The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-02-25
FROM THE WAYSIDE.

DR.. Silas Walsh one day sat in his
Office reading very Interesting book, It
was part of his business, this reading,
for the book was science within the
scope OF his profession. He was compare
lively young man, and had the reputa-
ton OF being an excellent physician
While he read some one rang his office
bell. He laid aside his book and went
to the door, and when he saw what was
upon the stepping stone he was indig-
nant.
It was a ragged, dirty boy, known in
Ellsworth as Hammer JIM and
dirty, and with the vilencss of the slums
upon him-a boy vicious and profane,
against whom every o.her boy was
warned-a boy who was called thief
and william, whom no efforts of the over
seefs 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 Ammer-
ton. About his father no one in Ems
worth had ever known. His mother had
died an inmate of the poorhouse.
On the present occasion, Jim's face
was not only dirty, but bloody and there
was blood on his glimmed and tattered
garments.
"Please sir, wont you fix my head2 I
have got hurt"
"What Kind Of hurt?" asked the doc
tor.
"I'm afeard it's bad, sir" sobbed the
boy. "One O. Mr.. Dunn's men hit me
with rock. Obi" .-..
"What did he hit you for?"
81 dunno, sir"
eyes, you do know. What did he
throw the stone at you for?"
"Why, sir, was picking up an apple
under one of his trees"
DR.. Walsh would not touch the bows
head with his finger. There was no need
of 1t; he could see that there was only a.
scalp wound, and that the blood had
ceased to flow.
eco home and let your folks wash
your head and put on clean bandage,'
he said.
"Please sir, hain't got no home, and
I hain't got no tolks.' .'..-- ~
''You stop somewhere, don't you9''
II stop at the poor'us when they don't
kick me out.'' ., :,
"Well, boy, you are not going to die
from this. Go and get somebody to
wash your head, or 60 and wash it your
self and tie your handkerchief on"
please, sir, hain't got uo-''
"Hold up, boy. haven't got time to
waste. You won't suffer If you 20 as
you are"
And at this DR.. Silas Walsh closed the
door and returned to his book. He had
not meant to be unkind but really he
had not thought there was any need of
professional service on his part; and GER
tainly he did not want that bad bow in
his Office
But DR.. Walsh had not been alone cog
INFANT of the boys visit. There had
been witness in an upper window. The
doctor 8 wife had seen and heard. She
was a woman.
She was not strong and resolute ana
dignified like her husband. Her heat
was not only tender, but it was used to
aching. She had no children living; but
there were two little mounds in the
churchyard told her of angels in heaven
that could call her mother! Acting up
on her impulse, as she was very apt to
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 fright
ened him. He came in and stood look
ing ut Mary Walsh, and as he looked his
sobbings ceased. . ..
esSlt down, my boy"
He sat down. 49,.
"lf | help you will you try to be
goods" ... =
Il can't be good.'' +. .....
"Why not2''
Cause can't. 'Taint in me. Every
body says So"
''But can't you try?''
81 dunno"
III | should help you, you would be
willing to try to please me?"
eyes nj should certa1n.''
Mrs. Walsh brought basin of water
and a soft sponge, and with tender hands
she washed the boys hands and face.
Then with the scissors she clipped away
the hair from the wound curling, hand
some hair-and found it not bad wound.
She brought piece of sticking plaster,
which she fixed upon it, and then she
brushed the hair back from 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 sometimes
Ragged JIM
81 mean, how were you christened?"
"Whlch'm?''
"Dont you know what name your
parents gave you?"
"Oh-ye-es. It's down on the 'seers
book, ma'am, as James Ammerton.''
''Well, James, the hurt on your head
is not bad one, and if you are careful
and not rub off the plaster it will soon
heal up. Are you hungry2'
"Please ma'am, haven't eat nothing
to-day"
Mrs. Walsh brought out some bread
and butter and cup of milk, and al
lowed the 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 physi-
ognomy, which her husband studied SO