The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-04
A FABLE FOR FATHERS.


might not IN life, prescribed exactly what
his patients needed:
| Among the residents OF the place was an
| old man who was reputsd not only one Of
the wealthiest but also one Of the most self
| ish members of tue community. Cold and
| unfeeling, be employed the power conferred
] upon him by his wealth TO exact from his
/ fellows all that his sordidness could devise
and compass. His wife had long before
said 'good-byn and passed to more con-
| genial companionsnip. She had died more
than tweatY years ago, leaving a child, and
I on this daughter, now blooming woman,
| was bestowed all the love that fouad growth
! In the old mans heart. Shortly after nv
return the daughter fell sick. The skill of
local physicians seemed of no avail in her
case. Her ailment was one that baffied their
| efforts TO overcome it. She was apparently
losing her frail hold upon earthly life
One evening the physician attending har
called upon me and sought my aid. 81 am
not in practice said I, land In fact never
on Jagged in what the medical profession
term 'Uractica.'"
yet you have the reputation" he re-
marked, ''ot being most skillful physician
The case OF Miss - is peculiar one
There are many conditions in it that l
frankly confess that do not comprehend
and l believe that do not violate the
ethics OF our profession in seeking counsel
OF you"
II will examine the case" l said, "as pre-
sented by the notes Of your diagnosis, and
then tell you il can aid you.n
My visitor withdrew, and an hour later
the father of the sick girl was in my room
In obedlence to a polite request from me.
He was bowling before the altar of science.
begging that the man who had studied the
secrets OF life would extend his hand In
helpfulness.
you are learned and skillfuI,n he
pleaded. The physician who is attending
my daughter tells me that you understand
many things of value in your profession
that are not common knowledge, ami he
leads me to understand that you are alone
competent to deal with her malady. Save
my child and no fee that you may demand
will consider too great, or which l will
not gladly pay. Say that you will come
and see her. Now, Doctor, let me return to
her bedside with the comforting knowledge
that have done fathers duty. Tell me.
doctor, that you will help her. know you
cam
1t was pitiful sight to see this old man
pleading for my aid, and pleading, too, in
the belief that life can be- purchased, that
ms gold eau secure stoppage of natures
laws.
"Sit down. my friend, sit down :" 1 said.
Before | say whether or not will lend the
little stiH may possess l must know some
thing more OF the case. You love your
daughters"
do" - s.='
That is-an answer the truth of which
depends mach upon your Interpretation of
what God is. II your God delights in sd-
ding to the misery OF his bjeots then un-
doubleday your God may be aware that YOU
love your child"
81 did not coma to be insulted, sir. ~ he
angrily remarked, rising from his chair,
but to ask your professional services, for
which expect to pay you your price"
sit down, my friend, sit down | am
studying your daughters case. Is your
daughter the sole being upon whom thu
happiness of the whole world depends 9i
Again he moved az if to rise, looking at
me with angry glance.
Last winter" continued, "you turned
! from the shelter afforded by the miserable
| tenement owned by you a poor family,
| upon whom misfortune had laid its heavy
hand. what to you was the bitter storm,
| the biting cold, tbs sHow2 Did it matter TO
| you whether or not the outcasss found
| other shelteri Did it matter to you that an
J ailing child was numbered among those Won
| drove out into the storml Sit still, my
| friend. l must know more OF your daugn-
ter's case. The sick child Of the oppressed
family was daughter as truly loved as
ever your daughter was. You love your
| daughter! Why, were It not that a
mothers love thickensd the flimsy fabric OF
the we'll worn shawl that wrapped that
other daughter to her mothers breast.
| you would this night s,and convicted Of
! deliberate murder, not In the courts OF
earthly justice, but 10 the high court Of the
| creator.
"How many OF your fellows have you
aided3 How many under sanction of earthly
law, diverted by cruel oppression from
paths OF right to by-ways OF despair and
crimel You love your daughter. You are
an old man in years. but d babe in kno wi
| edge, else you would know that on
| his fellows does each one depend. You
| love your daughter, and so you use your
| every power TO twist and turn tue lives that
are beside her from the straight symmetry
! of healthful growth to dwarfed and hid
| eous deformities IL you are sincere in tell
ing me that you love your daughter,
then ask not the aid Of human skill.
| Better, far better, prove your love
! by letting her die while youth smiles pleas
| antly upon her. For to prolonR her life
mid surroundings such as you struggle to
| create and nurture is to make possible, nav
probable, the presence of children of her
race who shall rise up and curse her.
| Your daughters malady was created bv
| your acts. Toe wife that bore her lefb you
| twenty years ago, withered to death by the
! bllghting breath OF misery. She saw you
| every day engaged i'll making money. The
evening hours that men with human hearts
devote to pleasant interchange of loving
sentiments with family and friends you
gave to laborious thought and study how
best to attain the power of wealth Your
studies to the end in view have
been partly fraitful, but where
is the power that glittered on your WEALTH.
The wife is gone and the daughter ia
making ready to answer the mothers call.
Pile up your gold, and when you find the
man woo loves the heap of dross more and
better than an easy conscience, you will find
one that may profess his ability to consum-
mate your desire for a lease OF life to your
child; but remember that he who would
thus deceive his conscience would not hesi-
tate to deceive you. will not deceive you,
and so tell you that did possess all-co
quering skill, / would not exercise one por~
ton OF my power 90 preserve your daugh-
ter in the life you surround her with.n
My guest had lost his arrogance, and
bent forward in his chair, his arms resting
upon his knees, his face within his hands.
My God, doctor" he cried. my child
my child she will diel"
mo" / said, ''she will i've but where
human love shines with purer luster than
goldm
But, doctor, will you NOT save heri You
have spoken to me as no man has ever doue
bafNra Eava ma INV dau0htar and I rviIl