The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-12-25

heard sometimes in the school, but
more often at Pete's
Pete had been busy lately makhg a
pair of boots for DIR. Gilbert.
Pete had confided to Sonny "thf he
wuz goin' ter maxi 'em mighty good
an lastin'." For the doctor Would
take no pay"
So when Pete had finished the pots
and tied them together, Sonny-Slung
them across his shoulders and went off
slowly on his crutches to carry them
as surprise to the doctor.
The doctor looked thoughfully into
Sonney's face and silly felt his pulse
as he shook his hand and told him to
thank Pete, but tell him to spend no
more time on boots for him as these
looked as if the wou Id last forever
To which Sonny smiled in a pleased
way and replied: Daddy said he'd
max 'em mighty lastin'."
The next day the doctor came into
Pete's and said the boots fitted him
very well indeed, and that he guessed
he would take another look at Sonny S
leg.
When DIR. Gilbert reached his office
that night he sat down to think over
his days work among his patients
Then he picked up a pen and directed
an envelope to Mrs. Elizabeth CT fDrter,
in care of the Maurice Porter I ymorial
hospital, Chicago%V. -
Tbe letter ran AllaWS Z 16vo
DEAR SISTER ELIZABETH I've :. foI.
interest read your letter telling me
of your satisfactory work in the hos
pital. You could have erected no more
lasting and useful monument to Maur-
ices memory than this hospital for
crippled childhood.
have at present among my patients
an only son. But his father is poor
shoemaker, and Sonny, as the boy is
called, is very near to his heart.
The little fellow met with an acct
dent about two years ago There has
resulted a complication of hp- joint dis
ease with other troubles.
There will have to be al operation
His father cannot give himthe skillful
care he ought to have.
Can you take him into the hospital?
If so, write me at once.
Your atfectionate brothe',
S. p. GILBERT, M. D.
A favorable answer cane to the doc
tor.
SO Sonny went to the hospital in care
of the kind doctor
Pete stood on the platform and looked
after the receding train.
He had told the doctor n an anxious
whisper just before the tain left that
"Sonny's NAV he'd aller lowed ter
give Sonny uh chance, ar he wanted
Sonny ter hev uh chance SIRE"
The weeks passed by p;tient Pete as
he pegged on alone waiting to hear
about Sonny's chance.
There came brave little scrawl
from Sonny.
Pete rubbed his glasses, drew the
light nearer, and began o slowly spell
out Sonny's words. They were these:
81 'ud like ter see ye., daddy, ever
so. my leg axes so mites an in the
mornins' an sum afternoons, but it
don't axe so rery, daddy, not so oery.
the doclltur he sez ez ult yotjen leg
don no how ter axe, wish ind wun.
Eff yer amt peggin' kud yer KUN an
smooth my har an gimme uh drink,
jest wun drink? l CESS they don't
never kclcb rate hear coz they all axe
SO, only my leg don't hurt so ce1ydaddy.
frum Sonny"
Pete could not see the last words He
took off his glasses slowly. Then he
sat very still for long time thinking.
A last the slow smile began to creep
over Pete's careworn face and he
brought his hand down on his knee as
he said aloud:
Yes, thetll be the way. Then Som
ny 'ull hev uh chance, sure"
While Pete was slowly spelling out
Sonny's words, DR.. Gilbert sat in his
office reading the following letter:
CHICAGO, IlL-Dear Brother: Your
welcome letter came to me last week
! thunll you for your continued inter-
est in my hospital work, and l am
pleased that you have been able to
make it the means of interesting your
children in trying to brighten little
some lives less happy than their own.
Your former patient, little Sonny, now
sits up part of the day, and gets about
the ward in a wheel chair.
He suffers constant pain, but is very
Da1ient and uncOmDlaininr We can
all learn lesson in patience and I'M