Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-03-26
DR.. LAMBERT.

DR.. LAMBERT.
Near the city of Valmont, about half a
mile from the New Gate, on the road to
Florissant, stands an old house rather the
worse for age, but still quite habitable.
| The chief lecture Of that venerable dwell
| iEg is the outside staircase by which the
second story is reached. At the top of
these stairs is wide landing place. sur
! rounded 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 a belt of small arbors and summer
houses, each surrounded by a narrow flow
er bed. These green retreats are fur
, nisted with tables and seats, and look very
coy 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 was enough
for two there is enough for twelve; it only
needed good management and wise econo-
N.Y. She practiced the economy upon her.
self. and gave to others the benefit Of the
management.
The second story, with the flowery stairs,
was devoted to hospitality. During the
whole summer it is filled with visitors
old ladies who needed sunshine, tired seam
stresses who needed rest, young girls and
children who needed fresh air and country
And as she kept but one servant, and did
not allow her invalids to work too much,
her own hands were seldom idle.
Besides her home duties, she had many
out door patients to attend to. Early
every morning she filled two covered bas-
kets with fruits and flowers, and imme-
dlately after her frugal breakfast she start
ed for the city with 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 mar
row streets, and for a while 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 ill and
was supposed to be dying. She went to
see her, and found her, as had been report
ed, evidently near ner end.
The poor woman was greatly distressed
at the thought Of leaving her child unpro-
tected. Il don't care for myself" she
said, ''but can't bear to have her 60 to
the hospital"
ssOf course not, said Miss Morette. She
is very pretty child; but what makes her
look so pale?''
''Rickets,' groaned the woman. "She
is six years old, for all she looks SO small.
And think of her going to the hospital!''
"She need not go to the hospital. will
take her myself. l live in the country,
and will take good care Of her. Win you
give her to me?" asked Miss Morette, with
tears in her eyes.
The dying woman blessed and thanked
her; she was willing to die now.
'Suzette," said Miss Morette to her
faithful servant. II am going to bring
here lovely little girl. She is sick and
an orphan, so we must take her."
Suzette was quite willing. She adored
her mistress, and had often expressed a
desire to kiss the ground she trod on. -
But more important duties had always
prevented her from putting that wish into
action, and scrubbing the floors had been
her nearest approach to that ideal form of
worship.
The next day the motherless child was
brought to her new home, and became the
pet of the household. She had the face of
an angel, but she was weak and sickly.
Country air will do much for her, said
Miss Morette to herself, land it art could
get well. But good doctors are such ex-
pensive blessings!'
The kind little lady was in the habit of
prescribing for her family patients. Her
father had been physician, and had left
her, besides all his books, a recipe for max
| ing pills Of such miraculous virtues that
they, or the fear of them, had never yet
| failed to cure any disease.
| But this was a different case, and re.
quired a different treatment. So having
passed in review all the physicians of Val
mont, Miss Morette made up her mind tc
consult DR.. Lambert.
She arrayed herself in her best dress
brown foulard silk with white dots; q
cherry colored Grape shawl that had be-
longed to her mother, and respectable
white straw bonnet trimmed with brown
Thus becomingly attired, She departed ONT
fine June morning, holding brown para
sol in one hand, and in the other purple
velvet reticule containing her knitting
for she might have to wait, and time was
too precious to be lost.
Everybody in Valmont knew DR.. Lam
bert. and could relate his history, will
variations, but it was generally acknowl
edged that he was an Original
His reputation as physician was great
Yet, although he was only a little ove1