The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-15
BBBh DBLHOU J OHD6a
Topeka Lawyers Friendliness
for a Little Crippled Boy.
Net Him on Train and Brought
Him to Hospital.
HOPE OF HIS RECOVERY
Child Of Missionaries to the
Navajo Indians.
Pet Of Patients and Nurses at
Hospital.
HOPE OF HIS RECOVERY

The youngest patient and just now,
as It happens, the only child at Christ
hospital is a little five-year-old crippled
boy. David Johnson, who is being treat
ed for tuberculosis of the knee. David
Is not confined to his bed like most OF
the other patients but has his leg in a
plaster cast and steel frame and gets
around the hospital and the grounds
right nimbly on clutches. He is the pet
OF the hospital, physicians nurses,
patients and servants uniting in hne
attempt to spoil him. Every time the
sound Of his little clutches is heard IN
the halls the patients IN the rooms on
either side and in the long wards can
10 him to come and talk to them. he IS
an unusually bright, attractive and In
teresting child and his dron, dignihed,
Eniddle-aged manner Of expressing
himself amuses them and helps to re-
lieve their weary hours OF pain ana
waiting.
David's parents are missionaries to
the Navajo Indians Of the southwest.
Just now they are stationed in Arizona
and the story Of how David came TO De
in Christ hospital is an interesting one.
Charles S. Gleed, the Topeka. lawyer,
met him when he was on a railway
journey with his parents few months
ago and became very much interested
in him. He was thin and delicate, his
with clutches, and eastern physicians
said he could not recover. Mr. Gleed
offered his parents to take the child TO
Topeka, put him into Christ hospital
and have the case treated at his own
expense. The parents consented and
David has now been in the hospital
about three months. The physicians are
very much encouraged about him and
think he viii entirely recover.
In spite Of an afflictiOn which might
nvrfd
cheerful, contented and philosophical
Though little more than q baby he
bears the enforced discOnf0rtS Of his
situation with truly heroic fortitude and
the only detail Of the hospital regime
to which he objects is his daily after
noon nap. The nurses and physicians
say that he makes absolutely no t~ou-
bic, has given little evidence Of home
Sickness never cries nor leases and
arnuses himself inOffensiveIy, outside
when the weather permits for the ply
sicians want him to be in sunshine and
air as much as possible, talking gravely
with the older patients or playing with
the convalescents in the children'S ward.
All the visitors to the hospital are de-
lighted with him and give him many
presents.
Undoubtedly one reason for David's
popularity is his accomplishments. He
has lived with his parents among the
Indians all his life and can talk their
likes you he will sing you song about
''Dooch-ch or words to that
effect, and II he thinks you are especial
y intelligent he viii conhde to you the
names Of his two adopted Indian sis
tiers. For one of David's great annoy
ances is being asked to explain things
to stupid people who don't understand
about Indians and things. Il would t6ll
you but you wouldn't know any more
about it if I did he frequently replies
Questions The other
asked him what was the matter with
his knee wen, I'll tell you" he an
Ewered gravely, but I don't suppose
you'll understand. have consumption
in it and I caught it from a man who
had consumption, only he had it in his
lungs. Now do you understand NO
said the visitor looking down sadly upon
the bright little freckled face. the snil-
ing mouth and serious blue eyes the
poor crippled wasted little body in its
cruel cage Of plaster and steel and the
pathetic little crutches upon which it
rested. mo. David, don't understand