Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-09-03
FROM THE WAYSIDE.
A LIFE SKETCH.

DR.: Silas Walsh one day sat in his office
reading very interesting book. 1t was a
part of his business, this reading, for the
hook was of a science within the scope of
! his profession. He was comparatively a
young man, and had the reputation OF be-
ing an excellent physician. While he read
some one rang his office bell. He laid
aside the book and went to the door, and
| when he saw what was on the stepping
stone he was indignant.
He was ragged. dirty boy, known in
| .Ernsworth as Hammer Jim ragged and
dirty, and with all the vileness OF the slum
! about nina boy vicious and profane.
! against whom every other boy in town was
| warned-a boy who was called a thief and
/ a william. whom no effort of the overseers
| had been able to reclaim, and who seemed
| ito care for nothing but to make people
afraid of him. His true name, as the Over
\ seers had it, was James Ammerton. About
( his father nobody in Ernsworth had ever
\ known. His mother had died an inmate
\ of the Poor-house.
! On the present occasion, Jim's face was
mot only dirty, but it was bloody; and there
! was blood upon his grimed and tattered
garments.
'sPlease, sir, won't you fix my head? I've
got a hurt.''
"Nhat kind of hurt?" asked the doc
/ tor.
"I'm afeard it's bad, sir,' said the boy,
soDbingiy. Lone Of Mr.~Dunn2s nl9n hit
me with a rock-OhH' -
1What did he hit you for?"
| ~ dono. SIR"
eyes. you do know. What did he throw
the stone at you for?"
"Why, sir, was Il pick'n up an apple
under one of his trees"
DR.. Walsh would not touch the boys
head with his fingers. There was no need
of it. He could see that there was only a
scalp-wound. and that the blood had ceased
to flow
s'Go home,7' he said, ''and let your folks
wash your head, and put on u clean ban
dage.'
"Please, sir, hain't got no home, and
hain't got no folks"
"You stop somewhere, don't you?"
81 stop at the poor-'us when they DOM
kick me out.'' r.
"Well, my boy, you are not going to die
from this. Go and get somebody to wasl
your head; Or, go and wash it yourself
and then tie your handkerchief on"
''Please, sir, l haint got no"
''Hold up, my boy. l haven't got tim'
to waste. You won't suffer if you 60 al
you are"
And with this DR.. Silas Walsh closed the
door, and returned to his book He hat
! not meant to be unkind; but, really, HI
had not thought there was any need of pro
fessional service on his part and, certain
ly he did not want that bad boy in hi
Office.
4 But DR.. Walsh had not been alone cog
1 infant of the boys visit. There had beel
witness at an upper window. The doc
tors wife had seen and heard She was
woman. She was not strong, and resolute
| and lignifed, like her husband. Her hear
\
aching. She had no children living; bu
';Iiere were two little mounds in the church
Y ard that told her Of angels in heaven tina
| &C Nrld call her Mother! Acting upon he
| i'm pulse, as she was very apt to act, sh
sill ped down, and called the boy in, by th
bac K way, into the Mushroom. He cam
in. vags, dirt, and all, wondering wha
was wanted. The sweet voice that ha
calico iaim had not frightened him. H
came n. and STOOD looking at Mary Walsh
and as he locked his sobbing ceased.
est Down, my boy.'
He sa down.
eff y slll help you, will you try to b
good?"
ssI can tie good.''
"Whyl 1Oe2"
cause I can't faint in me. Every
body says So"
"But you. can try
II dono.'?
| eff should help you, you would be will
| ing to tl:y, tog please me?"
| Eyes, MI should, certain"
! Mrs. Walsh brought basin of waite
and soft; sponge, and with tender han
she washed the boy head and face. Thel
with pair of scissors, she clipped ava
the hair from the wound-curling, .han'
| some hair--and found it not bad on
She brought a piece of sticking plaste
which she fixed upon it, and then brushe
the hair back from the broad brow, az
: Hooked into the boys face-not bad fa'
mot an evil face. Shutting out the RAJ
and the dirt, it was really a handson
5 face.
.Wh ats your name, my boy?''
"nanlmer Jim, ma'am; and sometlm
|. 4 ragged JIM"
n Il mean, how were you christened."
FL (Which, 'm?'' :.
4 ssDon't.you know what name your pa
~ ents gave you?''
1l