The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-05-18
in some other localities.

In some OGt1Sr 1Oc2ilGleS.
NV first introduction to it was owed
to Rebecca Bent, who called upon me-
one very warm evening in late August
to ask for medical advice. I had seen
her before, FOR she had been charwoman
for a few weeks at the little house oc-
cupied when one of my two domestics
was away. remembered her because
she had worked so hard (sslike a horse, -
my cook had said) during that tempo
rary engagement and given much great
er satisfaction than charwomen usually
do. Otherwise there was nothing about
her to enlist the memory. She was lot
young-fve and forty, one would say,
at least-and she had not even the
remains of good looks. 4 tall, big
boned, masculine woman, her only claim
on the sentimental emotions that lock
of hopeless discomfort worn by so many
of her. class and age, she was certainly
not an attractive person. She was strong
enough, however, and to all appearance
healthy and the last person 1 should
have. expected to need my professional
services. Still, strange as it may seem
in the case of those who have so many
genuine troubles, it is not more unusual
for the very poor to imagine themselves
i'll when there is little the matter with
them than for fine lady. If they cut
their finger, they think they are like to
die. And the woman had rung the sur
gerry bell, which--though scarcely in
the city sense-meant business.
Well, Rebecca, nothing gone wrong,
I hope, . said cheerfully. ssYou look
all right
appearances are deceitful. sir, heav-
en- knows she answered, with what
seemed for so trite proverb a most
unnecessary significance. cts weak
ness SO that one cannot lift ones hand
to ones head and thirst so that one
wants bucketfcl and cough that
seems to tear one inside out, and besides
that there's fever. ("
$50 bad as that, is it?''
made the usual examination. Her
pulse was all right, her tongue quite a
pleasure to lock at as compared with
most of those organs submitted to my
inspection Especially that most COM
mon variety. the drunken tongue). She
had not coughed at all throughout the
ordeal ard there was not trace Of fever.
You're nervous about yourself, my
good woman, y Isaid, (Which in your
case surprises me. You're too hard a
worker to have such fancies. :"
ssStill, them are the symptoms, - she
answered doggedly, and l want pre-
seripticn. . And she held ont her hand,
with l8 pence in it. Such is lot the fee
in Wimpole street, but IN the east end
We are less exacting, and we have the
same excuse for taking less as the bar
rister gave for taking half crown in
stead of guinea-it is often all our
clients have in the world.
81 don + want your money, Rebecca,
any more than you want my prescrip-
tion, I said.
For mercy's sake give it me!'' she
cried imploringly. It's not for me, sir;
it's for my sister. !"
For your sister: I did not know you
had sister. How is it possible for me
to prescribe for patient I have never
seen?''
ashe is i'll. sir, deadly ill., she
pleaded.
ssThe more reason I should see her. -
ssBut she will not see you, sir. She
made me premise that would not bring
you. She has seen no one but me for
years. She's an invalid
"Well, of course, and has an invalid's
fancies no doubt Come, take me to
her." And took up my hat.
Then. to my amazement, the big,
strong woman burst into tears. "Oh.'
sir, you don t understand she sobbed.
She is not accustomed to be seen like
this. You will break her heart. .
sPooh. poohp' I said. "On the coz
trary. it is my Business to mend it. .
Not that I had the least belief IL
what she said, for, indeed, I began to
think that her sister might be lusus
nature, of which ! had seen more than
one in my east end practice-poor crea-
lures that were not good enough or bad
enough for a show; two headed night
irgales who had just missed their
chance, as it were, by half head; ele-
phant men with imperfectly developed
trunk. When poverty goes hand in hand
with disagreement, it cannot close door
and windows or hide in secluded
grounds, y but still it will shrink from
observation all it can, like some shy
creature On the seashore whose shell is
too small for it.
Seeing it was useless to argue with
me, Rebecca led the way to Star coart.
Dry, dusty, airless and without sun
shine, because the tall black houses are
huddled tco close together, it was in-
deed cherries spot for the sound, far
more for the sick, to dwell in. A few
ragged children were dancing IN the
center Of it round barrel organ, to the
superficial eye an example Of how hap
piness is found in every spot, but we'll I
L,oo1r, <baf ~, ,nCro than o,,a Of these