One day we had a particularly searching inspection, and next day nurse told me of some four new cases which had been brought in a week before, one of whom the inspectors said was past hope. I found his feet and legs with, a crust on them like the shell of a snail; had a piece of rubber cloth laid under them, and with tepid water, a good crash towel, and plenty of rubbing, got down to the skin, which I rubbed well with lard. Then with fresh towels and water at hand, I drew away the sheet in which the patient had rolled his head, and while I washed his head and arms and breast, I talked, and he tried to answer; but it was some time before he could steady his tongue and lips so as to articulate, and when he did, his first words were: "Are you the woman that's been a-washin' my feet?" "That is exactly what I have been doing, and much need they had of it. Do you not think you are a pretty fellow to have me come all the way from Minnesota to wash your feet?" It was with much effort he could fix his dazed eyes on my face, and he made several pitiful attempts before he succeeded in saying: "I think ye'r the best woman that ever I saw!" "Ah, that is because you never saw much, away out there in Venango county, Pennsylvania, where you live. There are thousands of better women than I, running around hunting work, in this part of the country." "Is there?" "Yes, indeed; and nothing for them to do!" "I never saw none uv 'em!" "That is because you have had your head rolled up in that sheet. Just keep your head uncovered, so you can breathe this nice, fresh air; open your eyes every little while, and you will see a whole row of those women, all hunting work!" He seemed quite interested, and when I had done washing and given directions to a nurse to cleanse the balance of his person, I asked if there was anything more I could do for him, when he stammered: "Not unless you could get me a cup of tea--a cup of good green tea, 'thout any milk or sugar in it. If you do, I'll pay you for it." "Pay me for it, will you? and how much will you give me--three cents?" "Oh, I'll give you twenty-five cents." "Twenty-five cents for a cup of good green tea, without any milk or sugar in it!" I called the ward to witness the bargain, said I should grow rich at that rate, and hurried off for the tea.