Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-11-02


my children starve."
What could say?
| had urged upon her the necessity OF
rest, placed before her the danger in
which she stood, and / was powerless
to do more.
1t was just at this time that Mrs.
Bryant, the owner of half Merton. and
heiress to three fortunes-her fathers
mothers, and her husband's-was taken
dangerously i'll.
She was one of my patients of course,
but she had but seldom called upon my
professional services, having carried her
eighty years of life almost without pam
r disease.
Her illness proved fatal from the first
but she had but little suffering, and her
cheerfulness was wonderful
Many long talk we have had when |
had finished my professional visits, aud
in one of these she said to me-
"Tell me of some charity for Merton
to which l can leave portion of my
wealth.
my husbands money have left to
his relatives. but l have not one living
who can claim me as related to him.
IT stand alone. and l have disposed
of my own propt ty in benefits to public
institutions.
"But sheuld like to do some other
good here.
"You know so many of our poor peo-
pie.
"Tell me where small sums, say five
hundred each, can be distributed to do
most good"
With much discussion we made out q
list, and then she said
"I have still fifteen thousand for Mer-
ton."
Like an inspiration came to me the
thought of the prec Gus life that money,
humanety speaking, would save.
The income of fifteen thousand would
give Mrs. Germond a support, enable
her to devote herself to her children, to
be the good angel of many poor home,
and yet to rest from the monotonous
labor that was wearing out her strength
and depriving her of her power of use
fulness.
1t was bold thing to do, and Mrs.
Bryant looked rather stunned at the
audacity of my proposal; but l asked
her to leave the money, in one sum, to a
total stranger who was not an object of
charity.
"But you tell me she earns comfort
able support, she said.
"At the price of her life"
at is such strange thing to do, to
leave so large sum to an entire strang-
er."
"Ah," I said, eff it were only done
oftener.
eff the miilionaires who leave i'm
mense sums to charities to be doled out
in temporary relief, would sometimes
look out for few of the hard working
individuals who are struggling beyond
their strength, and give them a sum to
insure an income for life."
1t was one of my hobbies, this suffer
ing of what may be called "genteel pow
erty-and 7 used all my eloquence.
Still Mrs. Bryant seemed to be uncon-
vinced when L left her.
1T was such an odd thing to do"
''It is an odd thing to do" said,
''but it will restore q useful life to
health and strength. save a mother to
two children, and I firmly believe do
more good than the same money will do
split up into small charities, or distrib--
uted in public institutions"
When old Mrs. Bryant died, had
gone to attend the funeral of my sons
wife, and / was absent two weeks, a
brother practitioner from hilton. ten
miles distant from Merton, taking my
place.
On nay return, in giving me an account
of his visits, he made no mention of Mrs
Germond, and found that he had not
been called in to see her.
Iknew that she was not fond of strange
faces, and concluded that she had pre-
ferred to trust to her own judgment, if
suffering until my return.
But one of my first calls was at the
little cottage, where found my friend
in state of bew1ldered excitement.
Doctor" she said, ''you have often
promised me perfect health if l weuld
give up my scholars and obey you i'm
plicitey. Can you still promise that?"
st think I can under Providence"
"Issue your orders then.
"My scholars are already warned to
get new teacher.
"Imagine, doctor, Mrs. Bryant has
left me irteen thousand dollars.
ST never saw her.
"And the income is to be paid re-
guIarly from the date of her death, un.
til the estate is settled, when the capt.
al will be at my disposal.
"WhY. you do not look hale SO aston
ished as am"
Brought thus to my senses, I put or
an expression of surprise; and I think
] the pleasure was already visible.