Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1882-11-04


Well no, not entirely, but il IS bear
able.
And SO Icone to my mysterious leg
acy. | had many times told Mrs Ger
mond that if she would give up her
scholars and obey me implicitly for six
mouths she would be we'll.
And at last did what we of the heal
ing proft ssion shrink most from doing
told Der that if she did not she must
prepare to break down hopelessly.
But see" she pleaded, chow often
| | break down and yet get up again.
Il cannot give up my work and see
my chlidren starve"
! What could / say?
had urged upon her the necessity of
rest, placed before her the danger in
which she stood, and I was powerless
/ to do more.
1t was just at this time that Mrs.
Bryant, the owner Of half Merton, and
helress to three fortunes-her fathers
mothers, and her husband's s-was taken
dangerously Ill.
She Was one Of my patients of course,
but she had but seldom called upon my
professional serviceA, having carried her
eighty years Of llfc almost wlthcu ut pam
OF disease.
Her illness proveI fatal from the tirss
but she had but little suffering. and her
cheerfulneSs was wonderful
Many long talk we have had when [
had finished my professional visits, aud
III one Of these she said to me
Tell me of some charity for Merton
to which l can leave a portion of my
wealth.
My husbands money [ have left tc
lis relatives, but have not one living
who can claim me as leated to him.
81 stand alone, and I have disposed
OF my own property in benefits to public
institutions.
"But l should like to do solae otho
good here
you know many Of our poor peo
pie.
Tell me where small sums, say fiv,
hundred each, can be distributed to d.
most good"
With much discussion we made out
lit, and then she said
II have still fifteenthousand for Me1
tom
Like an Inspiration came to me th
thought of the prec ors life that money
humanety speaking, would save.
The income of fifteen thousand woul
give Mrs. Germond support, enabl
her to devote herself to her children, t
be the good angel of many poor home
z and yet to rest from the mOnOtOnOu
1 labor that was wearing out her strengt
II and deprlying her of her power of 'ust
fulness.
8 1t was bold thing to do, and Mrs
t Bryant looked rather stunned at th
a'llacity of my proposal; but I aske
;, her to leave the money, III one sum, to
n total stranger who was not an object
1 charity.
IS But you tell me she earns comfor
II able support" she said.
AT the price of her life. :"
1T is such strange thing to do,
leave SO large a sum to an entire strans
r er.'
t"Ah, said, 'if it were only dor
g otttner
c If the mllliouaires who leave in
T mense sums tc charities to be doled OF
r III temporary relief, would sometim,
look out for a few of the hard workir
! Individuals who are struggling beyor
their strength. and give them sum
insure an income for life
9 1t was one of my hobbies, this suffe
ing Of what may be called "genteel po
:, .rty-and l used all my eioquence.
Still Mrs. Bryant seemed to be unco
N viLced when l left her.
4 IT was such all odd thing to do"
or X II piu tiluS ~ tio. L sdl
g. "but It Will restore . useful life
Is health and strength. save mother
r. two children, and l firmly believe
more good than the same money will
Sc split up into small charities, or distri
al uted III puui.c INSTITUTIONS
In When old Mrs. Bryant died, l h
r. gone TO attend the funeral of my sol
/ wife, and | was absent two weeks.
or brother practltioner from hilton, +
ne n lies distant from Merton, taking I
" place.
On my return, IN giving ME All accou
" OF l,ls visits, he made no mention of ~
ny Germond, and l found that he had L
been call. d in to see her.
er knew that she was not fond OF stran
faces. and concluded that she had pl
ia ferred to trust to her own Judgment.
r. suffering until my return