The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-12-22

Of e. re ! would come, consul or
not. In thee hidden corners Of the
world any one in trouble, vagabond
sailor, bleach comber" or unlucky clerk
out Of employment, is as sure of help
4 from more fortunate fellow countrymen
as If he were in his native land-surer
perhaps unless he happen to be Chi
naman, III which case his friends let
him die unmolested and then pay the
expenses Of burying him in China, Il
backhanded sort Of philanthropy, very
! characteristic in John Chinaman.
/ So the doctor jumped into public
carriage and ratified away toward Ma
/ lacanan, while | followed on my pony,
leaving the beggars to philosophically
squat down around the club doorway
and resume their everlasting wall of
Charity, for love of heaven, charity 7"
Poor old McGregor's story was sad
one. Long years before, as a young man,
he had come to the Philippines on u
pleasure trip with his wife, and here
She died suddenly of cholera, that ter
rible scourge Of the east, which then was
claiming its victims by thousands, and
1bI ~ Ntti1 liii N8b'AOl iltt' iNNtl tNAt
the island where she lay, among the
tail palms III the little English cemetery
on Santa Ana hill But many others
had reason to bless the cause that kept
DR. McGregGr among them. From the
proudest Spanish official i'll his palace
to the humblest savage i'll his bamboo
hut the DOCTOR time and skill were al
ways at their service And many Il
youngster fresh from home had been
saved from going wrong in that land OF
wild and lawless life by his kindly
words Of counsel and advice.
We stopped at last before miserable
/ hut on the outskirts of the town, and
| giving the pony i'll charge of passing
native followed the doctor i'll. The in
terror was dark and comparatively cool.
| An old native woman, like a grotesque
image, was squatting ON the bamboo
floor beside heap of "nipa" leaves
and pieces Of mating, on which lay u
white man, tossing turning and bah
bling with delirium, i'll the full grip of
the jungle feyer-a young man evident
| ly, his once powerful frame, fearfully
reduced by illness and confinement, coy
cred by the ragged and grimy shirt and
trousers of sailor. He became quieter
as McGregop raised his head and drank
the medicine given him, but began NUT
tering again as the doctor laid him
down.
He was wee bit more rational this
afternoon, said McGregor, "and told
me bit of his story, but he couldn't
or wouldn' t tell his name. found him
just outside ON the grass and brought
him in here for want of better place.
Was there nothing in his pookets2'
asked.
"Nought but these" showing few
eentimes, at which the old woman
glared greedily. "He may come to his
senses bit soon. Ye'd better bido
awhile. "
lis he past hope, Mae" / asked.
Cant we do anything-take him to
better house, | mean?"
The doctor shook his head. IF we
could get him up north now, I'd say
he'd get well with the constitution he
has It's the heat of the place that keeps
him down. The poor lads made like
one of our ain collie dogs-strong and
we'll in tho cold, but when taken by fe-
yer i'll this climate-whishl burns up
like gunpowder. "
1t was terrible to see one of my own
race dying thus in the lowest degrade
ton, like wretched savage, nursed by
an ignorant old barbarian only for the
sake of the money she knew we would
| give her more terrible as time went on,
and the poor parched lips never ceased
their childish, unintelligible chatter
that burning foreheadl But nothing is
cool there, nothing but death.
So we sat in silence, with my hel.
met tanning the flushed face, SO drawn
and haggard, which must have been
strong and handsome in health, and the
doctor over and anon raised tho heavy
head with tho gentleness of q woman
and gave medicine, while the old hag
crouched i'll a corner and mumbled to
herself, wondering if when the man was
dead she would get n whole silver pc
so or not Outside tho brown people
chartered and laughed in their freedom
from care, now and then peering in with
curious faces and running away with
| fresh shouts. Their turn might come
next, but little they cared. The present
was theirs for enjoyment of life. Never
mind tomorrow.
Suddenly the tumult seemed to in
crease and concentrate farther down the
road Then it began to approach, the
screams and happy laughter of children
mingled with the clearer tones of for
eigner's tongue, and rs the crowd reach
ed the hut l suddenly heard familiar
voice saying: There, little boy, don t
you be SO greedy. Let that little girl
have some. Amt it nice, John, to sec
how they enjoy it?''
McGregor looked up in wonder, and
l rose and went to the door There /
found Captain Hale and his wife, sur
rounded by perfect horde of delighted
children, he tossing coppers about from
n canvas bag and she distributing can
dy, penny whistles and numerous odds
and ends from her huge basket, both
their faces perfect pictures of the honest
pleasure which changed to such pro
AObAAh siiaAtihNht ab bAS HlSilt VI lltt
that for moment n combined assault
by the native infantry ON their basis of
supplies was almost successful, only
prevented by vigorous use of the cap
tain's bamboo stick and Mrs IIale's
bingham umbrella.
started to explain why l was there,
but before l finished Mrs Hale, with an
exclamation of, "Why, the poor fell
low!" gave her basket whirl which
sent its contents flying in every direc-
ton, thereby creating scene of riot
which those peaceful tropic shades had
never witnessed the like of, and then
trotted straight into the hut. followed
by her husband. who bent his tall form
nearly double to enter the door.
The doctor rose and bowed with cour
~ ~