Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-12-16

We have Just read most interest
Ing account OF an incident In Flor
.nce Nightingale's girlhood
Some boys had thrown stones at
valuable shepherd dog belonging to
an old Scotch shepherd, and broken
Its leg, and Il was decided that it
would he a mercy to kill the poor
animal, when Florence Nightingale
eame upon the scene, aud here we
begin the story:
The little girl went fearlessly up
TO where he lay, saying in a soft
earessing tone:
Poor Cap! pool Cap"
1t was enough; he looked up with
his speaking brown eyes, now blood
shot and full Of pain, into her face,
and did not resent 1t when, kneeling
down beside him, she stroked with
her little ungloyed hand, the large,
Intelligent head.
To the vicar he was rather less
amenable, but by dlnt Of coaxing at
last allowed him to touch and examine
the wounded leg. Florence persuasive
ly telling him it was "all right" In
/ deed, she was on the floor beside him,
with his head on her lap, keeping up
continuous mutmuf, much as a
mother does over sick child.
well" said the vicar, rising from
his examination, "as far as / can tell
there are no broken bones. The leg
Is badly bruised. 1t ought to be
fomented to take the Inflammation
and swelling down"
How do you foment?' asked Flor
ence.
with hot cloths dipped in boiling
water" replied the vicar.
Then that's quite easy. III stay
here and do it. Now, Jimmy, get
sticks and make the kettle boil
There was no hesitation in the
child's manner; she was told what
ought to be done, and she set about
doing 1t as a-simple matter OF course.
But they will be expecting you at
home, said the vicar.
Not il you tell them I'm here,
answered Florence: "and my sister
huu OuC VI tuO tndiuS Ndn SOtuc anu
fetch me home in time for tea, and,
she hesitated, they had better bring
some old flannel and cloths; there
does not seem TO be much here, but
you will wait and show me how to
foment, won't your
well, yes said the vicar, carried
away by the energy OF the little girl.
Soon the fire was lit and the water
boiling. An old smock frock OF the
shepherds had been discovered in a
corner, which Florence deliberately
tore In pieces, and the vicar said:
what will Roger say?"
Wen give him another" she re.
piled.
/ And so Florence Nightingale made
her first compress, and spent the
whole Of that bright spring day in
nursing her first patient-the shep
herds dog
In the evening" when Roger came
not expecting to find visitors in thu
humble cottage, and dangling a BIZ
Of cord In his hand, Florence went
up to him.
You can throw that away, Roger,
she said. "Your dog won't die; lool
at him."
Cap rose and crawled toward his
master, whining with pleasure.
"Deary me. deary mel What hav,
you done with him? He could no
move this morning when ] left him.
Then Florence told Roger and ex
planned the mode of treatment.
"You have only to go on tonight, ant
tomorrow he will be almost well, thu
vicar says" Smiling brightly sh,
continued, Mrs. Norton has prom
ised to see to Cap tomorrow wher
you are out, so now you need not xii
him; he will be able to do his worl
again"
Il thank you kindly, missy, | do
indeed" said the old man, huskily
at went hard with me to do ava,
with him, but what can poor maj
do?" And putting out his hand h,
stroked the dog. "I'll see to him
missy, now as l know what's TO b.
done, and he stood his crook in tn
corner and hung his cap on the peg
Then Florence look her leave
stroking and petting the dog to tn
last, and those who standing in tn
cottage door, watched her disappear
little thought they were gazing upol
one whose mission would be to ten,
the sick and wounded on many
| battlefield, and how, in years to come
men dying far away from home woul,
raise themselves upon their pillows t
"kiss her shadow as 1t passed them