Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-01-19

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and body together on the merest pit-
tance.
And a little way out of the village
the almshouses, built and endowed by
q certain smuggling sea captain, whose
conscience had pricked him during his
latt or davs, raised their gray-stone ga
bles to the sky, and made picturesque
background to the landscape.
Doctor Mary Clarimont made some
thing OF sensation at Aldenbury. Up
TO this time all the resident Nj. DIS
had been snuffy old gentlemen with
wigs or pert young ones with eye
glasses.
A beautiful young lady who wrote
prescriptions and compounded pills
and potions, was q novelty'in the town,
and by no means disagreeable one.
People rather liked the idea, once they
had convinced themselves that the lady
doctor thoroughly understood herself
I and her patients.
And the poor old people at the aims
house grew to love Doctor Mary and
listen with eager ears for the sound of
her carriage wheels over the blue gravel
drive which led up to the portico.
II was brilliant December day when
the young physician stood in the neatly
carpeted reception-room, drawing on
her fur gloves previous to entering her
neat phaeton once again, while she reit-
Grated to the white-capped maid some
directions respecting old Ann Mudgett's
rheumatism, when the matron hur-
ried in.
"Oh, l beg your pardon, Doctor
Clarimont," said she, "but clean for
got the new old woman
1.-THE new old woman" repeated
Doctor Mary, with smile.
"That is" explained Mrs. Cunning
h am, "she only came last night-a
uiet old soul, half blind and quite bad
with the asthma Perhaps you'd better
Just see her before you go. She
brought n card OF admission from Doc
tor Merton, the New York clergyman,
who,is one OF our directors, you know.
And she seems q decent body enough"
So Doctor Mary went cheertully into
the little brick paved room, with it's
white pallet-bed, cushioned rocking
chair and neatly-draped easement,
where sat a poor, little shriveled-up
woman, wrapped in faded shawl.
She looked timidly up, as Doctor
Mary came in, from under the borders
of her cap.
I'm poor body, miss" said she,
'and I'm sensible I'm making deal of
trouble in the world. But the Lord
don't always take us. miss, when we'd
like to CO."
"This IL the DOCTOR" said Mrs. Gun
ningham.
The little woman would have risen
up to make q feeble courtesy, but Doc
tor Mary motioned her 70 keep her
seat.
L" What is your nameT" said she,
pleasantly.
Louise NARROW, miss"
"MSflow2 That is an unusual name.
lent it I" said Mary Claiimont, coloTing
in spite Of herself.
We're English, miss" said the old
woman, struggling bravely with her
asthma. "TheTe amt many Of us in this
country. I've son, miss, in the Law
business, as any mother might be proud
Of"
"a son !" echoed Mrs. Cunningham
"and you in the almshouse !"
Z" Not that it's his fault, ma'am," the
old creature made hsste 10 explain.
=" My son is to be married to q fine,
proud young lady, as is fit for any
prince in all the land, and Of course he
can't be expected to burden himself
with helpless old woman like me. He
says I'm to write aud let him know how
/ get along, and If I'm sick or any
thing he'll try to see me. sewed car
pets until the ssthma got hold of me.
and supported myself comfortably. But
of course couldn't lay up anything for
rainy day---who could2 And Henry
couldn't help me, for he's getting ready
to be married, poor lad ! So went to
Doctor Merton and asked him did he
know OF any decent place where an
old woman like ne could end her days
in peace. And be gave me a card to
come here and some money TO pay my
travelling e1penses-God bless him -
and here / am
Mary Clarimont had listened quietly
to the garrulous tale, but the color had
varied in her cheek more than once as
she stood there.