, 1891-05-03

ton
My call on the lovely ''Shut In WA
about ended, and "a | took the little
white hand in mine to say goodby ]
noticed a look of anxiety or apprehen-
sion upon her face that had certainly
not been there during my short inter
view. But the pleasant smile came
again as l left the room, and after a lit
tie speculation a. 10 the cause | endeay-
ored 20 dismiss the subject. It was
doubtless some physical suffering or sad
thought, bravely held in check during
my visit, / told myself, but all the same
l was annoyed and disappointed. | had
staid too long, or had lacked the tact
and inspiration TO amuse her. Than this
nothing could be more humiliating or
much more distressing.
had seen so many sick folks liter
ally killed with kindness. and had en-
dured such torture myself through the
indesCr1bable cruelties of the tenderest
love, that to have erred in such a matter
seemed quite objectionable. The next
morning my fears were somewhat
quoted by a note from the invalid ask-
ing me to call upon her that day if pos
sible, rs she had a matter to talk over
with me which she thought would not
only be of interest 10 my readers but OF
great value 10 the sick. A radiant smile
greeted me rs | entered her pretty room.
and there was certainly a CLINT of mis-
chief in IT a. she commenced to speak.
ITO begin with, she said, Il have n
confession to make. Yesterday when
You rose 10 60 | was so afraid that you
wouldn't go that / was almost ready to
shrek. Please don't misunderstood me"
she pleaded. Everybody is so good 10
me. My friends are so sweet, so con
sidrratc, so unselfsh, but when they get
up 10 90 they don't 60. They stand and
talk. n perhaps sit down on the side of
the bed, and then go fussing about the
bureau, or squeak the door or play with
the knob until am worn threudbarc. /
was so afraid yesterday that Won were
going TO be like the rest, and if you were
my last hope was gone, for of course |
could not ask you to publicly protest
against a habit which you were guilty Of
yourself. And do you know" she added
with a laugh, Il was so afraid you would
come back after you had gone that my
teeth chartered till | heard the front
door close. Hou see, SO many Of them do
come back"
You speak as if this were the hardest
thing that invalids had to bear" | re-
marked.
Il really think it is" she replied. cat
least 1t is the very hardest for me; and
if you will allow me to read you a few
passages from the letters of my Shut In
friends. you will see that it is with
them"
"Oh, if the lovely creatures would
only 20 when they say they are going"
II correspondent wrote.
Il dread to have a friend come in"
said another. "because | know that ten
TO one all the pleasure of the visit will
be spoiled by the leave taking. What is
the matter with folks that they can't get
up and go;'
| smiled to think how many times l
had asked myself that question, and
wondered why | should have considered
it a personal idiosyncrasy instead Of a
general cause Of suffering to the sick.
Oh, the dear souls that slam down on
the side of the bed after they have
Strengthened their hats and put ON their
gloves and said goodby forty times
over, and the generous, helpful spirits
who bring II something nice to eat. and
then stand, door knob in hau.. '.iust
going for half an hour, To see if the
flavoring is right. Who that has been
i'll for any length Of time has failed of
such sympathy? And what invalid with
a heart has not mercilessly c~astigated
herself for being disturbed by such
things, knowing as they all do that
these friends are animated by a sincere
desire to be Of service?
Il think the next hardest thing for a
chronic invalid to bear said my friend.
lis the advocacy Of new remedies. Some
of my callers spend most of their time
telling me Of the wonderful cures effected
by this and that medicine. | am con
Quoted through all sorts of terrible phys
ical and mental fortunes until the new
medicine commences its miraculous
work; then the stony brightens until the
climax of a perfect cure is reached.
Now, the seuuers of these bottles and
boxes are all kind'-pOinting to an as
sortmeut ON her table which had evi-
IDENTIFY Just ~4rrived-''but | am at a loss
To see how even ones nearest and dearest
friends dare TO recommend such things.
l think l have had pounds of uuinine
sent me because my illness is supposed
to have a malaria foundation. l can't
e the stuff back, and Of course | dare
not give it away. | have a physician
who, l have faith to believe. thoroughly
understands my case, and when | need
quinine he gives me u soft capsule of
quiuine sulphate, and that is the end of
1t. Why, an invalid must rely on her
physician, and it seems TO me that the
person who enters a sick room and runs
down the doctor or his treatment ought
To be put out. do sometimes wish |
could talk to the sick ON this subject of
physicians"
"What would you say?' inquired.
81 would beg them first not to take
amateur doses while under the care of a
professional. 1t is a risk to the patient
and an act Of gross injustice to the doc
tor, Oh, l have been sorely tempted TO
do it myself in moments Of great pain or
dependency. but | never have vet. [
would also say to the sick that they
should not feel as if their doctors were
employed for life. If they do not benefit
they should give place 10 others, but the
patient should always be off with the
old treatment before she is on with the
new. But these are things, after all.
that one can manage with some philoso-
ply, my correspondent continued ''One
T., .1.a.s 49,