Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1872-05-18
gales > Sketches.
NV FIRST PATIENT.

| f. ..' MN FIhST PATIENT. o.
In one of the most lovely little village,
in the Valley'of the Connecticut had l, IA
w. Caldwell," a newly -hedged NJ. d.,
hung out as conspcuously as possible my
tin sign, procaiming to the Inhabitants thai
any patronage they might bestow upon me
would be most gratefully received.
This was the place Of my nativity, and
within the circuit of a few miles had my
boyhood and youth been passed. Develop.
ing early disposition for the profession oil
medicine, my education had been to that
effect and up to the time of the breaking
out Of the war, my life had been spent in
constant study-varied. of course, by AN
occasional Irritation with some charming
damsel. But the clarion sound of war
startled me from my lethargy, and bidding
''adieu" to friends, neighbors, and old Es-
culapius, I started with one of the first
regiments for the field of conflict.
| But my separation from the last men,
/ toned gentleman was destined to be OF
short continuance, for surgeons were
scarce, and humanity as well as the desire
| for the knowledge this experience would
give me, beckoned me to the post, and so
during the whole campaign my time was
passed with the dead, wounded and dying.
AT the end of the war, ] returned to New
York to complete my lectures and receive
my diploma which being done, l spent
another year as resident physician in one
of our first hospitals ; and now, with ripe
experience and little prestige, l found
myself tucked away in this delightful val
ley, waiting for my first patient.
Good morning, sir. This is, L suppose,
DIR. Cald well p'' and /, startled from my
,reyerie by the low voice at my elbow, look
ed around to see lady, not old. not young,
but fine looking, with an air of elegance
which plainly bespoke her station in socie-
ty. She had entered the room very quiet
ly, and now stood gazing into my face as
if endeavoring to find there any index of
my professional ability.
~ am that gentleman, madame. Will
you be seated 2" and l offered her chair,
and seated myself beside her.
~ have come to you for advice, doctor, :"
said she, at the same time drawing of her
and tiny, while ON the taper fingers glisten-
ed diamonds and opals, rather too much
for good taste, l thought, but tha: was no
affair of mine. So J. after having, from my
general scrutiny, come TO the conclusion
that didn't like her face or manners, dis
missed all thought of them, and attended
to the business she had on hand.
II came to you, doctor, because i heard
that you had IA considerable city expert
ence, and really can't put any confidence
in these country clowns. | am boarding
at = hotel, about two miles from here,
and --.D
"Is it for yourself you seek advice ="
inquired, noticing her momentary hesita-
ton.
Not at all, sir" she replied, laughing
heartily. "Do look like an invalid ?
never was i'll day in my life :" and the
fine, we'll developed fguro and generally
healthy appearance gave pretty good evi-
dence that she was speaking the truth. at
is my daughter, sir, or rather my husbands
daughter. for am unfortunate enough to
be stepmother. She has always been
delicate, at least ever since | knew her.
We brought her here this Summer at her
particular request, instead of Newport or
Saratoga but she does not improve-that
is to say, she thinks she, doesn't. There
may be some nervousness and hystera
mixed up with it-I can hardly say but
you will probably understand the case
when you have seen her."
"Of what does she complain ?"
"Of nothing in the world but lassitudc
She is always tired, and does not have the
least inclination for the slightest mental or
physical eXcrtion."
mo cough? No pulmonary difIiculty?"
| inquired
mo, not bit,' was the immediate an
swer.
HAS she suffered severe afliction, by
death or other causes z"
Love you probably mean ~ and my
visitor curled her lip little scornfully, and
said mo, believe her heart to be whole
nj hnt hnr flt hnr
almost into spasms about her, and |
promised him to send physician this very
day. So please come out as early this at-
ternoon as you can make il convenient"
| promised TO do so, and my lady de-
parted l pondered some time over the
character of my strange visitor but the
more / pondered, the more convinced | be-
came that she was woman entirely out OF
the common order. She had keen black
eve, and extraordinarily large. perceptive
features but the mouth, thin Tipped, with
sinister expression about the corners,
suggested the idea of cruelty which idea,
once having taken possession of my brain,
| found it impossible to rid myself Of.
The card she had given me still held in
my hand, Mrs. General q. -. Waite. +"
The name somo way was familiar, and
memory brought back to me one of my
hospital experiences, Wnen q man Dy lDaJ
name had been dangerously wounded, and
after q tedious and irritating convaiescence,
had only been able to move slowly around
on crutches. A splendd-looking man in
the prime of life, an excellent friend and IL
gallant officer. / wondered whether this
was the same; and with the curiosity
under the circumstances pardonable, l pro-
cecded to the hotel.
The very first person my eyes rested
upon was my friend, the General Of Chat
tanooga, sitting with his crutches bcsid \
him on the piazza.
"God bless you, my boy rs said he, re-
cognizng me in moment. in the name
of Il merciful Providence, where did you
rain down from This is something to be
thankful for. Sit down moment, and
tell me all about yourself" But before
could find voice or language he had again
interrupted. "Oh, yes am better than
! ever expected to be. But, Caldwell,
am tie most unfortunate man living, l
have daughter, the loveliest creature that
God ever put upon the face Of the earth,
and every day can see that she grows
xuaotar anl wao kar I hrOu0ht her out