Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-11-09
JOHN JUDsoN's NURSE.

ana lOaI OF breal: ana caro- oil
black gingerbread? Just let me take
your basket, ma'am, and I'll pack 'cn
in deal better than you could. Yes,
as l was saying, there he lies, clean
out of his head and raving, and no.
body to take care of him but me- And
you may guess how much time | get.
ma'am, what with the shop and the six
children and Feathertop's old mother
10 look after"
But why on earth" said the GUS
toner who had ordered the tea biscuit,
bread and black gingerbread don't
you send the poor fellow to some hos
pital?"
Just what the doctor advised his
ownself," said Mrs. Feathertop. "But
Ia the minute you mention the word
hospital you'd think he would go out
Of his head. poor soul NO, no, no,
he says, over and over again, and he
holds on to the side of the bcdpost un-
til one must have a heart Of iron TO
try and get him away. And the worst
of it is he's just been turned out Of
this place -
Turned out Of his place. repeated
Mrs. Rooney. while Miss Price, the
pale little seamstrcss who rented the
top back room of Mrs. Feathertop and
kept herself on infinitesimal morsels Of
bread and meat which she picked up
nobody knew where paused to listen.
on her way through the shop.
"IIc was getting good wages in a
manufacturing jewelers. said the
bakers wife, evidently enjoying her
small audience. land Mr. Goldilove
set store by him, for he'd a way Of
working that he'd learned in foreign
parts. and they tell me its quite an art
to set them precious stones in the gold
80 as they's stay firm and show off
their colOrs TO good advantage. And
there was n particular choice jewel
sent there to be set as a wedding pres
ent for some young lady--a sapphire,
they say it's called-and il was gin
into his charge. And from that day
to this, ma'am and Miss Price, there
hasn't nothin' ever been heard Of that
sapphire. If it had been any one else
Mr. Goldilove would have had him ar.
rested; but this John Judson had al
ways borne so good n character and
was such an Out-.snd-out respectable
man. as he hadn't the heart to do it.
But he discharged him, Of course
who wouldn't? And here the poor
fellow is, out Of place. with no refer
ence. and so far As | know without a
penny in his pocket. And what were
to do I don't know. for its downright
sure l can't spare the time 60 give
him his drops and look after him as a
sick man should be looked after"
"ITas he no friends ?" said Mrs.
Rooney.
"Bless your heart! no." said the
bakers wife. "GIe is a stranger in the
country. And poor folks. mind you
ma'am, don't pick up friends here and
there and everywhere like the mil.
ionaires we read about"
Just here Miss Price stepped for
ward, with her little splint basket on
her arm.
"Mrs. Feathertop,' said she. din.
IDENTIFY, al am quite alone in the world
with no ties to keep me busy. If YOU
don't object III take my sewing down
into Mr. Judson's room and take care
of him days, if Mr. Feathertop won't
mind the night charge
"I'm sure, Miss Price. it would be a
deed Of Christian charity" said Mrs
Feathertop.
And AS she afterward said to Mrs
Rooney:
at wasn't as If Miss Price wer,
young and pretty She's forty. If She.
day." said the bakers wife. "Ant
she's had smallpox. as you may Sc,
for yourself, Mrs. Rooney. ma'am; am
her hair is red and her eyelashes ar,
white, and | often think, ma'am. oi
what Feathertop said when FIRST shr
engaged our top story back; : Peggy.
says Feathertop, says me. we've got
the humbliest woman in New Yorl
for our tenant"
But Mary Price, If she was neither