Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-06-18
e. MInnIRM T. NICHOLS.

lNt4 AtA1et COM EleNs ttllCN, d45t IaE llte
present was unable to receive visitors.
was successful IN is object. Lamar was
not moiested by inquisitive callers. ana
after little the people whom / met
ceased III question me about him. save
al rare intervals. 4 barn-burning
aboHt thar time ai3 as "a great service
in giviIsg the townspeopie amorevitally
interesting topic than sick stranger
forced liz his ilalady to lead 4 solitary
| existence.
Among the most delicate tasks fall
ing TO my lot was the securing of a
servant for the invalid, but, here again.
fortune being kind, an old negress
was installed as nominal nurse and
actual housekeeper. She had been
born a slave, according to village talk,
but had secured ner freedom and mi
grated north. She was an excellent
cook, but so surly and Grabbed was her
disposition-more she was very
deaf-that at last nobody would en-
pioy her. A recital of her disabilities
sent me post-haste after her; for, if
she was as unsociable as she was repre-
sented to be, she was the woman in Il
thousand for us. When she took charge
of the kitchen we were relieved of one
point at least; there would be no Cos
siping at that end of the house.
Meanwhile, / had contracted for food
and lodging at one of the farmhouses,
and had put out my shingle in due
form-much to the satisfaction of my
hostess. who confessed that it pleased
her to have evidences given that the ~
was "a grownman bout the place" She
was Mrs. Elvire Weston, a widow, ana
the mother of two boys, neither of
whom was yet old enough to relieve
her Of the cares of tie farm. She
was a CHEEKY soul, who Lad endured
many misfortunes without losing cour.
age, and I was glad to secure quarters
under her roof She allotted to me
wing OF the house, which. having an
entrance Of it's own, would serve adj
mirably as an oihce. soon had my den
fitted APP in a way to excite considerable
local admiration. \ few books, couple
Of anatomical charts and some Walls Of
drugs were disposed to the best adj
vantage to impress patients with the
mysteries Of the healing art
IN It's beginning my practice in Rod
& ncytovn was much like an early spring
4 in New England more promise than
realization A daily visit to Lamar was
the basing-point of my routine. AS a
rule, it was very brief, though occasion
ally he let me understand that my post
was no sipecure. Vow and then ha sent
me on trips to Trent, thriving hive
Of mannfactories about SO miles from
the village. On the first OF these jour
aeys one of ny duties was to mail n
letter to New York banning house:
Il on the next / was informed thata large
sum was on deposit to my credit with
4 The principal bank of the place. Thus.
while myDatron kept some control over
the purse-strings. / was the acting pay
master From first to last there could
/ be no charge Of niggardliness made
against Inn; he looked over my az
+ counts now and then. but never ques-
toned their accuracy.
As he finished his superficial auditing
on one of these occasions. he looked
up and asked, rather abruptly:
THE old fisherman who Ives yon-
der-what do YOU know of him?''
MOI much. sand /. except that ms
4 name il johnson that he has been IN
/ the navy. and that he has the best Of
I rcputations for honesty"
NO more %
..Well he and his two brothers who
live with him are AN ,rnsocfahle lot
4 who keen nrcb IL themselves Tbera,s
no woman with them: they're then.
own housekeepers.
u may bnv Of their fish Ria tho
eldest 10 come here to-night Won
need not. ~ nresept +" said be WIN III
,sual eereponioi,s bo,, IL nartfng To
turned on his heel and stallsed ,,nstai,s
~ his sanct,,m
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