St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-09-03

1t was DR.. Silas Walsh who sat one
day in his office reading a very in
teresting book. 1t was IA part of his
business, this reading, for the book was
upon a science within the scope of his
profession. He was comparatively a
young man, and had the reputation of
being an excellent physician. While
he read some one rang the bell. He
laid aside his book and went to the
door, and when lie saw what was upon
the stepping stone he was indignant.
1t was ragged, dirty boy, known in
Ellsworth as "Hammer Jim"-ragged
and dirty, and with the vileness of the
slums upon him-a boy vicious and
profane, against whom every other boy
was warned-a boy who was called a
thief and villain, whom no efforts of the
overseers had been able to reclaim, and
who seemed to care for nothing but to
make people afraid of him. His true
name, as the overseers had it, was
James Ammerton. About his father
no one in Ellsworth had ever known.
His mother had died an inmate of the
poOr-hOuse.
On the present occasion, Jim's face
was not only dirty, but bloody and
there was blood on his grimed and tat
tered garments.
"Please, sir, won't you fix my head ?
I've got hurt"
"What kind of a hurt 2" asked the
doctor.
'I'm afraid it's bad, SIR" sobbed the
boy. "One of Mr.. Dunn's men hit me
with a rock, Ow
"What did he hit you for 2" asked
the doctor.
Il dunno, sir"
eyes, you do know. What did he
throw the stone at you for ?"
"Why, sir, l was picking up an apple
under one of the 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.
$50 home," he said "let your folks
wash your head and put on clean
bandage."
"Please, sir, hain't got no home. and
l hain't got no folks" replied the boy.
"You stop somewhere, don't you? n
81 stop at the poor's when they don't
kick me out"
v y
from this. Go and get somebody to
wash your head, or go and wash it your
self and tie your handkerchief on"
PLEASE, sir, hdln'C got no"
"Hold up, boy. I haven't got time
to waste. You won't suffer if you go
as you are"
And with this DR.. Silas Walsh closed
the door and returned to his book. He
| l. I,o IL,
he had not thought there was any need
of professional service on his part and
certainly he did not want that boy in
| his office.
But DR.. Walsh had not been alone
cognizant of the boys visit. There had
been a witness in an upper window.
The doctors wife had seen and heard.
She was a woman.
She was not strong and resolute and
dignified like her husband. Her heart
was not only tender, but it was used to
aching. She had no children living {;
but there were two little mounds i'll the
churchyard which told her of angels in
heaven that could call her mother
Acting upon her impulse, as she was
very apt to act, she slipped down and
called the boy in, by the back way, to
| the wash-rOom. He came in, rags, dirt
and all, wondering what was wanted.
The sweet voice that had called him
had not frightened him. He stood look
ing at Mary Walsh, and as he looked
his sObbings ceased.
"Sit down, my boy"
He sat down.
"If l help you, will you try to be
good ?"
81 can't be good."'
"Why not ?"
aCause can't. 'Taint in me. Every
body says So"
"But can't you try ?"
81 dunno.n
"If 1 should help you, you would be
willing to try to please me ?"
"Yes'm-I should, certain"
Mrs. Walsh brought basin of water,
a soft sponge, and with a tender hand
Then with scissors she clipped away the
hair from the wound-curling, hand
some hair-and found it not a bad
wound. She brought piece of sticking
plaster, which she fixed upon it, and
then she brushed the hair back fram the
full brow and looked into the boys face
not a bad face-nOt an evil face.
Shutting out the rags and dirt, it was
really handsome face.
"What's your name, my boy?"
"Hammer Jim, ma'am and some
times Ragged JIM"
81 mean, how were you christened y
"Which'm ?"
"Don't you know what name your
parents gave you ?"
80, yees. It's down on the 'seers
book, mum, as James Ammerton."
"Well, James, the hurt on your head
is not bad, and if you are careful not to
rub off the plaster, it will very soon
heal up. Are you hungry ?"
"Please, mum, l hain't eat nothing
to-day"
Mrs. Walsh brought out some bread
and butter, and cup of milk, and al
lowed the little boy to sit there in the
wash-rOOm and eat. And while he ate
she watched him narrowly, scanning
every feature. Surely, if the science of
physiognomy, which her husband
was reliable, this boy ought to have
grand capacities. Once more shutting
out the filth and rags, and only observ-
ing the hair, now glossy and waving,
from her dexterous manipulations, over
shapely head, and making the face
with its eyes of lustrOus gray, and a
mouth like cupid's bow, and the chin
strong without being unseemly-seeing
this without the dregs, the boy was
handsome. Mrs. Walsh, thinking of
the little mounds in the churchyard,
prayed God that she might be happy
mother and, if boy was to bless her
maternity, she would not ask that he