A MOTHER'S LOVE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1213, 13 January 1886, Page 6

A MOTHER'S LOVE.

Professor James Walsh stood in the dissecting-room of the New York University Medical College one afternoon, with his large blue apron on and his syringe in his hand, busily engaged in preparing some bodies or " cadavers " for dissection. It was an unusually busy day, and his face wore an anxious and tired look. He had just placed the last " cadaver " on the slab, and was preparing to go home, when a messenger arrived and announced that a lady wished to see him. The Professor at once ordered that she be admitted. As this was a most unusual request on the part of a lady, and as the Professor did not know of any lady anxious to see him in the dissectingroom, bis curiosity was aroused to learn the cause of this lady's visit. He did not wait long, however, for after the lapse of half-a-inimite or so a tall angular woman, past middle life, with a Teutonic cast of countenance and unmistakeable accent made her appear ance. The Professor, who is of small stature, looked up inquiringly into the tall stranger's face and eagerly sought the object of her visit.

" You are the superintendent here ?" she answered, and without waiting for an answer, added : " I have a body at home I wish to dispose of, and I am told you buy such things here." This was at once in the Professor's business, and bo eagerly caught at tbe opportunity.

" Yes, we buy bodies here," he said, but they must be of the right kind — no mutilation, no infection ; nothing of that sort, you know." " Oh," she replied, "this body is all right, and I will be responsible for it. You see, my children are hungry, and it will not do to let them starve while one can get bread. I do hate to see them dying under my very eyes while I am able to give them no help.'' " Perhaps, then, it is the body of one of your children you are going to sell," interrupted Ppofesgor Walsh. *' In that case it would be of no use to us as we require adults alone." ♦' On that score you may rest easy. It is not one of my children's bodies but my own, for I oan get bread now no other way, and you can have it as soon as I receive the money, for I can die easy when I see the little ones have had something to eat." The Professor, who is of a kindly disposition, looked up into the face of <the distracted mother, and at a glance .saw that picture of earnestness and Jruth forcibly depicted thereon tbaj; Vent down into the very depths of njs. hearty and he drew from his pocket a five dollar bill and placed it in the haods of the poor creature, \

Commenting editorially on this matter, the New York " Herald " says : — '" Some, we fear, who read our report of the scene between a Professor in a medical college and the mother who offered her body for dissection to get bread for her children will be cynical about her earnestness. Others, who know better the pressure of poverty on thousands in thiß vast city, will recognise in this woman a mind driven to despair by distress. The picture is a genuine one, drawn from real life."