she was; and her tears and outcries also gave evidence that she, too, amidst the heart-hardenings of poverty, contumely, and lowliness, had still gushing up in her heart the pure waters of love. “Lordy grashus!” she cried; “you have ruined the child! Oh! how could you doit? You, a man grown, and him, your own son! Oh, Jim!” “'Twasn't my fault, Betsy,” answered poor Jim, “'twasn't my fault! Oh! what must I do? He's gwine into 'vulshuns.” “Jump on the critter and git the doctor!” said Betsy. “Quick, Jim! Oh, Lordy! only twelve children--and to lose one of them!” and the poor mother sobbed as if her heart were rending; whilst Jim, jumping on a belter horse than befitted his circumstances, made all haste for town, whither he arrived about dinner-time--and dashing up with frantic haste to the office-door, yelled out, “Doctor! oh, doctor! I've bit my son's hand off, and he's dying, sarten! Come, quick! dear doctor! that's a good old hoss!--oh, do!” But the “good old hoss” not responding to his appeal, he dismounted, and rushed in, repeating his cry. “What's the matter? what's the matter? who's sick?” said I, rushing in from a back room--one book open in my right hand, and a ponderous tome under my left arm. “Oh! young doctor, where's the old man? I've bit my son's arm off, and he's gone into 'vulshuns, and I want the boss to come right out.” “He's gone into the country, and won't be back before night,” replied I. “Did your boy's arm bleed much?”--not reflecting on the absurdity of a man biting a boy's arm off. “Bleed! Yes, all three stumps bled like a stuck deer.” “Three h--lls! Spiffle, you're drunk! How could you bite off three of his arms?” “Oh, doctor! I meant his fingers; he put them in my mouth when I war asleep. Sens the old man's out, doctor, you must go. Jes' save his life, doc, and you'll never want vensun or a good trout-hole while I'm in the swamp! Be in a hurry, that's a good fellow.” The chance was too good to be lost--a surgical and medical case combined--amputation and convulsions. What could be more opportune?