Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-04-09
THE STORY OFAGEE SANG L0NG

THE STORY or AGEE SANG LONG.
For whole month l listened TO the tinkle
Of the front-door bell in agony and when
footsteps shufii=d up and down stairs aid
then out, | leaned back in my chair and
laughed mirthlessy at my own disappoint.
ment was young doctor waiting for my
frst patient.
Such WAS my despair because the neigh
borhood to a man refused TO be cured at my
hands that at last / ceased to keep up ap-
pearances even with my old landlady. Mrs
Macgruder. At first she was unmstakably
overawed by my writing desk, a very hand
some skeleton, couple Of skulls, and few
hearts and livers in spirits which kept on
shet in my office. However, had not been
her lodger one week when she took an early
opportunity to tell me that she thought was
very young.
X garding me as she did, as a medical in-
fant, longed to have her become horribly
Ill with with a complication Of disorders TIL
then unknown to science, whereupon |, like
nineteenth century knigh'-erraut, would
come TO the rescue, save her, aud earn her
eternal gratitude. 1t is needless TO say that
she continued in good health.
Mrs. Macgruder dropped into my office at
all hours, aud on n certain late November Rf-
ternoon she came in with an utimely feather
du ster, which she held over her head in an
Oriental fashion while she subsided into my
office chair, one fat hand spread over her fat
person From this shelter she favored me
with sketches of the Macgruders, interpreted
with sops of comfort.
i've been a-talking about you, sir. II you
was my own | couldn't think more about you
I've that soft heart that I'd let you pison my
best friend. 1t was only last night as Sally
MacgraudeT's first cousin said as he'd be GER
tain to have you, sir, if he was i'll. He new.
er was i'll, he neveris i'll, and next week he
is going to Texas to settle But, lor' he
may break his neck twenty times Rfore that"
MRS. Macgruder, l am sorry that can't
enjoy your society any longer" said, with
dignity, but have IA consultation"
Dear me !" Mrs. Macgruder said, with a
parting stab, land you 30 yonng!"
She vanished, and stared hopelessly out
Of the dingy window. Fifty years ago the
street was soidly respectable; to-day it is
quite ungenteel. A few dying trees before
the old houses displayed upon their sides
cards proclaimiDg lodgings TO let and table
board at starvation prices. The bit of ground
rallied in before each house was fruitful now
in broken bottles aud bones Here organ.
grinders were welcome, and the inhabitants
we're generous to monkeys itnerant street
bands played here with redoubled vigor, for
they were at home, and the garrets loved
them. settled in this modest location think.
ing that this indeed might be CALLED the foot
Of the ladder.
Twilight crept on dull aud gray and the
narrow street was deserted. 1t was 40 still
that could family hear the footing of the
street band frozen into a garret, and 1t was
growing SO dark that the skeleton in the cor
ner modestly wrapped himself in a shadow.
Suddenly the door-bell rang, and for the first
time in four weeks paid no attention to its
tinkle, and turned about half scared as some
one knocked at my door, which opened, and
q tiny figure crossed the threshold. thought
it WAS a child wrapped in its mothers poor
shawl, and l could not see her face at first
for the hood about her head. The child
dropped a series of courtesies, and then
noticed that she carried great bundle in her
arms.
''The Agee Sang Long, sa, said a thin,
quavering voice, ~ one small hand pushed
the hood aside, and l was startled to find the
child 10 be q tiny Chinese woman, whose set
and careworn face showed her to be at least
sixty years old.
For moment l could only stare at the
queer yellow fat eountenance, with its snub-
nose and q mouth like pale slit between
long upper lip aud a short chin. Coarse
black hair fell across her bright black eyes,
full not so much of intelligence rs of pa
thetic remonstrance.
And what can do for you, Agee Sang
Long? Are you i'll 2"
Il no ILL., but he be. He a my companee,
my on'y frien', and he be 80 ST.. bring
him to you, docto', TO to makee well. "
Whereupon she softly undid the bundle and
discovered, wrapped in a warm shawl, mel
anohoy specimen of O cat. u hab monee,
dootO' can payee ri of. You makee he
we'll, ," she ventured, wistfully, as | took the
poor beast in my arms.
1t was humiliating to 6nd that my first pa.
tient was a cat, but after a months waiting
even cat was welcome. The poor thing
was suffering from slow poison. explained
it learnedly, while Agee bobbed oourtesies,
and held one limp paw in her yellow hand,
l administered a hopeless antidote, and then
they prepared to 60, the patient wrapped in
his shawl, aud cuddling up to that heather
breast.
He be dolla', sa," said Agee Sang Long.
Ms ha' monee to pAyee you"
The blood rushed to my face. l couldn't
take a fee for cat.
mo, Agee, it's all right" exclaimed, as
il fees were no object. I'm come round to.
morrow and see the patient" 1 wished to
cast dust in the eyes of Mrs, Macgruder.
l watched her down the street, and my
blood boiled as some ragamuffins tore after
her, shouting "Rat rat As l turned
away saw something Plisten on my desk
1t was silver dollar that Agee Sang Long
had left.
The next day l hunted up No. Paris
court where my only patient lived. Paris
court consisted OF six shabby houses in the
rear Of front yards full Of romans. ! groped
my way through deoaying arbor to reach
No. g never saw houses look so i'll at ease
They had once been respectable, II not opu-
lent. This had been a suburb with fresh air,
and brook had trickled past it was dirty
puddle now. Chestnut trees had shaded the
porohes, and over tho fences white and pur-
pie lilacs once blossomed in spring, aud the
snowfall bushes on the grass plots blossomed
with the oroouses aud tulips. One day sus-
piciOn crossed the houses that the town was
creeping dangerously near, and few months
after they found themselves imprisoned by
rows of dirty brick houses that shut out sun.
light and air. At first they olung to gentili-
ty, but when the trees died, and the lilacs
were parched with the heat and the dust, and
when the pretty fence itself broke down un-
der neglect, then they gave up pretending,