Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-09-13
WALTER BLOOMFIELD
by ReBERT BoNNER's SoXs

dental secretary. was induced by aunt
Gertrude to undertake a Journey to
Paris for the purpose Of bringing to
New York the young boy whose We!-
fare seemed more than all else to en-
gage my uncle's lucid moments. Mean
while kilograms arrived assuring us
that the child was we'll and in good
hands, which assurances were duly
conveyed to the patient, cn whom they
appeared to have beneficial effect.
Week after week passed away, and
still the patient lowered uncertainty
between life and death. Mrs. Fisk
safely returned to New York with her
infant charge handsome, bright eyed.
intelligent boy Of exceeding vivacity.
happily ignorant Of his mothers fate
and his fathers danger The little
stranger, instead of being regarded as
an unwelcOme addition to my uncle'S
family. as might not unreasonably
have been expected. was received by
aunt Gertrude with the tenderest con.
sideration, and everything ncedful for
his ll-being was provided. BY sun
dry apparently trivial but really pro-
foundly significant words and acts
aunt Gertrude soon showed that the
newcomer had found place no less IN
her heart than in her house. Though
my uncle was informed of the arrival
Of the boy the doctors for the present
forbade the child bcing presented to
their patient. The nature Of my I'M
clc's business was such that it neccS-
sarily came to a standstill rs socn az
his direction of it Ceased-a direction
which hitherto he had never failed TO
exercise, personally when in New York
City, and geographically when absent
therefrOm. Mr. Fisk was regular in
his attendance every morning at my
uncle's house, and never failed to re-
port the patients condition 10 host of
his inquirinC friends.
And thus November and the greater
part of December passed away. the
spirits of the little household in East
Thirty fourth street being raised ore
day only to be dashed the next, accord
ing TO the chanSeable condition of the
patient, whose malady once or twice
touched point Of extreme danger. But
at the near approach Of Christmas,
when New York City lay covered with
a thick mantle of snow and the sky
was none the less clear because the
temperature was extremely cold and
icicles of prodigious length depended
from parapet and easement, the pa.
tient took a very decided turn for TIL"
better. He talked less and mere IA.
tionally, and was generally calncr,
and he slept better and partook OF
more nourishment.
Though my uncle's medical advisers
were not, at the first appearance CT
these signs, assured they portended
favorable issue, they did not hesitate
to recognize in the good symptoms, af
ter they had endured for some days III
abated, the beginning Of complete r2-
Covery.
= And so, indeed, It appeared. BY tho
middle of January ulCle Sam had &C
far recovered that he was permitted tt
sit by the fire in his room, and thcr.
one day hc dispassionatCly discussed
with me the tragedy which to quote
his own words, had thrown him of
his balance" His wifeJ loving care
Of the boy Familiarity known as 1.-THE
cardinal Cccasioned him much salts
faction. which he gratefully acknowl
edged in various way. and it IS to that
circumstance have always attributed
more than to all else besides. lis com
pletc recovery. At this juncturc 1.-THE
cardinal was taken every morning by
aunt Gertrude into the patents room
where he was permitted to risk about
like 4 spaniel at his fathers feet, ana
his gambols and his pertinent replies
to questions which he coull not posi-
bly, understand amused and Gelightcl
everybody present
In the early stages of the patients
cOnvalcScence it was customary fof
Conli, and ne to read 10 hin in turn.
lJlt ItuNlDE was al" uS. oNiN,'S" ~
uncle Sam, arc consisted for the most
part of the daily papers ana current
fiction. One Cay l ycntrrcd to inquire
il lie would care to listen to some lit
eratu"c CT higher staldard-a choice
wo.k by olo OF the great poets, for in
stance.
"No, no." sal rnclc Sarl, mot for
the world. l like poetry to- wcll.'
l confessed my inability to under.
stand this rcIlJ.
Poets" remarked uncle Sarl, ARE a
pitiablc handful of creatures. Their
divine gifts are compensated ty pow
crlessness TO cope with the manifold
trcachcries Of mankind, and consequent
starvation and misery, and though by
conc strange accident ono Of the tribe
not long ago slipped into the House of
Lords, that was a blunder which Will
not be repeated; the majority gravitate
quite naturally to the workhouse. |
love poetry, but can never read it with.
out ny heart aching for the poor
wretch who expended his brain power
in profitlessly weaving it. No, no, Er-
nest; open the Trumpeter and tell he
whether the Rothschilds have succeed
cd in floating that loan for the Aus-
trian Government
Slowly but surely the patient rc-
gained strength but February was al
most spent before the do?tors would
sanction his removal to Newport. Not