Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-02-18
DIR. LAMBERT.


Near the city Of Valmont, about half
a mile from the New Gate, on the road
rather the worse for age, but still quite
habitable.
The chief feature of that venerable
dwelling is the outside staircase by which
the second story is reached. At the top
of these stairs is a wide landing-place,
surrounded by an iron balustrade, and
almost filled with green boxes in which
bloom profusely variety of bright and
fragrant flowers.
But what first attracts attention to the
place is belt of small arbors and sum-
warehouses;, each surrounded by a mar
row fower-bed. These green retreats
are furnished with tables and seats, and
look very cozy and inviting
The owner of this quiet, yet cheerful,
abode was Miss Morette, fair and forty,
and reasonably fat, rather short in stature,
quick, bright, and apparently happy, as
she deserved to be, for she spent her
whole life in doing good.
Miss Morette was not very rich, but
she used to say that when there is enough
for two there is enough for twelve; it
only needed good management and wise
economy. She practiced the economy
upon herself, and gave to others the ben
eft of the management.
That second story, with the fiowery
stairs, was devoted to hospitality. Dur
ing the whole summer it was filled with
visitors-old ladies who needed sunshine,
tired seamstresses who needed rest, young
girls and children who needed fresh air
and country milk. These were Miss
Morette's guests. And rs she kept but
one servant, and did not allow her in
valids to work too much, her own hands
were seldom idle.
Besides her home duties, she had many
outdoor patients to attend to. Early
every morning she filled two covered
baskets with fruit and flowers, and i'm
nediately after her frugal breakfast she
started for the city with a basket on
each arm, walking briskly, and singing
to herself as she went. When she
reached the city she threaded her way
quietly through the narrowest of its
many narrow streets, and for awhile only
short glimpses of her small person could
be had as she fitted from house to
house.
In one of her visitations Miss Morette
heard that in the next tenement poor
widow had been taken suddenly i'll and
was supposed to be dying. She went to
see her, and found her, as had been re-
ported, evidently near her end.
The poor woman was greatly distressed
at the thought of leaving her child un.
protected. II don't care for myself,
she said, shut can't bear to have heI
20 to the hospital"
"Of course not" said Miss Morette
She is very pretty child; but what
makes her look so pale?"
Ricketts," groaned the woman. She
is six years old, for all she looks so small
And think of her going to the hos
pitalp'
"She need not 60 to the hospital. J
will take care of her myself. l live IL
the country and will take good care OF
her. Will you give her to me?" asked
Miss MOrette, with tears in her eyes.
The diving woman blessed and thanked
her; she was willing to die now.
"Suzette," said Miss Morette to hel
faithful servant, 81 am going to bring
here y lovely little girl. She is sick ant
an orphan, SO we must take her"
Suzette was quite willing. She adoret
her mistress, and had often expressed ,
desire to "kiss the ground she trod on.
But more important duties had Away
prevented her from putting that WIS.,
into action, and scrubbing the hoors MAJ
been her nearest approach to that IDEA
form of worship.
The next day the motherless child wa
brought to her new home and becam
the pet of the household. She had tn
face of an angel, but she was weak ant
sickly.
Country air would do much for her,
said Miss Morette to herself, and II ar
could assist nature / am certain sh
would soon get we'll But good doctor
are such expensive blessings"
The kind little lady was in the naoi
of prescribing for her family patients
Her father had been physician, an
had left her, beside all his books,
recipe for making pills of such miracu
lous virtue that they, or the fear Q
them, had never yet failed to cure an
disease.
But this was different case ana II
quired different treatment. 30, naVn
nassed in review all the physicians :
Valmont, Miss Morette made up her mn
to consult DIR. Lambert.
She arrayed herself in her best dress
brown foulard silk with white dots,
cherry-colorcd Grape shawl that had .,
longed to her mother, and respectapl
white straw bonnet trimmed with brow
Thus becomingly attired, she departe
one flne June morning, holding pro"
parasol in one hand and in the otnef
purple velvet reticule containing ht
knitting; for she might have to walt, an
time was too precious to be lost;
Everybody in Valmont knew Df. Ian
bert, and could relate his history. VIII
variations, but it was generally acknoW
edged that he was San original"
H;s ranutat;on as a physician wi