Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-05-22

back for four weeks, JimP"
Eyes, or n year, so as l should be
like other BOYS"
"If he's set on II, nurse, he'd better
go, II you can give him letter."
~ will give him letter" said nurse,
rising. She glanced round the crowd
ed little room. and longed 10 put In a
plea for moro space and light; but ex-
perience had taught her II was useless.
The Millans were very respectable;
but the husband was an enthusiastic
politician. and his spare time and cash
were devoted TO tho cause OF his par
ticular creed. He also had legs so
bowed as TO be hideous deformity,
and perhaps this had helped TO embit-
ter the mans spirit. Poor Mrs. MILAN
had hard time OF IL often with
this cantankerous husband OF hers;
and her speech had grown very
sharp, her nature hard, through
constant collision with the man she
had married from love and pity. She
had to work TO keep the home togeth-
err; and small room though that home
consisted Of IL was often difficult TO
pay the rent, So nurse made no COM
plant OF the untidy close room, but
wrapped her cloak around her, and
nodding goodbye to Jim, went forth
into the storm-driven streets again.
That very afternoon she applied to
the matron OF the District Nursing So
ciety, and secured an out-patient's let
ter for Little Bow-legs. She scarcely
thought the surgeons would attempt
to straighten such crooked limbs; but
the boy might become more content
were he once persuaded that his
burden was inevitable.
Mrs. MILAN took Jim TO the hospital
the next Saturday afternoon. They
found many friends in the out-patients'
waiting-hall, and Mrs. MILAN enjoyed
good gossip before Jim's turn came
to enter the surgeons room. At last
the porter passed her in; and nurse
in a white cap and apron came for
ward and took the letter, and after
glancing at it, stripped off Jim's shoes
and stockings and set him on chair
before the surgeon A few rapid ques-
tions were asked, and several of the
students examined the legs.
my boy, do you want your legs put
straight" asked the surgeon at last
"Yessir."
you are quite sure you are willing
to bear some pain?"
"Yessirp"
''Give him q ticket for the children's
ward. Smith. Next case, nurse"
Jim's heart failed him for a moment
when he found himself in the long
ward with so many curious eyes fixed
on him as he walked along in his I'M
calmly manner Every one seemed
very busy; and nurse whisked a
screen round crib and slipped Jim
into bed in no time, and then dismissed
his mother, telling her to come again
the next afternoon. Jim pulled the
clothes over his head and cried lit
tie; but presently baby girl in the
next crib began growing at him, and
Jim played bo-peep with her through
the bars. Gradually he gathered cour-
age to look around. There were such
lots Of pictures and toys and flowers
about in this large, bright room, that
Jim thought Ii must be like the fairy
palace in the book Nurse Grant had
lent him. Presently there came down
the ward n tall woman in dark dress,
but wearing a soft white cap with long
floating strings, and dainty apron.
She had the most beautiful face Jim
had ever seen, and she was always
smiling. There were some people who
know Sister Mona we'll who said that
when she wasn't smiling her face was
the saddest face on earth. But Jim
never saw Sister without smile; and
because of the love and compassion
which dwelt in her eyes, he always
thought she looked like the photo
graph OF the Christ which hung oppo-
site his bed. The Sister stood beside
his crib while she read his entrance
ticket then she had look at the poor
crooked legs. She talked cheerfully
derstand, as no one else had done,
what grievous affection Is an ever
present deformity. However, the next
day when Mrs. MILAN came, Sister
took her into her own little room and
asked her seriously TO consider wheth-
er she desired her son to undergo an
operation before she came to final
decision.
''Bless me, Sister, i brought him
here for an operation. certainly amt
a-going TO take him out again. He
gave me no peace till l brought him;
now here he must stop till summat's
DONE"
Sister turned away and went to ques-
ton Jim; but he only reiterated his
mothers statements. His one wish was
30 BIO like other boys.
1t was Tuesday afternoon when the
celebrated surgeon, Mr.. Pell Taylor,
came to make thorough examination
Of Jim. He was followed by crowd
of students, to whom he pointed out
the most remarkable features of the
case. He babe them notice the absence
OF all signs of ricketts,; he commented
on the strangeness of such u deformity
being inherited; and he told them that
the outside world would say este otomy
was cruel operation, not to be I'M
dertaken merely for the cure of a
deformity; yet it was at the express
wish not only Of the parent, but of the
small patient himself, that he was
about to perform that operation. And
In conclusion he babe the dresser of
the case make cast OF the legs as they
then were, and told Sister to have Jim
in the thcater the next day at three
o'clock.
After all, poor Little Bow-legs was
only child, and was very frightened
when the time for the operation drew