Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-12-25
THE DOCTORS WIFE.

It was a very sickly autumn. Nine
;tenths of the inhabitants Of our little
Village on the Wabash river-uear the
worst kind Of swamps-were down or
had been down with chills and fever
or intermitents. Several had died with
sinking chills.
One bright little lady gave no signs
lof illness. She would be- out all the
|evening. walking in the moonlight.
made no dsinfecting fires in her bed
rooms and took no quinine. She was
the wife OF the flourishing physician Of
the village"
How is 1t, Mr.. Withers. said
neighbor. that your wife is SO sure
she will not get the ague?"
Has she never told you9 Why,
got her right out of the jungles Of the
African gold coast. within a few de-
grees of the equator. Malaria is her
natural Diet
"You must have little story to tell
about that Jungle trip"
You're right. DO you want to hear
it?'
Every anxious"
Come into the back Office, then.
II was surgeon on a United States
man-oi-war that sometimes lay for
months of that coast. Her father was
one OF company Of American mission
aries who had determined to UNDER
take mission in this the very worst
place they could find.
"Of all the people ever saw these
excelled in the matter OF devotion
TO the work they had undertaken. The
men were gaunt. hollow-eyed. alb
stracted-looking. The ladies-for the
women were most delicately reared,
educated and intelligent-seemed the
perfection OF everything womanly that
we had seen ut home.
II remember the first time saw my
wife. 1t was a sultry summer morn
ing, the sun in n copper sky, etc.. as
usual in the murky region. A party
OF US officers had come ashore, and
were lolling under the trees about a
quarter OF mile from the mission.
All had their comments to make on
the mission; all, including several
atheists and deists, agree that it was a
plucky thing to do.
"Presently fair-haired girl emerg-
ed from the thicket, few rods oil,
walking quickly towards lis.
Gentlemen, my father invites you
to the mission house, to taste Oul
fruits and vegetables.'
''Our commanding officer. not wish
ing to burden the missionaries, deput
ed about a third of our number. my
self among them. to pay the visit
We were we'll entertained.
Soon after that there was an un.
usual amount of sickness at the mis-
sion. and the captain OF the vesse
consented to my proposition to gt
there every day, as the crew were
quite healthy.
The fact is, was already pretty
we'll caught by this sly-boots OF f,
young woman. / called her my Jung
| Frau OF Inc jungle.
THAT strange life seems like F.,
dream now. What domestic affectio,
there was there! l never saw sucl
love OF husband and wife. parent an.
child. as among that band Of auster'
devotees.
l. 'Well, they sickened and sickened
and died aud died. There were twenty
all told, white persons when ! wen
there. Finally all we're gone out tw
men and this girl-her father, tn
leader Of the forlorn hope being on
OF the survivors. She had been a,
angel of mercy, and almost stood i
awe OF her.
'.During the latter part OF this Dc
struction had told the captain that
was ashamed TO 60 on board at nigh
After much remonstra he permit
ted me to see it out'-there being al
other physician on board.
Il sat one evening on the piazza {
the large dwelling-house. now nearl
deserted. My Margaret's father ".
writing his report to tho society i
America as sturdily as If nothing ha
happened. The other missionary
worn out with watching the last d.
ceased, had gone to rest
Margaret, does not your father se
yet that this must stop? For the sab
of showing others that death is b
the inevitable result Of coming hel
you should 60 home
MY lovely one sat there meditatir
for a moment, her line face full OF tn
heroic courage which animated h
father.
Gerald. for 80 YOU saw I must ca