Year: 1875

Near the city Of Valmont, about hall
a mile from the New Gate on the road
to Florrissant, stands an old stone house
rather the worse for age, but still quite
habitable.


The chief feature of that venerable
dwelling is the outside staircase by which
the second story is reached. At the tor
of these stairs is a wide landing-place
surrounded by an iron balustrade, and
almost filled with green boxes, in which
bloom profusely a variety Of bright and
fragrant flowers.


But what first attracts attention to the
place is belt of small arbors and sum
warehouses; each surrounded by narrow
flower bed These green retreats are
furnished with tables and seats and look
very cozy and inviting.


The owner of this quiet yet cheerful
abode was Miss Morette, fair and forty
and reasonably fat; rather short in
happy, as she deserved to be, for she
spent her whole life in doing good.


Miss Morette was not very rich, but
she used to say that when there is enough
for two there is enough for twelve; it
only needed good management and wise
economy. She practiced the economy
upon herself, and gave to others the ben
eft of the management.


That second story, with the fiowery
stairs was devoted to hospitality. During
the whole summer it was filled with Wis
itors-old ladies who needed sunshine,
tired seamstresses who needed rest,
young girls and children who needed
fresh air and country milk. These were
Miss Morette's guests. And as she kept
but one servant, and did not allow her
invaiids to work too much, her own
hands were seldom idle.


Besides her home duties, she had many
outdoor patients to attend to. Early
every morning she filed two covered bas-
kets with fruit and flowers, and immedi-
ately after her frugal breakfast she start
ed for the city with basket on each
arm, walking brislzly, and singing to her
self as she went When she reached the
city she threaded her way quietly
through the narrowest of its many mar
row streets. ..and for a while only short
glimpses of her small person could be
had as she fitted from house to house.


In one of her visitations Miss Morette
heard that in the next tenement poor
widow had been taken suddenly i'll and
was supposed to be dying. She went to
see her. and found her, as had heen re-
ported, evidently near her end


he DOOE HOiAltIIl vas -LNsbtIy llobl CSStSA
at the thought of leaving her child un-
protected. II don't care for myself" she
said, "but l can't bear to have her go to
the hospital.


"Of course not" said Miss Morette
"She is pretty child; but what makes
her look SO pale?''


Ricketts," eroaned the woman. "She
is six years old, for all she looks so small.
And think of her going to the hospital p


'She need not go to the hospital. I
will take her myself. l live in the coun-
try, and l will take good care of her.
VIII you give her to me?' asked Miss
Morette. with tears in her eyes.


The dying woman blessed and thanked
her; she was willing to die now.


"Suzette," said Miss Morette to her
here lovely little girl She is sick and
an orphan, so we must take her"


Suzette was quite willing She adored
her mistress, and had often expressed
desire to kiss the ground she trod on y
But more important duties had always
prevented her from putting that wish
into action, and scrubbing the floors had
been her nearest approach to that ideal
form of worship.


The next day the motherless child was
brought to her new home, and became
the pet of the household. She had the
face of an angel, but was weak and
sicllly


Country air will do much for her."
said Miss Morette to herself, land if art
could assist nature, I am certain she
would soon get we'll But good doctors
are such expensive blessings p


The kind little lady was in the habit
of prescribing for her family patients
Her father had been physician, and
had left her, besides all his books, a
recipe for making pills of such miracu-
lous virtues that they, or the fear of
them. had never yet failed to cure any
disease.


But this was different case, and re-
ouired different treatment So having
passed in review all the physicians OF
Valmont, Miss Morette made up her
mind to consult DR.. Lambert.


She arrayed herself in her best dress
brown foulard silk with white dots
cherry colored Grape shawl that had be-
longed to her mother, and a respectable
white straw bonnet trimmed with brown
Thus becomingly attired, she departed
one fine Jnne morning, holding a brown
parasol in one hand and in the other a
purple velvet reticule containing her
knitting; for she might have to wait,
and time was too precious to be lost.


Every body in Valmont knew DR..
Lambert, and could relate his history,
with variations, but it was generally ae-
knowledged that he was IAN original"


His reputation as physician was great
Yet, although he was only little over
fifty, he had almost given up his pro,
fession, and practiced only when it suited
him. But it was difficult to tell when it
would suit him, for he was capricious,
and took strong likes or dislilles to peo-
pie without any apparent reason.


He was not partial to the fair sex, and
seldom consented to take woman under
his care unless she was poor This Pc
culiarity was accounted for by the ro-
mantle supposition that he had been de-
ceived in early youth by the woman he
loved The only thing the people did
not agree upon was the selection of the
faithless one.


Whatever the doctor might have been
in his youth, he was now ugly, cross, aud
crusty. Yet there were those among his