The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-05-08
FREDDIE'S FORTUNE.

was young doctor, not over-bur-
dened with practice. when | sat half
DOING in my surgery one sitting
August afternoon, and WAS reused by
"a hustle in the street and cry. Here 5
doctor! Ring the bell.
By the time the ring was answered /
was wide awake and had my 'profes-
sional expression" on. Two men came
in, and one held in his arms limp,
senseless figure. boy, about years
old, covered with blood flowing from a
cash in his head. / took the little fell
low in my own arms and carried him
to a sofa, while the men brought me
water and seemed deeply interested in
all my movements.
A broken arm and the deep cut on
the head kept me busy some time. but
at last my little patient was made as
comfortable as possible, and was moan
ing with recovered consciousness.
Have you far to carry him?" /
asked one of the men.
We don't own him. was the an
swer. He was a-running across the
street and a horse kicked him over.
Jim, here" indicating his companion
''he picked him up, and | come along
to help find doctor, cause Jim can't
read"
Needn't a-shoved that in!n growled
Jim turning red. Poor little chap.
how he groans.'
Il will give hin something to quiet
him presently" said, land will send
word to the station house if his name is
not on his clothes"
The men departed and l lifted my
charge once more and went upstairs to
my mothers room, over the surgery.
1t did not take many minutes to en-
list her sympathies. and we undressed
the child and put him in her wide bed,
hoping to find some mark upon his
clothing. There was none, and when
/ saw this ] spoke frankly, Mother,
there is just one chance for the little
fellows life, and that is perfect quiet.
He will have fever, probably be de-
lirous. and to carry him to hospital,
or even to his own home, may be fatal.
will send to the station house and
them"
You know / will nurse him, John" "
my mother said. IF his mother comes
she must do as she thinks best but,
until she does come. leave him to me- y
| wrote a description of the child's
long brown curls and brown eyes, of
the delicate suit of clothes in which he
was dressed, and sent it to the station
house. No call being made in three
days, | advertised him for week, and
still he was not claimed. 1t was very
strange, for the child's pure. delicate
skin and dainty clothing seemed tc
mark him as the child of wealth.
But while he lay unknown, my little
patient was struggling hard for life
against fever and injuries. He was
delirous for many days. calling pitt
fully for "Mamma-pretty mamma"
begging her not to 60 away. and max
ing our hearts ache by often crying,
Freddie will be good.' or, Grandma,
grandma, don't, don'tm in cries of eX-
treme terror.
Mother would get so excited with in
dignatlon over those cries, that L saw
the child had won fond place in her
warm heart.
He has been ill-treated, John, the
pretty darling!' she would say. II hope
the cruel people who could hurt such a
baby will never find him again
The second week of his stay with us
was closing and Freddie had regained
his reason and was on the road to re-
covery, when one morning carriage
dashed up to my door and two ladies
alighted.
They wore rustling silks of the latest
4 ,,.,,., N Il
daughter. The younger lady was very
beautiful. perfect blonde and dressed
in exquisite taste.
"Dr. MORRILL," inquired the elder
lady.
/ bowed
I'VE called in answer to an adyer-
tisement regarding child, my grand
son. You will probably think il
strange we have not been here before
but we were obliged to leave town the
day before he was lost and have just re.
turned. The nurse who had him in
charge ran away, and while we sup
posed him safe at home he has been
lying in hospital, perhaps dying"
I'VE were nearly distracted on our
return" said the young lady, when
we missed our darling; but an inquiry
ut the station house sent us here. The
officer also showed us your advertise
ment. Where is our dear child?"
He is here l answered. under my
mothers care. and, am happy to say
| doing we'll"
An uumistakable look of disappoint
| ment crossed the faces of my visitors
but the elder one said, lean We see
him, doctor?"
asked permission to announce theil
coming to my mother, and left the
ladies alone. When | returned, after
some five minutes absence, L wa.
struck by the change in their faces
The younger one was pale rs ashes anc
the elder one had a set, hard look O.
determination. as if nerved by som,
| sudden resolution.
| led the way to my mothers bed
room. where Freddie was in profound
| slumber. The younger lady shranl
back in the shadow of the bed curtains
but the mother advanced and bent ovel
| the child.
There was a moment of profoun(
silence, then. in hard voice the old
| Il