF al liIaiF oi NltEF>. dfHI no SCOOTER
did le hear that one was i'll than he
would call Oh him rs Il friend and. if
desired. attend as IL doctor. but would
never take Il fee. His best reward he
declared. WAS to see his friend reinSta-
ted il, health. seated in his snug libra
ry smoking a cigar, and chatting over
literary a fairs.
We had Just lit our second cigars.
retilled our tunblel.S. drawn oIlr chairs
closer to the fire. and settled down in
them, with that selfish satisfaction
which every one experiences at being
warm and comfortable on Il cold cheer
less night. when we were startled by
a loud single knock ut the street door.
Now Il single knock at amy time is 4
most unpleasant thing. \ gentle one
sounds mean and despisable; You can
fancy the person who gave ii stirring
back. like Fear in Collins lode to the
P;,sSionst'-.. + zen at the sound him
self had nlade''--b,It bold heavy
bang: that wakes up the echoes ;lll
through the hollse. especially If given
! about ten or eleyenat night, is terrible,
!. causing IL cold sfIiver to pass through
yo,li. body as if something evil ap-
preached you.
That's Il strange knock. said I.
;. Very replied Fielding. =
: wonder Who it can be-.
We We're not long left in doubt, for
the servant entered the room and an
announced that Il boy wanted to seeDr.
Fielding.
What does he want? Can't he
2 seEd a message by you?.
Please, sir, he says he can't he
must see YOU.
well, show him up. said Field
al I..I ~
about twelve, wears entered the room.
lie was !, short, stumbling lad With
. a fierce rough head Of hair. large star
, ing blue eyes, and not too clean hands
and face, both Of which worked ner-
yously. His clothes We're strong but
common. and hung loosely around his
spare figure.
:. Which OF yon is the doctor?'' asked
the boy;
~ am. replied Fielding. What
do you Want, my lad.'' issHlt
Here is a note for you, said the
boy, at the same time handling over !;
carelessly-folded half sheet Of paper.
"Please to come quick !; he is bad. z
Fielding took the paper, read it, and
: passed it TO me. 1t ran us follows
5 eiiDEAI, EIELDING.-I'm worse and
worse-in fact. l. have only TO be a
little more so. and shall be much bet-
$ ter. In other words, am about max
, ing My farewell bow OIL the world !
) great theatre. Come and see the fall
! ~of the curtain. The performance i.
entirely for my benefit. DO come, old
fellow. Charon viii show the way.
Yours. ARTHUR BI IRnON. .s'ts.
'' 1t is as I feared,n said. Fielding.
OF course | must go. y i'll you accom-
! pany me ?''F v a.t,,tf n.
,f.As. ,Bulsfon was, an old friend oI
= mine ut once consented, and III a few
iIliilutas We were on the street. fol.
: lowing our youthful guide. .igs.s.8l
: - Where does Buryton live?'' / i'll
qtiifed..a g 1.iittifH ssf9e ~
!, rs1'liat is more than I knows. re
! Piled Fielding; ]; although, we have beer
: on friendly terms for many years, hf
has never told me his address. He Has
his-I