Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-06-17
DIR. BLUNT'S PATIENT.

DIR. BLUNT'S PATIENT.
If ever mortal man was fifty named
such was the case with DR. Blunt, the
name expressing one of his strongest
characteristics. Had he been called DIR.
Skilltul, the same could have been said
of him with truth. And then the ex-
preston on his face was faithful
index of another equally strong point
of character-viz., great kindness o1
heart. So quick spoken was the doctor
on ordinary occasions, he not only
abbreviated sentences, but words them
selves frequently suffered very per-
ceptible clipping.
All the village OF l. was yer
much exercised one morning by the in
telligence that the two best rooms in
Mrs. Lowell's elegant house, which
had been unoccupied for year or more
because the rent was so high, had been
taken by young lady who was real
live heiress, having no one but herself
to support; and she was going to fur
nish the rooms with no end of costly
pieces" and lovely ornaments, and
Fthermore, Lawyer Peckham, who
Id charge of her estate, said she was
beauty, but in very poor health, he
Believed. So the goo d natur ed gossips
animated as to how sad it was that
rne couldn't have everything in this
! world. If you have wealth likely as
q not you have no health with which to
enjoy it; things are pretty evenly dealt
out, after all; and so after the manner
of fnews-venders.
Dame Rumor seems for once to have
heard only the facts in the case, for in
few days the rooms were really fur
nished, and occupied as predicted. and
Mrs. Lowell was highly elated over the
good looks as well as aff1uent circum-
stances of her new boarder, though in
describing her she had said:
But something ails the poor girl !;
she is so nervous, whyi fearfully nerv +.
Gus, my dear-but fresh-looking as a
daisy, and not the least mite pale or
wasted, and my! the way she dressesi"
One morning. as Lawyer Peckham
was coming out of Mrs. Lowell's house,
he met DR.. Blunt going in.
Morning, Peckham, said the doctor,
in his quick way.
Good morning, doctor. Guess my
client is about to become your patient,
ehP"
Eyes. yes," jerked out the doctor,
shouldn't wonder," and he disap-
peared.
A moment later DIR Blunt entered Miss
haae5's room. A very fair young lady
reclined languidly in the sumptuous
depths of ''Sleepy Hollow" chair,
but the quick, experienced eye of a
medical man knew at q glance some
thing was wrong; although, as Mrs.
h11 rl, i
plump, the expression of the eye was
troubled, restless, morbid. The doctor
seated himself beside his fair patient,
felt her pulse, and then vented the re-
markable query:
Was it me or the young doctor you
wantedP"
s'Oh, you, by all MEANS" said Miss
Lacey, with smile, but instantly the
troubled look returned. She added,
4 want all the experience possible
brought to bear on my case"
Any parents?" queried the doctor.
mo, sir; my mother died of con-
sumption when | was very young; my
father died when was mere child"
Humph! Have any Iocal painsp Suf-
fer from headache nausea?"
No, sir; nothing of the kind. There
seems to be a fear of something all the
time, an underlined apprehension some
times think l may die, as mother did,
of consumption"
Got any religion"
Why, certainly, doctor. / should
hope so. l am church member, and
ligion," and quick sympathetic tears
affirmed the truth of the prompt asser-
ton.
Ever seen Jesus Christ sick and
visited Him, or naked and clothed Him,
or ministered to the thousand and
one wants of the little ones forever
representing the Savior's sym bolized
suferipgsP'F
Alas, mo-" sighed poor Miss Lacey,
l have waited too for years, but this
nervous weakness units me for any
thing useful or practical. give regu-
larry to several charitable objects, and
hope some good is done in that wsy. u
Humph! Well, I'm going now. Don't
know just what | shall prescribe. but
feel confident can help you Perha g
I'll run in again before night with
directions-bless me, what looking
gloves! Will you mend these for me,
my dearP"
Miss Lac y, and for that instant there
was no trouble in her clear eyes.
You see," said the doctor, apollo
getically, . my housekeeper isn't muct
on mending, according to my idea, and
then there's only my boy. the youns
doctor, as people call him-the mos
graceless piece As for wife, land th'
voice grew wonderfully tender deal
wife has be singing in paradise
these dozen years or more" The doc
opened and closed softly, and the doc
tor was gone.
. What q funny doctorI What
queer, dear old gentlennanln thouGh