MARRIED IN PLASTER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1440, 5 October 1899, Page 15

MARRIED IN PLASTER.

A LONDON HOSPITAL LOVE STOEY,

Lov? (says a London paper of August 6) rules the hospital as well as the Court; the camp, the grove. Of St. Thomas's, at least, this is true, and the story of a patient who ha 3 just taken his discharge is ah illustration. Some months since he was borne to that kindly, institution, unconscious, with a good many of his bones broken, the result of a terrible accident—with y,mth, however, on his side, and a virile hope burning in his heart which made life for him not only worth living but worth a strong and unselfish struggle for somebody else.' The terribly wounded man .was unmarried when he entered the surgical ward. He has now left this very humane abode, erect, strong, and hale, quite recovered, and also married, accompanied, tco, by the very gentle girl—unpretending, and, in her own view, not at all heroic—who stepped in to save him when the surgeons despaired of raising his drooping spirits and fe-animating his ebbin°vitality. - ' - This bright young fellow came to London to look only for honest work, although in his own village, he had often heard that it you wanted gold you had only to pick it up in our thronged streets. He did not even find. work. But he still searched with unabated, energy. He

LODGED WITH A HOMELY FAMILY, where tfiere were growing girls. Given the tact of his and their frequent association, and the inference rises like the odour from a sweet-scented garden. The young fellow was kindly treated, and the friendliness touched him very keenly, as he had but tew acquaintances. He was not successful in finding a job, for there is a world ot unskilled labour in London, and it takes a man. some time to learn his way about and to find friends who can direct hi« inquiries. But nevertheless—or rather perhaps, in consequence of his failure—the girls of the family sympathised deeply with P* ? e told no tales of suffering, but returned each evening after his fruitless quest for leave to toil " without grumble but with an increasing weariness that made them feel acutely for him and offer little attentions that touched the innermost springs of his nature. Finally he got employment as a "stoker on an ocean tramp bound for a long voyage. The partings were very sorrowful—with the eldest girl particularly—as the family had come to like the young fellow. He promised to return and marry the flower of the flock and she undertook, with many tears to be faithful to him, saying all the time that he need not go, but stay abd continue his search for work. But there was pride in the fellow, and his little store of means was exhausted, so that he could not, even for the love of her, any longer burden the friendly home. During two years he roamed in search of experience and fortune. The first he gained, but he was not, as the saying goes, built for the latter, although he had not

NEGLECTED TO ACCUMULATE SOME SAVINGS. , Home he came, a smart, handy young fellow, and with his newly-aequirad skill, he soon found employment. All arrangements were made for the wedding, and things useful and ornamental were bought for the future home, with such debate and deliberation and such examination of the rival claims of many alluring establishments—each purchase being the occasion for a little outing—that every article came to have a history of its own—a pleasant record of courtship that must come back upon them in the future to lessen sorrow and worry, and raise many a cheery laugh. While thus agreeably nearing the wedded state a terrible accident occurred in the works where the young fellow was employed. Several of his ribs were broken, a thigh and arm were fractured, and generally his frame was mangled out of all recognition. It was in thiß condition that tie was brought to the hospital. He was a cheerful fellow, with a strong frame and a, cleanly life —the sort of young Englishman that you find in every home in every countryside of our island, the bones knitted well, and there, was no reason why he should not make a good recovery. Just ■at this point his general health made no progress. The surgeon thought and said ■ there was something else to account for the delayed recovery besides the fractures and the shock. • The nurses were questioned, but they Could point to nothing that would account for the slow recovery to health, and the patient himself never made either moan or murmur. Everybody, he said, was kind to him—too kind. And, indeed, a friendship, reaching in its sympathy even to affection, had grown up between him "and the nurses. To one nurse he was more confiding than the rest. He told her little incidents of his wanderings which interested her much and tempted her curiosity. Still visitors came and went —the members of the family with whom he had lodged in the old days—and they were eret- '■- ting ahxioui "-about. his condition. .The: nurse Selected-for confidence was soon able to '■'■r.till:- . :'.:-. ;: ■ \ -:■ ,\ PUT THE DOCTORS ON THE RIGHT .;. . ~-.-.-' /.TRACK/ .. - . •..,,- - r His 1 loved"the,elder girl, was sure" she would never desert him; but still he should like to see his ■ engagement carried out, and now was the very time agreed Upon for.the wedding. ; Could he be married? The Doctor: And you all in plaster, and unable to move yourself P The patient turned a-w ay his face, murmuring, "And if another fellow gets'her?" It is said to be the essence of true love to be jealous and yet profoundly trustful, and the man looked as if the, hope of union was the one prop sustaining his spirit. Hereafter the visits of the girl became more freqiienti and everybody about told her what a nice chap he was, and told him what a fine girl she was. Restrictions on visitors were relaxed, in. her case, and she came often, silently; sitting by the bedside, and holding the hand of. the occupant, now brighter and more vigorous with a, newfoumd life. And- when sunshine was but, - and she could not expect to be admitted, eh© lingered on the embankment,' watching for him as he was wheeled Out tb"{th'ei balcony. -The oth&r patients affect not

to see, and the men who debated and wrangled on the other side of the river, and those who joined in the traffic on its broad bosom, did not see this pathetic human drama that was passing so near them. The banns were duly proclaimed, and the happy morn was ushered in with pleasant sunshine. There was a sense of hushed curiosity—almost SOLEMN IN ITS LOW WHISPERINGS —throughout the ward. You had almost to stop <and question your very ears to be sure that'wedding bell 3, softly rung from some unseen church, were not filling the ward with the music of ever so winsome an invitation. By-and-by an ambulance approached the bedside, and, all encased in plaster, and as rigid as an effigy in marble, the man wasHborhe to a neighbouring church, where the. ceremony was performed under these strange and.affecting conditions. How consolatory, hopeful, and full of promise seemed the words according to which the Church joins "together this Man and this Woman in Holy Matrimony!" How full of human sympathy and human knowledge were the men who rienned thege incomparable Services, and who seemed how speaking from out the far-off yesirs-in tones alternately of blessing and of admonition. The strangeness of the-scene <grew in> intensity.' . And'when." the hand, softened to transparency, by nonusage and r the gentle nursing of months, was raised from the recumbent form -to place the ring on the finger of the kneeling girl it looked as if "this" Man/' too, belonged to the past and was slowly awaking into life again. The ceiemony ended, the little congregation was back into the world of reality. On the door-step the patient's pipe was lighted, and he had a good smoke for the first time for weeks and weeks. This was strictly according to the permission of the hospital authorities. Then, on the way back, there were two drinks in quiet places, well out of observation. This also was according to authority. And when the patient found himself once more. in hospital he was congratulated right and left. There was A MAGIC IN THE CEREMONY that instantly ministered to nature's needs, sometimes so baffling to the most skilful surgeon and the acutest physician. Nearly every day afterwards he was able to see his wife, and every day marked an advance towards recovery, and the home in which this happy pair now find themselves.