The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-21
CHAPTER XIV.

COECERNING THE CARETAKERs.
The doctors In Petershof always said
that the caretakers Of the inyalids were a
much greater anxiety than the invalids
themselves The invalids would either get
better or die---one Of two things probably.
AT any rate, you knew where you were
with them. But not so with the caretak-
ers. There was nothing they were not ca
pablo Of doing, except taking reasonable
care Of their invalids. They either fused
about too much, or else they did not fuss
about at ALL They all began by doing the
right thing. They all ended by doing tho
wrong. The fussy ones had fits Of apathy
when the poor irritable patients seemed TO
get little better. The negligent ones had
paroxysms of attentiveness when their in
yalids. accustomed to loneliness and neg
lect. seemed to become rather worse by be-
ing worried.
To demonstrate with the caretakers
would have been folly for they were well
satisfied with their own methods.
To contrive their departure would have
been an impossibility, for they were firm
ly convinced that their presence was nee
essary to the welfare Of their charges. And
then, too, judging from the way in which
they managed TO Amuse themselves, they
liked being In Petershof, though they new
er owned that to the invalids. On the
contrary, it was the custom for the care
takers. to deprcciate the place and to de-
plore the necessity which obliged them to
continue there month after month. They
were fond, too, of talking about the sacri-
fees which they made and the pleasures
which they willingly gave up in order to
stay with their invalids. They said this
I'm the presence Of their invalids. And IL
the latter had told them by all means to
pack up and 60 back to the pleasures
which they had renounced they would
have been astonished at the ingratitude
which could suggest the idea.
They were amusing characters, these
caretakers. They were SO thoroughly un-
conscious of their deficiencies. They might
neglect their own invalids, but they would
look after other peoples invalids and
play the nurse most soothingly and pretti-
ly where there was no call and no occa-
sion. Then they would come and relate to
their neglected dear ones what they had
| been doing for others, and the dear ones
! would smile quietly and watch the but
! tons being stitched on for strangers and
| the cornflour which they could not get
nicely made for themselves being careful
ly prepared for other peoeles neglected
dear ones.
Some OF the dear ones were rather bit
ter But there were many Of n higher or
der of intelligence who seemed TO realize
that they had no right TO be i'll, and that
being i'll and therefore burden on their
friends they must make the best of every
thing and be grateful for what was given
them and patient when anything was
/ withheld.
Others of q still higher order Of undcr-
standing attributed the eccentricltios of
the caretakers to one cause alone--the
Pctershof air. They knew 1t had the in
variable effect of getting into the head and
upsetting the balance of those who drank
deep OF it. Therefore no one was to b1ainc,
and no one need be bitter. But these were
the philosophers OF the colony-a select
and dainty few in any colony. But there
were several rebels among the invalids,
and they found consolation in coplding tc
each other their separate grievances. They
generally held their conferences in the
rooms known as the newspaper rooms,
where they were not likely To be interrupt
ed by any caretakers who might have staio
at home because they were tired out.
Today there were only few rebels gath
cred together, but they were moro thar
|
told several Of them that their respective
caretakers must be sent home.
What must dor" said little Mile
Gerardy, wringing her hands The doc
tor says that I must tell my sister TO "
home; that she only worries me and makes
me worse. He calls her 'whirlwind.' j
won't tell her, then he will tell her, an,
we shall have some moro scenes. MOI
Dieu. and / arm so tired of them. The,
terrify me. would suffer anything rath
er than have fresh scene. And i can
get her tn do anything for me She ha
no time for me. And yet she thinks sh
takes the greatest possible care OF me AM
devotes tho whole day TO me. Why, some
times never SEQ her for hours together.
well, at least she does not quarrel wit
every one, as my mother does " said a Pol
ish gentleman--M. Lichinsky. 'Ncarl
every day she has quarrel with some oD
or other, and chen she comes TO me AM
says she has been insulted. And other
come 20 me mad with rage and oomplai
that they have been insulted by her. \
though were to blamel 1 tell them tha
now. tell them that my mothers quar-
rels are not my quarrels. But one long
for peace. And the doctor says ! must hav
1t, and that my mother must go home O
once. II tell her that, she will have
tremendous quarrel with the doctor. AS
=, he will scarcely speak TO her. so yo
see, Mile. Gerardy, that /, too, am In
bad plight What am to do'"
Then . young American yRoke. He ha
been getting gradually worse since he cam
to Petcrshof, but his brother, bright
sturdy young fellow, seemed quite uncor
scious of the seriousness Of his condition.
And what am TO dor" he asked pi
thetically. My brother does not eve
think am Ill. He says am TO rouse m!
self and como skating and tobogganin
with him. Then / tell him that the do
tor says must lie quietly In the sun.
have no one TO take care of me, so try
take little caro- Of myself, and then j NJ
laughed at IL IL bad enough TO be ii
but 10 is worse when those who nigh. hcl
you little won't even believe In your II
ness. wrote home once and told then
but they go by what he says. And the
too, tell me to rouse myself"
His checks were sunken his eyes we