Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-07-05

III tdDies du lHeH get my uedf little nag
an stick it through this hole-daddy cut
it for me, an | call it my postoffice-
an wave ii, an daddy can see it way
down tn road, an then he knows every
thing is all right"
but you run out and play sometimes p
queried the surgeon.
The child shook her head at him
through the glass.
'No," She called, Il can't run. My feet
are bad"
What's the matter with your feet?"
"They are very bad,'' replied the child.
'They turn in so that when l walk
walk on myself The boys call me club
foot, an they laugh. Daddy made me a
little cart, an on Sundays he draws me
out il it don't ain. An he's goin to whip
tn boys if thcy laugh At me any more"
"Will you let me see your feet?' in
quired the great surgeon gently.
'You'll laugh cried the child.
no" said the surgeon grayely. "I'1
promise you I'll not laugh"
lie heard her drawing a chair to the
window. He heard her scrambling up.
A moment later she tapped on the pane,
and then he saw the distorted feet in
their coarse yarn stockings poised on the
window sill.
YES" he called to her. "That will do.
And now" he added, Il must 60"
"Oh, but you just came," cried the
child with sharp regret
"Ill come again tomorrow" said the
great surgeon. "Goodby, little mousev
There was an added spring to the sur
geon's walk as he swung over the hill and
SO on across the ridge to the capitalist
home, and a fresh sparkle frightened his
clear gray eyes.
"By the way he said to the rich man
that evening, Il want to borrow the low
phaeton and steady horse tomorrow"
And so early the next afternoon he
drove down into the village and up to the
door of the blacksmith shop, and there
he and the blacksmith had long talk
1t ended when the blacksmith handed
him key
That ride in the low phaeton was the
great event of Martha Johnson's rather
prosaic life. To sit in the softly cushion
ed carriage by this wonderfully gray
haired man. who knew and had seen
everything, was a pleasure of such mag
nitude that it quite took the child S
breath away. She was very quiet for
a time. and then she broke forth and
chartered like magpie. And the face
of the childless man beside her relaxed
when he heard her, and pretty soon it
would have been quite impossible to tell
which was enjoying the ride the better.
And when they returned and he tied the
horse at the roadside and carried her in
she was only a fragile little bundle-she
was quite willing that he should make
n careful examination of her crippled
feet.
When it was finished, he hurried away
to meet q man with whom he had an ap-
pointment The man was the black
smith. and the blacksmith listened to his
story with a troubled face. He was a
slow man, was the blacksmith, and not
of a hopeful disposition.
Understand" he said at last in his
sluggish way, "Pm a poor man, and I'm
In debt. l tried farmin, and it didn't
pay. and blacksmithin isn't great deal
better. You'll have to wait q long time
for your money"
''Do you imagine | am forcing my
services on you?" cried the surgeon
| sharply. "There'll be nothing to pay"
The blacksmith's lean face clouded.
"Nothin to pay!" he repeated what
are you doin this forY'
"For science-and my own pleasure, y
said the great surgeon shortly.
"Wel," growled the blacksmith after o
| little pause, there is one thing you must
understand. Martha's all I've got in the
world. There's goin to be no expert
mentin."
"And there's one thing you must under
stand" said the surgeon quickly. "There
will be no more of this locking an limo
cent child in dull old house like a Grip
pied mouse in a trap"
And then the blacksmith, whose heart
beneath his rough coating was big and
warm, put out his great hand and gave
the fingers of the surgeon an eloquent
pressure.
That evening the surgeon said to the
rich man, II have an important surgical
be gone two days"
| 1t was pleasant afternoon just three
months later, and the blacksmith stood on
the little platform Of the railway station
| He was cIeanly shaved and attired in his
best, and there was a bright and hopeful
look on his face. Back of the platform
stood the rich mans carriage and hand
some horses, for the great surgeon had
| gone up TO tIe CITY the udy DelOFe anu
was expected back on the coming train
! Presently it rumbled up to the little plat
form, and a moment later the surgeon
emerged from the single passenger car
| On his arm leaned slender little girl, O
neatly dressed little girl, who carried q
cane and walked a trihe stiffly perhaps
! but whose bright face was radiant with
happnes.
Daddy" she cried as the blacksmith
pressed forward and she threw herself il
his arms. Look, lookl" she added, anG
pointed at her feet. And the blacksmith
looking down with moistened eyes, saw
that they were straight and trim and
neatly shod.
''He did it," said the child as she
touched the surgeons sleeve reverently
"Thank him, daddy; thank himr'
But the great surgeon drew away.
''Pooh pooh. blacksmith" he quickly
said, "a man doesn't want thanks fol
such common act of humanity as let
ting crippled mouse out of a trap
| Cleveland Plain Dealer.