The morning call., 1890-08-09

| began, as the saying is, TO "look
about me-" found il necessary 10 alter the sign
over the little store she had kept and to put my
name there in place Of the one that must Only NC
carved once more upon tombstone.
IL CALLED me, but l had~no choice In the mat
Ter for I am a cripple and deformed, and had
been an almost useless burden on my mothers
hands forn[teen we airy years. All l knew Oh Tue
bread. winning art had learned by assisting my
mother In the little store ior The SAFE OF cnli-
dTen's garments. 49,, clio
simple books TO judge of lie goods. could de-
tpct a crooked seam, an uneven hem faulty
trimming, as quickly as my mother herself, ana
knew TO a GOT the quality OF material, the finish
Of ncedlework. .
A mauly accomplishment, often told myself
bitterly but, after all, as manly as any otner al
tribute l possessed, unless my ambition, SO
soreIy curbed and shattered, could be called so.
An accident in boyhood fad injured my spine,
twisted nv figure aud left only my head and face
as nature intended. They were handsome
enough. but l was limplng mOckery OF man.
bood when The glance went beyond those. My
hands were not Informed, but were feeble IN
grasp, and easily tired in any attempt al hahui-
So when I continued the sale Of children's
clothing and sent my orders by mail or llIousn
my errand boy, was accepting what seemed the
Inevitable degree Of desupy.
All cay sal in my high chair behind the coun-
ter using Fred, the boys. arms ana legs ID pace
Of my own, ana my mothers OLD customers came
sill 10 me, tie tIadesmeu were careful in filling
my orders and my gray monotoLOus life was at
least free from want or wearing anxiety.
| did dread one OF the attacks OF dgonlZlug
pain to which 1 was subject, knowing no MOTH
er's hand would minister 10 me again, no motn
er's voice be lifted In prayer Tor me. but nau
told Fred what 10 DO II became 100 w 10 give
directions. and had never met trouble halfway
and hoped for the best.
But having no one to speak 10 but Fred and
. n nld xrpF a m. 1
of a confidential friend of my errand- boy, and lie
knew how l ehaied against that sign:
LEONARD PERCY,
ChiIdren's clothing.
Though, dear me, Mr.. Percy" he would say,
liant no worse than selling The young ones
cal es and lOltpops as i see
But vet Fred who al 16, could lit me bodily
IN his strong arms, understood me as no one else
but my mother had ever doue. so 1t was tn
sort OF rough sympathy lie came to tell me a
piece OF news. ought 10 say here tnal fenieu
only The lower floor Of the house III which llVed
thr font being the store, lie three back rooms
cur kitchen anu sleeping rooms Our OLD woman
who cooked and washed for US went home al
night and mothers room was converted INTO q
paIlor wheie Fred ana 1 sat IN the evening or
Oh Sunday. -
lie upper hOols were rented. and Fred's
news, told with broad grin, was:
There Is a sign on The side door mat malches
yours, Mr.. Percy"
"M hat is II 2"
-Dr. Elizabeth Munselll"
And Fred broke cut IN a loud laugh. TellshIng
the combination as huge joke.
"Dr. EilZabeth Munsell,' lie repeated. "She' S
rented The whole second floor, aud she's got a
gisl 10 walt on her. On, my eye! THAT'S worse
than our Sign, heaps :"
ii was all kindly meant, but WINGED as the
boy spoke II The female doctor was unseXed
by her profession, II made my position no easier
To bear. And the two signs in such close proX-
inlly excited lie rlGicule OF many passeTs by
OIL u, sillIng behind The counter. | heard mock
ing voices read one aud then the other, suggest
ing 4 change IN each, or laughing loudly over the
discovery Of such a fine joke. little Thug
truly But little things VIII rankle and sting
WuGSe than great atietlons, and became un-
reasonable TanenrOus toward my nelgbbor on
tile next floor. Why could not she take away
her absUid sign, ana not double tile rldicule cast
on mine? II might have passed unnoticed by
Itself, but, side that Of The doctress, was sure
10 be tie subject of many sOrfy jest.
Now il was very had Tor Inc 10 worry. Tran
guilty was absolutely necessary for me, but even
g cal affection, such as my mothers Death, did
not have 50 bad an effect upon my health as any
Kind OF iTeItlug And / was foolish enough 10
let myself be irritated by The matter Of the two
signs, till found suffering too late TO stop
the threatened attack CT Illness
The fierce, racking, burning pain In my back
ant injured side came on in the afternoon OF d
terribly oppressive August day. Fred. as in
sIructed, closed the shop carried NE into tile
sllIng-IOOm, put NE upon The wide lounge there
and applied the usual remedies.
Let those who think II unmanly TO give utter
auee TO sounds OF agony walt until they have en-
dufed such as mine before they decide. l did
not gf0an OF cry out al first; not until l was
weakened mentally as well as physically by tor
ture.
boy, WbimpeTing over me as he lmplOTed me not
10 take ON SOP and the old woman fused
about me. But mother was gonei The flies
kWaImed IN at the open windows, naddenlng ME
with their stlug; the noises from The street came
10 keep me from even chance OF rest.
Twas lying or my face. grinding my teeth,
cluchlDg my poor, weak hands, grooming In
awful pain, When low voice near me said:
Pardon me II intrude, but was my way
upstairs and heard you cry out. Let me help
you, II can"
/ was past speaking, but Fred answered for
me.
A few clear questions drew out all Fred knew.
Then The same sweet voice asked:
- Is his bedroom darkenedY"
Yes, num-"
here ada TO bis suffering, and his clothing irri-
tates him. Take him 10 Ills room ana undress
him. Put on some loose, cool garment and cover
him with something light. L will bring him
something ID moment"
Fred pbeyed orders, undressing me with such
tenderness as he possessed, aud putting ME
gently IN a long, loose night-dress upon the bed
III The daTkened room.
WI lien that was accomplished. ana lay half
iaintng and stlll In agony, the same sweet voice
reused me again:
" W i'll you try 10 drink this ?D
glass touched my lips and drank eagerly.
Anything if il we're poison, to still the racking
pain. A fan waved softly, cooling my fevered
lace, and soon a numbing sensation erebt over
The agony, and the torpor reached my brain. /
rVe'eu "a iItV ueIlClOus cdim INTO uctp Sleep
The next morning was, as usual after such an
attack, too weak TO lit my hands, but the pain
was all gone. i was lying half doing, listening
10 Fred as lie put my breakfast dishes upon a
Tray, when The sweet voice al the door asked:
MAY come IN ?'
Yes, ma'am~ said Fred, promptly adding,
1t Is Dr. Munsell, sir" and under his breath
saying, land heaven forgive me for laughing at
her sign"
can scarcely tell what expected TO find in
The female doctor, but am sure was surprised
when lifted my heavy eyes to look at her
She was young, 26 or 81, tall and full in figure
with quiet dignity that made her appear older
than her actual years. Without being in any
way masculine her face was noble In ali lis lines
with large full eyes Of softest brown and waving
bands Of brown hair drawn back In simple folds
from the broad, low brow. Her dress was quiet
but in good taste.
81 am glad TO see you are BETTER" she said,
and tile music OF the sweet voice was a delight