Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1905-01-26

OuJ uOt NOA NAAASNAe
continue to do so to the end Of hi,
days"
Have you performed the opera
ton ?"
"NOt yet; l wish to bring him up
to as good physical condition as posi-
bic first. This is my fourth visit.
But there is another thing" knitting
his bows discontentedly; "the pa
tient is just as obstinate as his broth
or. Neither of them will listen to
anything that can be construed into
charity. wanted to take the patient
to one of the Schooling hospitals, where
he could have constant care but
they have discovered that one is a
charity hospital and the expenses of
the other far beyond their means.
When I allude to them now the pa
tents eyes grow black and deter
mined with refusal Ny mistake was
in saying at first that l could cure him
where he is. Only for that, I believe
I could get his consent to the hospital
plan, for neither of the boys would
shrink from any personal pain or dis
comfort, and the sick one is wild to
get well.
"His great dread now is charity,
and next to that, adding up extra e1-
pense for his brother. He is really
the hardest one to deal with. l am
not cure but l could get the switch
tenders consent to even the charity
hospital, for the sick boys sake-al-
lowing him to make it all up after
wards, of course. But
"The switch-tender, did you sayY'
interrupted the manager.
"Yes, didn't you know about the
two boys?" with some surprise. 81
understand the switch-tender has been
making himself rather notorious late
ly. People were talking about him
on the train coming down. "
"Oh, I've heard of him" shortly {;
"go on"
"Well, it was the switch-tender who
came to my Office. Almost his first
question after had consented to 60
was to ask for my rates. By thet
time was becoming interested in him
and instead of saying one or two hum
dred dollars-the usual charge in such
a case-I mentioned ten dollars, but
without thinking of the consequences.
l would not have charged anything,
but | saw such a course would never
do in that boys case. Well, do you
know" raising his voice so as to be
heard above the noise of the increas-
ing speed, "that switch boy has insis-
ted on paying me ten dollars every
week; and l have lately found that it
leaves him only two for the expenses
of him self and his brother.
"This morning I noticed that his
bare feet were showing through holes
in his shoes, and in spite Of the zero
weather, 1 have never seen him with
an overcoat or extra wrap. would
have cut my fee down to FIVE dol
lars, or three, or two; but it was too
late. And l have not dared to offer
him any thing gratuitOusly. What
could-I-do2" shouting, in order to
make his voice heard above the now
deafening whir and roar of the rock
ing engine.
Nothing" came back in a loud
but almost insudible yell from the
manager, only two feet away.
There was little conversation after
this. The engine was rocking and
tearing along at the rate of mile a
minute, and the two passengers were
kept busy in retaining their seats.
They were going with the storm, but
80 much faster that very little sleet
or wind entered the cab. The ply
sician was holding on grimly and gaz-
ing at the flying panorama outside,
but with unseeing eyes. Already his
thoughts had gone on to the patients
ahead. The manager was also hold
ing on in a grim. abstracted way.
Perhaps his thoughts were at some
other point of the road. possibly with
the patient the physician had left be-
hind.
When the engine rushed into Schol-
ing and slowed down at the station,
the manager reached out his hand.
81 am glad to have met you, doctor, ="
he said, "and sorry that l was not
more cordial at first. But l am so
pre-occupied with crowding duties
that have forgotten many Of the
courtesies of life. l was very much
interested in the story you told me,
for l had taken a fancy to the switch
boy. However, when a thing goes