The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-02-17
Select Story.
UNCLE DiCk'S PATIENT.
BY HATTIE ROGERS.

All the day had been bitterly cold, and
every sound on the stormy streets had
the sharp sound and creak and clauk pc.
culiar to boreal temperature. Thin,
glimnering fragments of ice tlecked the
pavements, and brisk wind wrestled
with the stiff and naked trees
This will be an uncommonly cold
night" commented Mrs. Elizabeth Vii
liers, as she wrapped rich scarf more
closely about her shoulders, and shiver-
ing even as she stood before her cherry
crate fire. ''Rcnny and Bessie, come
away from the window, my dears,-you
will be quite chilled. And it is time the
curtains were drawn and the gas ligh-
ted"
"But the sky is 50 beautiful, mamma,
demonstrated Master Lerenzo, who had
the perception of an artist. "Where the
sun went down it is clear yellow, like
amber, and overhead the blue is almost
black, and full Of big stars that shine just
like the opal in your ring
"What fanciful boy you are!" smiled
his mother, who was exceedingly fond
and proud of the handsome lad, who was
nearly as tall as herself.
"But, oh, mammal exclaimed little
Bessie, ,excitelly, "here is somebody lying
on our steps, She must be sleeping,
think" concluded the pretty ladykin, with
the assumption of grave Perspicacity that
is so amusing in a child.
"No doubt the person is-not sleep
ing," said Mrs. Nilliers, indiiferently.
''But she must not be allowed to remain
there. Kenny, ring for James"
But her impulsive young son was be-
yond hearing her order. He had already
opened the heavy outer doors, and was
standing beside the still figure, prostra-
ted on the granite steps.
The senseess woman.wore thin dress
of frayed and faded silk and a large
mantle of tlimsy material that was much
soiled and torn. The hood had fallen
back from sad, winning face, and a
great mass of fair, wavy hair, lay over
her breathloss bosom.
AS the lad bent over her with kindly
solicitude, and gently pushed back her
loose looks, he was startled by the sight
of blood-warm, red, human blood, slow
ly rolling over a wan wasted cheek from
wound hidden beneath the matted
hair.
''She is hurt. She is bleeding" he
calculated. ''She may be dying She
must be brought in directly"
"You are much too impetuous, my
dear boy" interposed his mother, from
the hall TO bring her in would be as
imprudent as Quixotic. The station is
the proper place for such unfortunates. y
'But the night is so cold, and the sta
ton is so far away" urged the lad. ''She
might die before she could be taken
there. And she could do no harm in
the kitchen, surely he supplemented, as
if grieved by the worldly objections of
his parent.
"And Cook wouldn't be angry, man
ma" was the plea of little Bessie. "And
then Uncle Dick is doctor, you know.
"But Uncle Dick may not care to be
troubled by a patient just now, said Mrs.
Villiers, However, | suppose you
children must have your way
And so it happened that the suffering
stranger was taken in, and DR.. Richard
Nilliers was summoned from his room to
attend her.
The grave, elderly physician seemed
agitated as he looked upon his uneXpec,
ted patient, and his voice was curously
unsteady when he finally spoke.
"When she fell a sharp bit of ic. cut
through the skin. But the cash will
soon heal. Her faint was caused by
cold and hunger. She is absolutely
starving, | should say" he announced as
he gazed compassionately upon the help
less figure and incongruous attire.
sour children's protege has a most in
teresting countenance,' Mrs. Nilliers re
marked later,
Sand it seems miraculous that she has
wandered here to Us, returned DR., Dick
musingly. II knew the poor creature
some years ago in the country. She was
an honest girl but made an unfortunate
marriage, Suppose you persuade her to
stay with you for time, Elizabeth?'
The lady marvcled little, but she die
not demur, for she was charitably dis
posed and had great consideration fol
the wishes of the brother Of her dead
husband.
Moreover, she herself felt benign in
terest for the girl who was so surel,
homeless and evidently friendless, anC
who, as weeks and months passed, ,assum
ed, with a gratitude that was almost pa
thetic,a respected place in that agreeable
home.
81 think you can do everything, Mel
ly," said Master LerenzO one day. "Yol
sew for mamma and help me with m,
lessons and have made cook absolutel,
lazy with your soups and puddings,
"IIave you any brother or mamma
Nelly p suddenly asked little Bessy, Z"
think not, And think somebody ha
been bad to you, Nelly That is wron!
very wrong" shaking the gypsy hea'
with a comical affection of superio
wisdom. "Only wicked people could b
cruel to any one so good and nice as yor
are
Nelly Wynues fair face flushed pain
fully and her lovely eyes filled with tears
Alas
"She had no father, she had no mother,
Sister none, and never brother
and he whom she did have was he
shame and her despair,
"Polite young misses do not ask N
necessary questions, - Mrs Nilliers gentl