Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. V, No. XXV, June, 1852Various
General
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. V, No. XXV, June, 1852
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
We have spoken only of five children; the sixth was not in bed and
not at rest. He was a literary character, studiously combining into
patterns letters of the alphabet; but he had removed his work so far
out of the little world to which he belonged, that he attracted no
attention from his neighbors. There are larger children in a greater
world who do the like. The solitary child was lonely--not from want of
love--its thoughts were at home wandering about its mother; it had not
yet learned to reconcile itself to temporary separation. We seemed to
leave the shadows of our day-dream in attendance on it, and to take up
our young surgeon again.
Having paid as we were able brief respects to each member of the little
company, and having seen the bath-rooms on this floor, we continued our
progress upward. Of course there were no more stately drawing-rooms,
but all the rooms were spacious, and, by modern care, had been,
moreover, plentifully furnished with the means of ventilation. There
were bath-rooms, of course; there were wards cut off from the rest for
fever cases. Good thought had been evidently directed to a good purpose
every where.
Having seen all these things, we came downstairs again, and passing
trough the surgery--upon whose jars and bottles our eyes detected many
names of compounds palatable to little mouths--we were shown through
an excellent consulting-room, into a wide hall, with another of the
massive chimney-pieces. This hall is entered from a side street, and is
intended for a waiting-room for out-patients. It had always belonged to
the brave house in Great-Ormond-street, and had been used at one time
for assemblies.
What we have said of the few patients admitted at the early period
of our visit, will have shown the spirit in which a Child's Hospital
should be conducted. Of course, to such an institution a garden
and play-ground for the convalescent is an essential requisite. We
inquired, therefore, for the garden in Great Ormond-street. We were
shown out through a large door under a lattice, and found a terrace
in the old style, descending by steps to a considerable space of
ground. The steps were short, suited to little feet; so also in the
house, according to the old style, which curiously fits itself to the
modern purpose. We found that an air of neatness had been given to
that portion of the ground immediately near the house; but the space
generally is very ample, and is at present a mere wilderness. The funds
of the hospital have only sufficed to authorize the occupation of a
building, and the preparation for a great useful work. For means to
plant the roses in the garden, and to plant the roses in the cheeks of
many children besides those who come under their immediate care, the
Hospital Committee has support to find.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account