Palisadian., 1923-06-08
Flowers Were
for Jim
By JANE OSBORN
N(S[000GON0ONN

CseHScSsScScOSO OOOSSyS0SSsSOe
tS by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate)
Ever since Jim had arrived at the
hospital, weather-beaten, tanned and
much in need of shave, and Incl
dentally with wrenched knee that
had TO go in plaster cast and dis
located shoulder, he had been the fav-
orite of the mems ward. If he had
been little boy instead of six foot
of rugged, honest manhood he would
| have gone in the childrens ward and
| been known as nurses pet"
No one knew much about "Jim."
Obviously a man who earned his liv-
ing with his muscle, he had been
brought in one night in forlorn con-
dition by DR.. Robinson, who had said
that the man had no friends in town
and might not be able to pay his bills
for several weeks. He showed no
more than a professional interest in
the case.
Right from the first "Jim' had be-
come favorite, and the mems ward
seemed to be brighter place because
of his presence.
ut will seem queer when he's all
better and up and dressed" said
nurse to one of her companions sit
ting at the desk where she had been
making up charts. "We've all treated
him like nice big boy-and that's
| just what he seems to be. Perhaps
we've petted him a bit too much bring
ing him funny papers and puzzles just
as If he was child"
Zone often does get a jolt when a
| patient recOvers, and stands up all
dressed" said the second nurse. "1t's
funny about Jim. 1t isn't that he
makes an effort to be jolly. 1t just
seems to be his personality"
Everybody likes him." said the
other. "Even DIR. Martha Yates, who
is usually so dreadfully professional
in the mems ward. stops and jolies
him. She treats him as If he was one
of the youngsters in the children's
ward-brings him little games and
things, pats him on the shoulder when
she passes and calls him Jim just
the way we all do"
1t was true that DR.. Martha Yates
usual attitude when she made her
rounds-save in the children's ward
was exaggeratedly professional. Per-
haps this formallty was necessary to
offset little too much youth and a
little too much prettiness. Martha had
taken. her career as a sort of legacy
from her father. At his death his
work seemed so far from completion
that Martha felt it was her duty to
turn from dances and country club
activities, from thought of an early
marriage-perhaps any marriage at all
to take her medical training.
Every day in her work. however, she
had little reminders of her fathers
| skill and large-heartedness that made
1t all seem worth while. His old
patients were forever telling her of
incidents in his career showing a gen.
erosity and fortitude that she had per-
haps never fully appreciated during
his lifetime.
And today 1t was the florist, She
had stopped at his shop to buy half
dozen jonquils for her office desk, and
the proprietor of the florist shop had
!
tell of the devotion her father had
shown during the illness of his chill
dren, many years ago, when he was
struggling along hardly making both
ends meet in his nursery business. And
| DIR. Yates had refused to send any
bill, and even when the florist had
prospered, the doctor had never ac-
cepted any back payment for the
years of service that he had done.
perhaps / ought to have insisted
more" said the florist. "But now l
am going to insist on this one thing:
Whenever you want any flowers you
come in here and pick out just what
you want and they will be yours. Get
them as often as you like. You just
know people who want them. Now.
for instance. we are having an extra
big yield of roses-don't know why.
but they seem to be coming to flower
little sooner than we expected Sup
pose you let me send you five or six
dozen. I could sell them cheap, but
] I'd rather you'd take them. If you
don't want them yourself perhaps you
know some one that does"
DR.. Martha Yates thought for
moment. She said she would take
them with her to the hospital She'd
leave two dozen in the children's and
two dozen in the ,women's ward and
another dozen she would give to Jim.
'I've brought some roses for JIM"
DIR. Martha Yates told the nurse in
charge of the ward when she returned.
'Is ne awaken"
"Yes," said the nurse. "and Tn so
glad you have. He's been very un-
comfortable. though you couldn't get
him to admit it. You know DR.. Rob
inson had to change the cast today
and-well. any one but Sunny Jim
would have made q fuss about it. And
the poor thing-having no friends or
anything. I'm so glad you brought the
roses today"