"There is a little story connected with that revelation and our
acquaintance with him," said Katherine. "There was a dear little
girl on board the Ivernia who became violently seasick the day we
sailed for home. The ship's surgeon was appealed to, but he could
do absolutely nothing for her; she grew worse every hour for three
days, when she seemed to be sinking rapidly. The surgeon called a
consultation with Dr. Stanley and another physician from
Philadelphia; but every remedy which their united learning
prescribed failed, utterly, to afford any relief. The parents were
in despair and a gloom settled over the whole ship, for it was
reported that the little one would not live to land unless the
nausea could be conquered. Then mamma sought the parents, told
them she was a Christian Scientist, and, with their consent, would
try to help the child. The mother was eager to try it, but the
father sneered openly. He had 'no faith in any such mummery,' he
said, yet he finally yielded to his wife's almost frantic appeals
and gave his consent. The dear little thing was relieved almost
immediately, and at the end of two hours, after eating a wholesome
meal, was wrapped in a blanket and carried on deck, weak and white
as a snowflake, it is true, but entirely free from the dreadful
nausea, and smiling happily as she lay in her father's arms and
breathed in the fresh, pure air. The next day she was dressed and
playing about the deck with other children."
"Well, that was a signal triumph over materia medica, wasn't it?
How did the doctors bear it?" queried Miss Reynolds, who had been
deeply interested in the story.
"The ship's surgeon and Dr. Fletcher, of Philadelphia, gave mamma
a very wide berth; but Dr. Stanley appeared to be really
interested and anxious to learn the secret of the sudden cure. He
found it very difficult, however, to accept some of our views, and
it was too funny for anything to hear him, day after day, trying
to corner mamma upon numberless points on which he had spent years
of study," and Katherine laughed out merrily over some of the
memories which her account had recalled.
"That was what he meant, perhaps, when he said 'Mrs. Minturn would
not be teased and could not be defeated in an argument'?"
"Yes; he was very good-natured over it, though, gallantly bearing
his defeat, never manifesting the slightest irritation, and was
always most courteous. He is very cultured, and, having traveled
extensively, we found much to admire and a very delightful
compagnon de voyage in him."
Miss Reynolds shot a keen look at the girl's animated face.
"Yes," she observed to herself, "and if I am not very much
mistaken, our 'cultured gentleman' heartily reciprocates that last
statement." Then she remarked to Katherine: "He is really a noble
fellow and bound to make his mark in the world. It is a great
pity, though, that he should be so handicapped in his career."
"Why, what do you mean?" exclaimed the girl, in astonishment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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