Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-02-21
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5. NURSE T0MKINS 5;

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Nurse ToEkins didn't profess to be
"none of Y~rr 'ighly trained nurses"-she
didn't ole with them newfangled no
tions"-sh. didn't see "where the Their
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 had engaged her services
to attend my wife for a passing and
slight indisposltion. Mildred did not i'm
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 invalid's room. I entered. The
hre burned low. the window was open.
and the cold. bleak wind of nm early
spring day blew in. "Your FIRE is low,
Mildred" said. 1.-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. 'These beastly lodging
'ouse grates--smail and poky." said
the nurse under her breath. The FIRE sent
up ftful blaze, more Goals were shovel
ed on. rattle OF fire irons. and the
nurses work was done. Tomkins walked
to the bed. collecting bottles in her prog
ress. One was eau de cologne. another a
salts bottle. "Smell these she exclaim-
ed. presenting the apex Of each bottle to
the patients nose. Mildred was taken
by surprise. and the strong salts made
her gasp. commanded my language and
sat still. considering the situation with a
camlness which afterward astonished me.
SO long as ! was by il 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 fireside. 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. leaned over and blew
it out. l did not approve OF my wife's
room smelling of these scents. Nurse
saw the action. She stopped shaking the
pillows into hard mass and looked at
me Questi0ningly. Them papers purify
the atmosphere of a sickroom," she said
In explanation. Eat my last case
burned them day and night. Captain
Games wife-she was real lady, and
she liked tine smells" Mildred told me
afterward Mrs. Games name had been
a familiar one to her and that she ap-
peared to have been a most remarkable
woman. She evidently was good pa
tent in so far as endurance went. MRS.
Eames and me-" continued Nurse, resum-
ing her explanation" Of the burning
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
newfangled notions and them funds and
assOciatiOns-and Mrs. Eames and me
we often said as 'ow 1t was all fudge!
Now, in 'er CASE" Nurse Tomkins went
on. them doctors ordered 'er to eat moth
ing all day long. Well. that wasn't the
first case of typhoid | 'ad nursed-and l
knew well the pretty young creatures
strength couldn't old out against starva-
tion for weeks-she, as was accustomed
to ride in her carriage and ave the best
victuals in the land-so just judges for
myself, and l takes 'er up cut of meat
on the sly--she that sad and beseeching-
like for bit of something to eat-and
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 'ad by no means"
"And Mrs. Games recovered" asked.
1.-The pretty creature, she died in my
arms as gentle and mild as a lamb, and
NJ
spOnded TOmkins "She was real lady
the flowers in her room were something
iovely-and FER husband, he sobbed lis
eyes out, and no wonder-she that was
worth dozen of inland when left
that 'ouse. after all my devoted duty, e
never so much as give me a sixpence
more than my pay"
Mildred's head tossed restlessly on the
pillow. Nurse" l said, and held the
door open as spoke. will you come and
speak to me minute down stairs?"
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 hospitalT'
'Lor bless you, no sir; never required
no teaching. | was born nurse, and /
pick it up as i CO."
"As you gor I asked. "Your institu-
ton accepts unframed nurses, thenT'
THAT it doesn't, sir" she returned,
with spirit 81 had five years. experience
when joined. l was a nurse ever since
l was 8 years old. My poor father. he
suffered
But" ! put in, interruptihg what I
guessed might develop into a lengthy !
anecdote. you have had no training then
no training as a nurseY
"Nature taught me-" said Tomkins. |
Nature and observation. II l saw any
thing made patient worse, altered my |
treatment next time. I've 'ad great ex- |
perience with the sick, as l am seldom |
called in unless it's an incurable case"
/ had been pacing the narrow limits OF |
The room while Tomkins spoke, and when |
she ceased l was conscious of a tremor \
n my speech. didn't say much, as little |
Is ! could, but l paid Tomkins for her
services" and ! satisfactorily conveyed |
% her mind that I could dispense with |
hem in the future. For the sake of |
oeace l gave the woman few shillings |
beyond what she expected. but her abb
'ence, considered, would be cheaply
fought at thrice that sum, and I never
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