The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-12-17

his hip.
For answer Pete smoothed back
Sonny's hair gently and said: Dad.
dy'n fix it for ye, Sonny. Daddy'll fix
it-if he kim"
Sonny smiled family again and
closed his eyes.
Pete carried the child into the house.
Very carefully he laid him down on the
bed In the ''living'' room. Then he
hurried up the street to see about
Sonny's chance.
Pete walked on till he came to a
sign that was taking a swing in the
spring breeze while it told the public
| that this was the office of one s. P.
Gilbert, NJ. D.
There was no one in the office, so
Pete sat down patiently to wait.
On the table lay an open telegram.
1t was dated Chicago, and read:
To DR.. $. P. Gilbert: Come at once
Maurice is dying.
ELIZABETH G. PORTER.
DR.: Gilbert, coming in from one of
his patients, had picked up the tel
egram. When he had read it he said:
poor sister! must 60 to her.
So he had gone that day to Chicago.
When DR.. Gilbert reached his sisters
home he found that there was no hope
for the boys life.
The child died.
The next day the doctor returned to
his patients.
He found scrawled on his order slate:
"Kum ter suny at Pete Peculiars."
The doctor inquired the way and
went.
Soon he was following Pete through
the shop to the bed in the corner.
Sonny smiled no at them as he Law with
white face and patient eyes.
Sonnys smile was so like Pete's.
The doctor looked grave when he
heard Pete's story.
After long weeks of patient uncom-
planning little Sonny and pegging
Pete, the doctor said the child could
try to use his leg.
Then Pete smiled more hopefully.
He began to sit up nights working
away at something made of wood and
leather.
They were clumsy little crutches that
Pete made for Sonny. But Pete had
said gently as he smoothed Sonny's hair:
''Daddy'n fix 'em fer ye," and Sonny
had smiled and waited
So to Sonny they were all that pair
of crutches could be.
1t was on a Christmas eve that Pete
put the last touches to them. So the
next day there was merry time at
Pete's, for Sonny and Pete were fond
of ''kelebratin" as they always called
it at Christmas time.
The widow said: That's Jest like
them Pecoolyurs Who ever heerd tell
of ''kile bratin" at Krissmus an havin'
fire-crackers too. Pecoolyur by name
an natur say"
For two years the sound of Sonnv's
voice and Sonny's crutches could be
heard sometimes in the school, but
more often at Pete's
Pete had been busy lately making q
pair of boots for DIR. Gilbert.
Pete had confided to Sonny ''thet he
wuz goin' ter max 'em mighty good
an last;n'." For the doctor would
take no pay"
So when Pete had finished the boots
and tied them together, Sonny slung
them across his shoulders and went off
slowly on his clutches to carry them
as a 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 would last forever.
To which Sonny smiled in a pleased
way and replied: Daddy said he'd
maxi '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 DR.. Gilbert reached his Office
that night he sat down to think over
his days work among his patients
Then he picked up pen and directed
an envelope to Mrs. Elizabeth G. Porter,
in care of the Maurice Porter Memorial
hospital, Chicago, Ill.
The letter ran as follows:
DEAR SISTER ELIZABETH: 1t is with
interest read your letter telling me
of your satisfactory work in the hos
pital. You could have erected M more
lasting and useful monument to Maur-
ices memory than this hospital for
crippled childhood
have at present among my patients
= little child who, like your Maurice, Is
an only son. But his father is poor
shoemaker, and Sonny. as the boy ia
called, is very near to his heart
The little fellow met with an acct
dent about two years ago. There has
resulted complication of hip joint dis
ease with other troubles.
There will have to be an operation.
His father cannot give him the skillful
care he ought to have. T.:
Can you take him into the hospital?
II SO, write me at once.
Your affectionate brother.
g. j. s.. p. GILBERT, NJ. D..
A favorable answer came to the doc.
So Sonny went to the hospital in care
Of the kind doctor. s ~
Pete stood on the platform and looked
after the receding train. =.
He had told the doctor in IN anxious