The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-12-15
s....:..''.''..'.'.....::s."::
!. NURSE T0NKINS.:

Nurse Tomkins didn't profess to be
none of your 'ighly trained nurses"-she
didn't old with them newfangled no.
tions"-she didn't see "where the ther-
ylometer and the 'ygienic measures came
In. People didn't live no longer than be-
| fore all tNis washing and rinsing was
started"
Thus soliloquized Nurse Tomkins In my
presence after had engaged her services
to attend my wife for a passing and
slight indisposition. Mildred did not i'm
prove rapidly, not so quickly as her anx-
ious husband would have liked, and at
last-that was on the Sunday-with a
deeply rooted sense OF distrust toward
her nurse, decided on taking up my sta
ton in the invaIid's room. l entered. 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 series of at
tacks on the fire. Bang, bang, bang,
went the poker. / looked at the woman
with a look which has caused a brave
man to finch. ''rhese beastly lodging
'ouse grates-small and poky," said
the nurse under her breath. The fire sent
up fitful blaze, more Goals were shovel
nurses work was done. Tomkins walked
to the bed, collecting bottles in her prog
ress. One was eau de cologne, another .
salts bottle. "Smell thesew she exclaiIf-
ed, presenting the apex of each bottle to
the patients nose. Mildred was taken
by surprise, and the strong salts made
her gasp. l commanded my language and
sat still, considering the situation with q
camlness which afterward astonished me.
So long as l was by it was all right,
said to comfort myself, and would al
ways be by SO long as Mildred was being
"nursed."
l ensconced myself in an easy chair
, which was drawn up to the freside. On
the dressing table near by little cloud
of blue smoke ascended to the ceiling, a
sickly eastern smell emanating from the
burning paper. l leaned over and blew
it out. l did not approve Of my wifes
room smelling of these scents. Nurse
] saw the action. She stopped shaking the
t pillows into hard mass and looked at
me questioningly. "Them papers purify
the atmosphere of a sickroom," she said
in explanation. "At my last case I
burned them day and night. Captain
Eames' wife-she was a real lady, and
4 she liked fine SMELLS" Mildred told me
= afterward Mrs. Eames' name had been
a familiar one to her and that she ap-
;. peared to have been a most remarkable
woman. She evidently was a good pa
:, tient in so far as endurance went. Mrs.
Eames and me-" continued Nurse, resum-
ing her Explanation of the burning
0 papers, eve 'ad the same views on your
modern nursing and them Ugh and
u mighty young modern nurses who are
'aving their 'eads turned by all them
fcv cd ,Ic
@ associations-and Mrs. Eames and me
we often said as 'ow it was all fudge!
Now, in 'er case" Nurse Tomkins went
on, them doctors ordered 'er to eat moth
I ing all day long. Well, that wasn't the
l first case of typhoid 'ad nursed-and
y knew well the pretty young creatures
strength couldn't 'old out against starva-
- ton for weeks-she, as was accustomed
g to ride in her carriage and ave the best
! victuals in the land-so just judges for
= myself, and 1 takes 'er up a cut Of meat
:, :, on the sly-she that sad and beseeching.
like for a bit of something to eat-and
I! didn't she just perk up at it! And look.
2 ed so pretty with all her laces and frills
It round her bonny face-'twasn't the first
v case of typhoid 1 'ad by no MEANS"
Is "And Mrs. Eames recovered?" asked
, "The pretty creature she died In my
1
o l never saw a prettier deathbed," re
sponded Tomkins. "She was a real lady
s the flowers in her room were something
J. lovely-and 'er husband, he sobbed III
,r eyes out, and no wonder-she that was
l. worth a dozen of 'im-and when l left
If that 'ouse, after all my devoted duty, Z
! never SO much as give me a sixpenct
% more than my pay"
- Mildred's head tossed restlessly on tn,
u pillow Nurse" | said, and l held the
door open as l spoke, Twill you come ani
r speak to me a minute down stairsT
left the room. Tomkins followed me int
the dining room.
v '"Tell me- l asked her, "what trainin,
le have you had in nursing7"
"Twelve years." she answered, he
=, head held high.
-n "Twelve years-at a hospital?
"Lor' bless you, no sir; l never require,
n no teaching. | was a born nurse, and
pick it up as | CO."
h "As you go?" l asked. "Your institu
ton accepts unframed nurses, then%
no "That it doesn't, SIR" she returned
7s with spirit. Il had five years experienc
when | joined. l was nurse ever sine
:, was years old. My poor father, b
III suffered
ed "But," l put in, interrupting what
guessed might develop into a length
to lanecdote, you have had no training the
/ no training as a nurse?"
v Mature taught me-" said Tomkins
", Mature and observation. If l saw any
~ thing made patient worse, l altered m
y treatment next time. I've 'ad great ez
IT, perience with the sick. as | am seldoI
Vn called in unless it's an incura BILE case"
of had been pacing the narrow limits @
nd the room while Tomkins spoke, and whe
,e- she ceased | was conscious of tremo
id in my speech. | didn't say much, as littl
as l could, but | paid Tomkins for he
In services" and | satisfactorily conveye
- to her mind that | could dispense wit
90 them in the future. For the sake {
~ peace | gave the woman few shilling
10 beyond what she expected, but her al
a sence, | considered, would be cheapl
'h, bought at thrice that sum, and l nevt
IN felt more relieved than when l heard til
rumble of the cab down the quiet seasid
,is road Tomkins took the landlady int
~ her confidence before her departure, an
- | heard her say in the loud voice she a
er sumed in the siclxroom, "'El kill thi
e! dear little wife of is just as likely (
ed not 'E's had no experience with Il
sick, and them young husbands amt
er- to ave the care of young wife. No,
if staid"-
f5 But | wanted to hear no more, ar
,er when | stood next by Mildred's side
:, took her hand in mine as if l could new
=. let it go, and feeling of heroism seiz'
ei' me that Mildred was saved from Il
jaws of death and that was her savio
no -Westminster Budget.
Naarl, opa-third of tke surface