Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-17
A "HEALER. "

silken pillows arranged about her; and
although it was balmy spring morn
Ing and the breeze which came through
the open window was soft and warm.
she had a thick eiderdown quilt thrown
over her. Her eyes were heavy, but
she could not sleep. Night after night
she had lain during the long hours
wide awake.
Physicians had pronounced her mall
Ady insomnia" but had done little to
relieve it. Drugs had brought her re-
lief for a time, but they soon lost their
effect. She had tried them all =
bromides sulfonal, that queer drug
els. choral, morphine-but she had an
honest horror of narcotics and she
feared to trust herself with them.
And now her husband had brought
her new DOCTOR shabby, little old
man who had no great name nor even
a particular school. In fact, he called
himself "healer." and you or would
hcoe branded him a ''quack."
The lady glanced up as the two men
entered the room, and she was con-
scious of wondering where on earth
her husband had picked the man up.
Even that was something; she had not
had enough interest of late even to
wonder about anything.
Her husband approached her: MY
dear. am bringing you DR., -er-Dr.
- The little man interrupted
''Oh, never mind; just call me doc
tor" and the lady actually raised her
languid head to look at the doctor"
He was bright-eyed old man with q
great name of gray hair thrown back
from his forehead, and long white
beard falling over his breast. His
clothes were old and thread5are, and
his boots rusty and red at the toes. In
one hand he carried carefully brush
ed hat of an ancient style, and in the
other a huge bunch of great, fragrant
lilac blossoms.
He sat down in the chair offered
him, facing his patient, and her hus-
band seated himself near, anxiously
watching the "doctor'sn face.
The old man made a few remarks
about the weather, glancing out at the
budding trees on the avenue then he
turned to his patient.
He did not feel her pulse nor ex-
emine her tongue-he looked steadily
at her pale face with its hollow cheeks
and great dark circles about the eyes,
then he nodded his head emDhaticallv
"Um! yes-worn-out. nervous; toe
much gayety last winter perhaps; in
somnia, cant sleep at all Well! well!
that's badI' multered he. Tnen be
leaned back in his chair closed his
eyes, and seemed in deep thought.
Suddenly he started up. Madam,
am something of mind-rcader, aid
am going to tell you what the odor
f these od-fashoned flowers has
Tought to your mind"
The lady had been looking at the
lunch of lilacs but when he spoke she
urned toward the old man with half
unused smile; and in soft. low voice
ne went on.
You are thinking ofjustsuch soft,
warm spring day as this, | won't say
low many years ago but you are now
netally subracting eight years from
7our present age to find the number
If years between then and now, for
Tou were years old upon that bright
Ipring morning"
The lady looked up with amazement,
are right"
"Of course l am" said he cheerilv;
i always am. Now, your father had
promised to take you for a weeks
visit to your grandmother's and you
we're to so on your birthday; but when
your birthday came your father found
that there was some business which he
could not leave, and your mother was
expecting company, and SO they let
you go alone"
The lady raised up little from her
pillows and fixed her eyes upon the
doctors" face. The man went on in
the same soft tones. 1T was your first
Journey alone, wasn't it? Yes; and
you were very proud to sit alone in
the seat and to throw kisses to your
father and mother as the train moved
out. 1t was not far TO your grand
mothers but it seemed ages to you
before you got to the little red depot
and saw your grandfather standing on
the platform. The conductor carried
your satchel out and you walked behind
him very straight and digniiied. When
grandfather found that you'd come
alone he said Bless me! didn't hep
And YOU felt that somehow it was a
compliment. Then he said how you'd
grown; and Mr.. Smith, the station
master. said You don't mean to tell
me this is Johns little gal! Well!
wellr and that seemed complimentary
too.
Grandpa let you drive old Pete
after you had turned the corner didn',
he? And when grandma saw you com
ing and you called out to her that you
had come alone she said Bless mel too
After you had kissed grandma
you ran to change your dress and pu
IN your long-slceved pinafore, just a:
fou had promised your mother; then
YOU went TO see if you couldn't hell
grandma get dinner, but she said she'o
rather you ran out of doors-so yor
went out into the backyard.
That backyard of grandma's; wa
there ever such a delightful place
There was the smokehouse first of all
just the right size for a playhouse
only grandma always kept it locked
You watched to see when she took thu
kew down from the nail in the kitchen
then you followed her and saw he
take down a great. glossy brown han
and cut off the smooth, pink slice
from it's heart.
'.Then you ran to see grandpa star
the leach. The leach was only bar
rel of ashes set upon sloping plat
form. but it was very mysterious t