Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-17
MRS. THEODORE TILTON.
Compelled By Poverty to serve
as a Hired Nurse.


Gently found it necessary, owing to her
straitened financial circumstances, to
hire herself out as nurse. The
wife Of a naval surgeon, who resides
IN Monroe street, Brooklyn, was very
i'll at Christmas time, and, in the ab
sence OF her husband, who is at
present in the West Indies, was waited
upon night and day by her father
1t becsme necessary to engage nurse,
and the family physician agreed to get
one. Soon after yelled lady called
and said she was the nurse recon-
mended by the doctor. She was
taken to the sick room BY the
father Of the patient, and he at
once withdrew. The door had
no sooner closed than the
nurse advanced to the side of the lady
and modestly announced that she was
the wife Of Theodore TiltoD, and that
her circumstances were such as to
render 1t necessary that she should
lind an occupation, in order to exc out
the sum allowed her by Mr.. Tilton.
Mrs. Tilton said that ahe had arrived
at the decision, upon mature consider
alton, and intended to nurse those
only who were recommended by her
physician. Al flH1 61
well" " responded the patient. "if
you 90 home now, will consult with
father, and have him write a line TO
you la the course Of an hour or 50. -
Mrs. Tilton, in accordance with the
suggestion, went home and waited. In
the meantime the father had been
somewhat curious as to the negotia
tiSns, However, much as be expected
ia the way Of revelation concerning
the nurse he confessed to complete
astonishment when her true name was
given. gl b'h077
After considering the case the gen
tleman and his daughter, who had
always had sympathy for Mrs. Tilton
during the trial concluded to engage
the lady as nurse. A note was written
to Mrs. Tilton, saying to her that her
proposition had been accepted. and
that she might erter upon her duties
at once. In less than an hour from
the receipt of the note Mrs. Tilton
was 10 possession OF the sick room, and
had begun with great delicacy TO ad-
minister to the wants Of the patient.
She watched by her bedside all night,
and was extremely devoted in her at.
tention. fI3
On the following day the ladies be-
gan to exchange condolences. The
patient was somewhat improved in
cordition, and had the curiosity Of
her sex to knoV why Mrs, 4ilton
had concluded to become hired
nurse. Mrs. Tilton was not ia
the least reserved on tie subject
She said that tine allowance Of $1,000 a
year, which was made to her by her
husband, was not sufficient to maintain
her family in the style in which she
should live. Il then came out BY
degrees that her eldest daughter, the
young lady who had stuck to her
during the trial, had been married
against the wishes Of her parents, and
that her husband had been an inmate
of an asylum. The result was that
she was caring for her daughter and a
1tteepl months old baby, the fFgit of
Il did not transpire whether Mr..
Tilton had been asked for an increase
Of the allowance, but Mrs. TiIton
gave the lady to understand that when
the daughter married it made breach
between her and her father, which it
might take a long time to repair.
The subject was one which might
not be approached very easily, but the
patient had c great curiosity to hear
from Mrs. Tilton's own lips an ao
count OF her relations to Mr.. Beeoher.
1t was slow work getting to it, but she i
eventually succeeded. She began BY
confessing that she had been in sym
pathy With Mrs. Tilton throughout
the trial because Of the charges which
had been made against her. She knew
as q true woman that there could be no
foundation for them. She also init
mated it as her belief that Mrs. Til
ton $ confession had been got from her
by threats. rraab sSoafff.g
1t was always" began Mrs. Tilton.
a matter Of profound surprise to me
that my so-Oaled confession should
have met with so strange a reception
at the hands of the public"
"Qf course there was no truth in
il, said the patient. You could not
help yourself at the time"
Every word Of Ii was true, replied
Mrs Tilton. MY relations toward
Mr.. Beeoher will never be perhaps
understood. He was my spiritual
guide and counselor, and my religious
belief hsd been formed under his
teaching There seemed 10 be moth
ing wrong in what | did as | viewed
it, After Mrs. Tilton had been en-.
gagged al her AeY occupation during
four days aud nights, there was hur.
ried ring at the door bell. The ser
want was informed By q tashionsbly|
dressed young lady that she was the
daughter Of Mrs. Tilton, and desired
to have an immediate interview with
her mother. Mrs. Tilton appeared
very much agitated. went to the recep-
tion room, and had an interview with
the young lady. When shs Feturned
she said that her daughter was not
satisfied that she should continue any
longer 10 play the role of nurse. 1t
did not seem to her to be fit or proper,
aud she had earnestly requested that
there should be an immediate termi-
nation Of the engagement.