Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1890-10-03
CRUELTY OF SELFiSHNESS.
An Incident Which Should Teach a Lesson
to Many Thoughtless Persons.


to Many Thoughtless Persons.
1t was in the waitingroom of popu-
lar city physician, one dark, drizzly
afternoon. The leather-cushioned chairs
were filled with waiting patients, some
in real and some in imaginary need of
healing.
Among those who had longest been in
waiting were mild-mannered lady
with babe in her arms, and we'll
dressed man and woman. But while
they frequently expressed their vexa-
ton at the length of time consumed by
those before them, in the consulting
room, the gentle-faced lady spoke not
word of fault-fnding, although as she
paced up and down the carpet with her
fretful child in her arms, there was a
look of doep solicitude on her face.
Gradually the babe became quietcr,
but the anxious look only deeped on the
mothers face, and she looked a shade
whittier and almost stopped breathing az
she stopped once to press her face
against the babes cheek. Then she
glanced longingly toward the door CT
the consulting-room, but was compelled
to renew her restless pacing up and
down, with more nervousness in her ster
than before.
At last when it came the turn Of the
hysterical looking lady to enter, the dis
tracted mother, in moment of dcspet-
ate anxiety for her babe, which over
came all her natural timidity, took few
quick steps, and, with hurried apology
for her boldness, asked if she would not
grant her the privilege of taking her
turn. 81 would not ask it, but for my
baby's sake, which fear is"
Your baby seems quiet enough" was
the freezing reply of the other, in the
tone with which she would address an
Inferior; land Pm sure my sufferings
deserve some consideration"
With this the lady swept in to con-
sumo the busy doctors time in detailing
the minutest symptoms of her latest all
ment, while the anguished mother
pressed her infant closer to her heart
and renewed her walk more to give
vent to her own nervousness than to
quiet the child.
When the lady came out, the mother
looked up to cast one appealing glance
at the gentleman who was to follow her,
and who evidently was her companion.
But she was met only by a stolid express
sion of Indifference, and subsidized into
| her weary rounds of the room.
At last it came her turn. With nerv-
Gus haste she struggled toward the door,
pausing second on the steps to remove
the covering from the child's face. Nc
one could ever forget her cry of startled
horror and the expression of white de-
spair on her face. There was no need
for her to see a physician. The child
was quiet enough, as she had been told
but it was the quiet of death.
The physician said that it was one OF
of those cases where prompt attention
| might have saved life. No doubt both
the persons who had denied the mother;
request with such heartless incivility
would have written liberal check t
relieve case Of need, or welcomed somC
great opportunity to play the benefac
tor. but it is the little calls for human
ity that run counter to our own love o
ease, or that call for some common sacri
fee of pride or self-interest, that mos
bring out she exceeding cruelty of sci
6shDess- - Youths Companion.