The Washington herald., 1908-07-12
WOMAN DOCTOR "EASY MARI"
Widow Gets Her to Operate on
Boy, Pleading Poverty.
Lad Finally Taken Home in Car
riage, with His Two
Nurses.

From the Chicago News
Wen have TO arrange 10 be hore late
to-day, Miss Gray" said the woman doc
tor in the dispensary TO the nurse "Such
a pathetic looking woman came in yestcr-
day with her little boyl He needs an
operatlon-just a minor one-bUt IL ought
10 be done at once, and the surgical elm
!cs are full for three weeks told her
we could attend 20 him after regular
hours to-day I'm sorry 20 keep you so
late again. but when you see how mis-
cradle she looks. you'll want 10 help her %
When the nurse saw the woman I'm her
shabby black, dejectcdly sitting IN cor
ner, q heavy boy of five across her Ian.
she banished all regrets for her lost hours =
rest before evening tasks As they pre-
pared the bowling yOungster the parent
hovered around anxlously.
He's all ! have left" she said 20 the
doctor 'and / couldn't have anything
happen to him-not now.'' She wiped her
eyes on suSp.ciOuslv fine handkerchief
Poor thing. she has seen better times. 20
said the doctor 10 herself Il knew she
was out Of the ordinary ran Of dispensarv
pltients"
You can't know how grateful I am %
you. DOCTOR" said the woman II said 10
myselt when 1 saw YOU that YOU had a
lender heart and I heard the head sur
geon say 20 a visitor that you were the
most capable dispensary physician he had
! ever seen. So / knew you would take
good care OF my son. II you only knew
the money I've spent on doctors"'
II is for such as you that dispensaries
are founded replied the doctor I've are
busy every hour in the day. but the only
time we beErudge a service IS when We
md the patients well able TO pay q ply
sicians fee"
Inc Woman's answer was los, 10 the
ooctor. who became cngrOssed IN the
tedious. difficult work. She wondered -
herself why this particular operation was
called minor ore. The afternoon was
not The cnild's poor physique made con-
slant watching necessary. and the mrs.
| ana the doctor were worn with the mast
three weeks OF eighteen -hours-a-dav work
lnaIy the doctor Strengthened up.
IL all over she said 20 the mother
Now he is waking. You can take him
nome soon, and bring him back day after
/ tomorrow FOR a fresh dressing Miss
Gray and 1 will go over 70 dinner. II ie
Iar past time. but we may get n cola
/ bite. Then I'll look IN on You ana mo
/ boy in about fifteen minutes. IL YOU'D feel
/ more comfortable about it."
You're not going now?' exclaimed the
! mother "Oh, DO stay. doctor Supnoss
/ he should need anything: I am perfectIv
| helpless"' . ,
He's all right" began the doctor. firm
| ". He's thoroughly awake and a. ,-o,,
leave him lying for half an bonr ba yr,Ii
ne ready 20 80 home" Then the wornan's
reproachful manner disarned her &C.
10 dinner, Miss Gray" she finished. "T'I
| stay here"
Atter all she said 10 herself. "vomer
are sentimental creatures. Now. 7 know
she Doesn't need me. I am losing m,
last chance to get anything eatable TO-
| night III not be so useful TO to-norrovy'.
patients es l would II I went and vet
stay" 'o'
The child fretted and cried to go home
he insisted that he would not lie down
his mother coaNed him, hut he only Won
! more freely. and demanded 10 no +alrer
away. Finally, Il grew too much for IN,
| Doctors tired nerves.
! What that child needs" she said "a,
4 good spanhngi"
oh, doctor! How cruel, Why. I bav,
never even allowed him to hear a eros,
word in his life, and much less to beal
punishment Wait until you have chill
dren Of your own, my dear young lady,
'A N--N' 'NN VIII uLutISldHQ what ONLY
a mothers heart can feel He was mi,
dear fathers idol. and he's all I have left
Now turning 10 the boy. ''be quiet for
ten minutes longer and mother will pc
you a pony tomorrow
The child became more and more IN
manageable. Don't you think I couI,
take lin home If we drove?" asked IN,
| mother.
Why, yes" said the doctor. But don
you thii k you ought 10 save the money
| He doesn't need 90 be taken home tha
way. and think what necessities TIT
money would buy"
"Oh. 1t won't cost me anything" sal,
the woman. calmly; I'll Just phone m,
man 10 call for US
The doctor thought that she meant he
husband would call, though the woman
had lntimated that she was a widow. s,
she was utterly unprepared for the liv
cried coachman and the White-cappei
maid who appeared presently The tw
servants managed 70 carry out the kick
ing boy. while the mother followed, ad
monishing them TO be careful. as she hat
no doubt the dear child was sufferinj
greatly The astonished doctor wen
with them 10 the door. In front OF whicl
stood smart brougham
Good afternoon" called back tn
mother. as she drove or Thank yo'
very much"
The doctor sank down on the top steT
she knew I had tender heart" she re
minded herself I'm other words, sh
| saw that I was seuqv