River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-19

way, ana L IL 90 what can Tor your W1Ie.
Aud down the street l followed him
into a squalid, dark, dirty court, reekins
with filth and the air loaded with baC
elnells, into dingy house, and up three
pairs Of rickety stairs, till we stood in {
wretched garnet, lighted by one small
shattered window.
1t was November, and bitterly colo
aud damp, but there was no fire in tbs
ire on the hearth, and a single blanke
covered the bed whereon lay the sicA
woman. A mans threadbare coat lay
over her feet.
Ii was half dark, so the man struck &
match, and lighted farthing dip stuck
in an old tin candlestick, and held itup, Il
let the light fall on the invalid.
Great Heavens what a sight met NY
horTified gael On the bed lay girl
beautiful still, though, as l saw, in Tho
last stages Of exhaustion from starvation
ard beside her lay tiny child barely ,
month cid.
"Have you brandy" l cried.
The man shook his head.
Nor the means to get ii, / suppose
Here, senu and buy some, aud food also.
And | held out half q sovereign to the
man.
"Heaven bless you, STRIP he sal dis
appearing down the dark staircase, and
le.lvin me alone beside the sick, bed.
looked around the garnet, half lighted
up by the glimmering candle. What q
scene of wretchedness was presented to
my eyesl A broken chair and table, a
pitcher and basin, and few rickety cups
and plates were all that it contained. Nc
carpet was on the floor, no curtain before
the window. No article of dress, save an
old bonnet and shawl, were to be seen.
Evidently the occupants were reduced TO
the last stage of restitution, for, beyond
q dry crust of bread and mug of water,
the room contained no trace of proVis-
ioas.
'rhe man soon returned, bringing with
him brandy and provisions, and while l
atrove to rouse the sick woman from the
deathly lethargy into which she had fall
len; he, aided by miserable, skinny
child of perhaps thirteen or fourteen
years of age, lit a fire, and set some va
ter on to boil in delapitated tin sauce
paa. Then he came to the poor bedside,
and assisted me TO administer the brandy
to his wife, and I saw how thin and
starved he was, with the Unmistakable
signs of recent illness written on his wan
textures, handsome sui in spite of pow
erty and hunger.
At length my patient opened her eyes
and fixed them on her husband. The
tears came into his eyes as he kissed her
tcnderlv.
.'Gerald, she murmured, in a faint
voice. II thought it was all over. VINO is
th;si" Aud she looked at me inquir-
iugly.
: I am doctor, madam" | replied,
cheerfully, sand had the good fortune to
lo passing Just az | was wanted. Now
you must be good, and do as direct.
Keep quiet, and talk little, and you will
soon get round again. Now letne see tie
little one. All! not much wrong here
but he is small and trifie weak. Never
mind; I don't doubt but that he'll grow
up to be blessing to you. Now" and
/ turned to the husband, and walked as
lar as | could out of ear-shot of the inva-
lid-"now, sir, see we'll enough that
YOU are in trouble. Make friend of me,
and tell me in what way can assist
you"
/ was hardly prepared for the effect
nv speech would have on him. lie look
cd at me Tor one moment, aud then burst
into tears. 1t was painful sight, but
sympathy from an outsider, especially
frGm one in the rank of life to which he
belonged, had or so long been unfamiliar
TO him, that the first kind word oyercame
him, and he sObbed like child.
Gerald, Gerald" cried his wife, Terri
fed, from the bed, "what is il, darling
Cine to me- And she atrove TO raise
tersef.
Control yourself, Tor your wifes sake
nv friend,n / said, In low, firm voice
excitement might be fatal to her.
SO with an effort be controlled himself
and seating himself on the side of the
bed, with his wife's hand in his, he told
me the pitiful story Of their woes and
sufferings. Shattered health, loss oil
work, the ususl gamut Of troubles they
had passed through. till at the last gasp
/ had rescued them from positive starva-
ton.
listened attentively and promising tC
return the next morning, | left the house
the man accompany me as far as the
street.
What could / do to help theml They
we're evidently people If education and
refinement. How could l aid them to IRE
gain the position in life for which they
were intended, and which, through q
series of misfortunes, they had lost This
thought filled my mind as walked quiet
" home through the crowded streets, and
dwelt there till other patients and Other
cares put it out of my head.
Next day press of business forced me
to give up my intention Of visiting my
new friends, and it was not until midday
Of the following that | found myself
gain at the entrance of the dingy house
The squalid girl who mad helped to hgh
the fire on my first visit spied ne from
afar, and escorted me to my patients, tell
ing me that "Gentleman JACK had 90
half days work somewhere, but woulc
be back shortly"
"And the missus, how is she.' | asked
40. she be nicely, and the child, too,
replied the squalid one. Il bided by hel
last night, | did, with an air of triumph
for Gentleman Jack was like TO drop 0
sleep
"And how long have they lived here''
asked.
Nigh four month"; said he. ''Sht
taught me to sew and knit, she did.
rs she good 10 you, then9' / asked.
'Yes. Good to me and all the kids
I guess she was real lady, and We're
! slik gown once" and the girl winke'
confdentially. Here we are, missus-
here's The doctor"
Aud without further ceremony | wa
ushered into my patients room.
She was sitting up, holding the chill
on her lap, and | saw q marked chang
tor the better in her appearance. Tn
large blue eyes were clearer, aud the loo
Of famine-that look which once seen c.
never be forgotten-had left the delieat
face. The rough, disordered hair va
now combed neatly back, aud the rooE
cleaned and reduced to something liz
order. She smiled as entered, an
signed TO me TO take the only chair th
room contained.
50 your husband has some work r
began, seating myself.
YES; half dag in the lanyard The
re in want of extra hands. believ
We hope he may be taken on REGULAR,
lonlv I fear il may be too much for i
strength she replied, and then 81
, naused and blushed. lie is an artist
] profession-or was, sir.
~Ah. indeed An uphill life tllat
frst, answered.
sYcs. 80 we found but ! believe I'll