Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-09-06


white pSllet-bed, cushioned rocking
chair and neatly draped easement,
where sat poor little shriyeled up
woman, wrapped in a faded shawl.
She looked timidly up as Doctor
Mary came in, from under the borders
Of her cap.
I'm O. poor body, miss" said she,
"and I'm sensible I'm making deal
Of trouble in the world. But the Lord
don't always take us, miss, when we'd
like to co.
This is the DOCTOR" said Mrs. Gun.
bingham.
The little woman would have risen
up to make feeble courtesy, but Doc
tor Mary motioned her to keep her
seat, and asked:
"What is your name?"
"Louise NARROW, MISS
"Mnrlow? That Is an unusual name,
isn't it?r said Mary Clarimont, colorihg
in spite Of her self.
''We're English, MISS said the old
woman, struggling bravely with her
asthma. 'There amt many of us In
this country. I've son, miss, in the
law business, MS any mother might be
proud Of"
"a son!" echoed Mrs. Cunningham;
"and You in the almshouseY'
mot that it's his fault, ma'am,' the
old creature made haste to explain.
MY son Is to be married to fine,
proud young lady, us is fit for any
prince in all the land, and of course
he can't be expected to burden him
self with a helpless old woman like
me. He says I'm to write and let him
know how l get along, and il I'm sick
or anything, he'll try to see me. 1
sewed carpets until the asthma got
hold of me, and supported myself COM
fortably. But of course I couldn't lay
up anything for n rainy day.. who
could? And Henry couldn't help me,
for he's getting ready to be married,
poor lad! So went to Doctor Mer-
ton and asked him, did he know of any
decent place where an old woman like
me could end her days in peace. And
he gave me n card to come here, and
some money to pay my travelling ex-
penses-GOd bless him!-and here
ami
Mary Clarimont had listened quietly
to the garrulous lady, but the color had
varied in her cheeks more than once
as she stood there.
is Your sons name Harry Marlow?"
she said, slowly and thoughtfully.
Eyes, miss, at your service" said the
old woman, with n duck of her white
capped head.
rs lie like this?" asked Doctor Mary,
taking photograph from her pocket.
The old woman, with trembling
hands. fitted on her iron-bowed specta-
cles, and looked Mt the picture, uttering
a little cry of recognition.
"Sure, miss, it's his own SELF" she
cried. "You are acquainted with him,
then?'
Somewhat" said Doctor Mary. COM
posedly, as she returned the photo
graph to its place. "And now 1 will
leave you something to relieve this
difficulty in breathing
But the old crone eyed her wistfully.
Perhaps You know the young lady
my son is to marry?' She observed.
YES" said Doctor Mary, writing
something in her prescription-book.
II have seen her.
Perhaps, Miss faltered the old wo-
man, you would give her my humble
duty, and tell her would just like to
look Mt her for once and see what she
Is like. There's no fear of my trou-
bling her, miss. for / mean to end my
days here. But would like to see her
Just once. And fit wouldn't be ask
ing too much, miss, would you please
write to my son. and tell where I am
for Pm no scholar myself, and I'm
his mother, after ALL
II will write to him. said Doctor
Mary, quietly, and SO she went away.
II never see n lady doctor afore,"
said old Mrs. NARROW, with a long sigh.
But she's pretty creetur, and it
seems good to have her around.
hope she'll come again soon.''
"You may be very sure of that" said
the matron, brusquely. Doctor Clari.
mont amt one to neglect poor people
because they are poor"
That evening Aunt 10, frying crul-
lers over the kitchen-fire, was sur
prised by n visit from her niece, who
game in, all wrapped in furs, with
cheeks crimsoned with the frosty air.
"Bless me! This mint never you?"
said Aunt Jo. peeping over the rims Of
her spectacles.
II drove over to see you, Aunt Jo,"
said Mary, ito tell you that you were
right. The metal was counterfeit
"Ehy" said Aunt 10, mechanically
ladling out the brown, curly crullers,
although she did not look at what she
was doing.
our engagement" said Doc
tor Mary. calmly, albeit her voice fall
tered u little. 1.-THE man who will
let his old mother go into
an almshouse sooner than take the
trouble to maintain her. can be no fit
husband for any womanv'
And then she sat down by the fire,
and told Aunt 10 everything; for
crusty old Aunt 10 had been
like a mother to her, and her heart was
full to overlooking.
When Mary had ceased speaking,
Aunt 10 nodded hee head.
You have done well and wisely"
said she.
Old Mrs. NARROW died that winter, IN
Aldenbury Almshouse, with her head
on Doctor Mary Clarimont's arm, and
never knew that her garrulous confess
sions had deprived her son Of his prom
Used wife.
And Mary says, quietly and resolute-
ly, TINT her profession must be hus-
band and home to her. henceforward.
Just what it ought to be-" says
Aunt Jo. mo woman ever yet sue
ceeded in doing two things at once
Saturday Night.
Last of the Tasmanlans.
A very Interesting addition has Just
been made to the exhibited anthropo-
logical collection in the Natural His
tory Museum. 1t is n perfect skele-
ton of an aboriginal Tasmanian. Only
q IL II.