The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-13
Muse To mkins. y

mometer and the 'ygienic measures came
in; people didn't live no longer than be-
fore all this washing and rinsing was
started"
Thus soliloquized Nurse Tomkins in my
presence, after 1 had engaged her serv-
ices to attend my wife for a passing and
slight ndisposition-"after'' 1 had en-
gagged her, please observe-for though
no doctor myself, would never have en-
tered into an agreement for the services
of an exponent Of the above theories. In
fact, 1 never knewo a moments peace
after Nurse had expressed herself IN
these and various other matters connect
ed with the sick-room. Nurse Tomkins
came on the Saturday and found me
reading Fridays Hospital to my wife; it
WAS the sight of this journal, probably,
which started Tomkins OF on a mono
logue lasting the best part Of an hour.
''She knew the paper well-and she wasn't
behind the time, not she. in this-she read
her Hospital every blessed week, and
though she didn't old with teaching
nursing and doctoring by print. yet them
advertisements 'ad often come in useful
like"
We listened in silence to what she said,
and my wife smiled family. Mildred did
not improve rapidly, not so quickly az
her anxious husband would have liked.
and at last-that was on the Sunday,
with a deeply-rooted sense of distrust to-
wards her nurse, I decided on taking up
my station in the invalid's room. / en-
tered-the fire burned low. the window
was open, and the cold bleak wind Of an
early spring day blew in. Your fire Is
low, Mildred l said. THE room feels
cold" Nurse Tomkins adjusted her cap,
settled her apron, and commenced a Sc
- Gra hov hor
bang went the poker. looked at the wo-
man with a look which has caused a
brave man to finch. These beastly 1odg
ing-house grates-sman and pokey," said
Nurse under her breath. The fire sent
up a fitfu blaze, more Goals were show
eled on, a rattle of fire irons, and Nurses
work was done. Tomkins walked to the
bed, collecting bottles in her progress;
one was eau de cologne, another a salts
bottle. Smell these!" she exclaimed,
presenting the apex of each bottle to the
patients nose. Mildred was taken by
surprise, and the strong salts made her
gasp. I commanded my language and
sat still, considering the situation with
a calmness which afterwards astonished
me. So long as 1 was by it was all right,
l said to comfort myself, and low uld
always be by so long as Mildred was
being "nursed."
1 ensconced myself in an easy chair
which was drawn up to the Preside: on
the dressing table near by a little cloud
of blue smoke assembled to the ceiling
a sickly Eastern smell emanating from
the burning paper. 1 leaned over and
blew it out 1 did not approve of my
wife's room smelling of these scents.
Nurse saw the action. She stopped shak
ing the pillows into a hard mass and
looked at me questioningly. Them pa
pers purify the atmosphere of a sick
room,'' she said, in explanation. "At
my last case 1 burnt them day and night.
Captain Games wife-she was a real la
dy, and she liked fine Smells" Mildred
told me afterwards Mrs. Games name
had been a familiar one to her, and that
She appeared to have been most re-
markable woman. She evidently was a
good patient in so far as endurance went.
Mrs. Eames and me-" continued Nurse,
resuming her explanation" of the burn
ing papers, I'VE ad the same views on
your modern nursing. and them Ugh and
mighty young modern nurses who are
'aving their 'eads turned by all them
new-fangled notions, and them funds and
associations-and Mrs. Eames and me we
often said as 'ow it was all fudgei Now,
in 'er case" Nurse Tomkins went on,
them doctors ordered her to eat moth
ing all day long. Well, that wasn't the
first case of typhoid 1 had nursed-and I
knew well the pretty young creatures
strength couldn't old out against starva-
ton for weeks-she, as was accustomed
to ride in her carriage and ave the best
victuals In the land-so 1 just judges for
myself, and / takes 'er up cut of meat
on the sly-she that sad and beseeching-
of IN MI
didn't she just perk up at it! And look
ed so pretty with all her laces and frills
round her bonny face-'twasn't the first
case of typhoid 1 'ad by no means"
And Mrs. Eames Fecovered?' 1 asked.
the pretty creature. she died in my
arms as gentle and mild as a lamb, and
never saw a prettier death-bed," re-
sponded Tomkins. ''She was a real lady
the flowers in her room were something
lovely-and 'er husband. he sobbed is
eyes out, and no wonder-she that was
worth a dozen of i'm, and when I left
that 'ouse, after all my devoted duty,
e never so much as give me a sixpence
more than my pay. But she! She was a
rare beauty. and would have starved to
death but for me. 1 meant to tell the
Coptain this, but he had that cold and
aughty manner 1 just 'eld my council.
Yes" continued the woman. the corner
of an aDron fixed in her left eye, I've
buried dozens of them; but 1 sticks to
it, 1 never saw prettier sight than 'er
a-lying dead with her 'ands folded patient
like on her breast"
Mildred's head tossed restlessly on the
pillow. Nurse" I said-and 1 held the
door open as I spoke-"will you come and
speak to me a minute downstairs"
left the room. Tomkins followed me into
the dining-room.
Tell me- l asked her. what training
have you had in nursing?'
Twelve years." she answered, her head
held high.
Twelve years-at a hospital2"
''Lor' bless you, no sir; I never required
no teaching. l was a born nurse, and
pick it UP as I 60"
''As you go?" 1 asked. Your institu-
ton accepts unframed nurses, them
THAT 1t doesn't, SIR" she returned
with spirit. II had five years experience
when Joined. was nurse ever since
1 was years old; my poor father he suf-
But" 1 put in. interrupting what I
guessed might develop into a lengthy an
ecdote. you have had no training, then;
no training as a nurse?"
Mature taught me-" said Tomkins
Nature and hobservatlon-if / saw any
thing made a patient worse I altered my
treatment next time. I've 'ad great ex-
perience with the sick, as / am seldom
called in unless it's an incurable case"
l had been pacing the narrow limits OF
the room whilst Tomkins spoke and when !
So ceased I was conscious of tremor
in my speech dadn't say much. as lit
tie as I couid-but 1 paid TOmkins for I
her services and I satisfactorily con-
veyed 10 her mind that I could dispense
with them in the future. For the sake
Of peace / gave the woman a few shil- j
H. .-.-.-,a $1,000