The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1913-01-31
A Little Lump
II Became an Important
Factor In a Mans
Life
BY EDWARD L. STANTON


believe chat the two most desirable
blessings one can have are youth and
health. There is third that is equal
ly important, though much more apt to
be ignored--that is, absence of worry.
l have had an experience in the last OF
the three. or its reverse, which Is the
subject of this story.
If ever child was born into the
world in perfectly normal condition
/ was that child. | grew to manhood
without an ache or a pain, and seeing
others taking medicines and consulting
doctors would say to them: Get your
mind away FROM your aches aud pains.
Don't worry and you will be as well as
am. As for the doctors, they e>only
good for serious matters; in small sick
nesses they are humbugs."
One morning when taking my bath
discovered u small lump on my right
side | rubbed ii and pulled at it, and
y didn't like il at all For three days /
dried not to think about 1t, then gave
vi the task and went to doctor ia
n{ous for the treatment of all sorts of
"Srowihs." ! waited two hours for a
coNsulta ton. during which time was
in AIN increasing state of terror.
'Ifoctor / said when admitted to
the Consulting loom of the great spe-
cialis9, "a little lump has come in my
side u fear ii bodies something seri-
Gus"
The Noctor directed me to remove
suflieienS clothing for him TO make an
examination y tier he had finished
he spent fsnHe time putting away the
imp!emcNts he hld used, but said moth
ing. inferred the worst. and it was
the worst that he finally communicate
ed TO me
"That lump he said. "is malignant
growth which we medical men cali
he gave long Latin name which l
didn't remember five mlnutes-"and
my duty is to tell you that if you have
any affairs that need to be settled you
had better 20 to work upon them"
| sank down IN chair and covered
my face with my hands. The doctor
remained silent. Presently, notwth-
standing the shock under which suf.
fered, remembered that an anteroom
WIS fuil of patients who We're waiting
To consult he great man. and ! pro-
ceeied 10 make certain inquiries.
How long have to live, doctor?'
/ aslsed.
don't know. The records of such
cases rs yours have usually proved
Ia 4 within three to four months"
shall | suffer much?"
No; the disease will eat into an ar
terry. when the end will be painless"
could think of no other information
that | would need. so. rising from my
chair | staggered ont Of the room. Civ
ing place to the next patient, who was
to gain comfort or despair from the
eminent specialist He sent me hill
of 500 for telling me that | had hut
four months at most to live, but under
the circumstances the money was Moth
ing to me. and since the doctor was
living at the rate Of $4,000 a year it
was n good deal to him.
For the first week after learning my
doom ! gave myself up to meditation
upon my fate Al the end OF that time
made M my mind that il wouldn't
need malignant something or other to
kill me or four months in which to do
the work | was preying upon myself
at much more rapid rate. | resolved
to throw Off the mental octopus that
had NE in it's clutches and make the
most Of the brief period that remained
to me
| had 100000 in O per cent bonds,
worth S1J000O. There was no relative
who needed the money. and | resolved
TO spend the most of 1t in purchasing
whatever would keep my mind off my
coming demise. | would need company
some one to be with me most of the
time-and cast about for an associate
l would spend a part of my time with a
man friend and the rest with woman
friend For the man ] chose Arthur
Anterior rad for the woman Adele
Sturgs, wish both of whom | was on
familiar terms. l tod them that pro
posed to spend 100000 within four
months and that in consideration OF
their devotinG their time to me for that
period | would divide the remaining
100000 between them. Atherton was
out Of business at the time and had no
fortune lie looked very sympathetic
when | made my proposition. but |
thought he was trying to conceal q
good deal of happiness. In third of a
year he would earn $4,000 besides er
ioying Injuries that wouldn't cost him
anything
As to Adele, she said she would think
the matter over After doing so she
told me that she would accept my prop
osition with an amendment that the
amount | would spend should be re
duced by $4,000 and added to the
amount of her portion. Furthermore
this portion was not to be given to her.
but left TO charity by will
This did not seem TO suit the require
ments of the case, but Adele was the
only girl ] knew that | thought would
be able to lift me out of myself, and |
assented. | began by meeting Arthur
about o o'clock every morning and
spending the time with him till about
in the afternoon. We played billiards
and went wherever anything interest
ing was going on. Later In the after