Harper's New Monthly Magazine: No. XVI.—September, 1851—Vol. III.Various
History
Harper's New Monthly Magazine: No. XVI.—September, 1851—Vol. III.
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
The door was flung widely open, and in, unannounced, walked Dr. Morgan.
The child turned to him, and at the sight of his face she remembered her
father; and the tears that, for Leonard's sake, she had been trying to
suppress, found way.
The good Doctor soon gained all the confidence of these two young
hearts. And after listening to Leonard's story of his paradise lost in a
day, he patted him on the shoulder, and said: "Well, you will call on me
on Monday, and we will see. Meanwhile, borrow these of me," and he tried
to slip three sovereigns into the boy's hands. Leonard was indignant.
The bookseller's warning flashed on him. Mendicancy! Oh, no, he had not
yet come to that! He was almost rude and savage in his rejection; and
the Doctor did not like him the less for it.
"You are an obstinate mule," said the homeopathist, reluctantly putting
up his sovereigns. "Will you work at something practical and prosy, and
let the poetry rest awhile?"
"Yes," said Leonard, doggedly, "I will work."
"Very well, then, I know an honest bookseller, and he shall give you
some employment; and meanwhile, at all events, you will be among books,
and that will be some comfort."
Leonard's eyes brightened--"A great comfort, sir." He pressed the hand
he had before put aside, to his grateful heart.
"But," resumed the Doctor, seriously, "you really feel a strong
predisposition to make verses?"
"I did, sir."
"Very bad symptom, indeed, and must be stopped before a relapse! Here, I
have cured three prophets and ten poets with this novel specific."
While thus speaking, he had got out his book and a globule. "_Agaricus
muscarius_ dissolved in a tumbler of distilled water--tea-spoonful
whenever the fit comes on. Sir, it would have cured Milton himself."
"And now for you, my child," turning to Helen; "I have found a lady who
will be very kind to you. Not a menial situation. She wants some one to
read to her, and tend on her--she is old and has no children. She wants
a companion, and prefers a girl of your age to one older. Will this suit
you?"
Leonard walked away.
Helen got close to the Doctor's ear, and whispered, "No, I can not leave
_him_ now--he is so sad."
"Cott!" grunted the Doctor, "you two must have been reading _Paul and
Virginia_. If I could but stay in England, I would try what _ignatia_
would do in this case--interesting experiment! Listen to me--little
girl, and go out of the room, you, sir."
Leonard, averting his face, obeyed. Helen made an involuntary step after
him--the Doctor detained and drew her on his knee.
"What's your Christian name?--I forget."
"Helen."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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