notoning what was meant for a hymn. No
head was visible among the rude collection of bedclothes.

"Uncle Solomon, it's the Doctor," I called. The mass of clothes moved,
and a trembling old hand came out to meet mine.

"No pain, Uncle Solomon, I hope?"

"No pain, Doctor, thank the good Lord, and Skipper John. He took us in
when the old lady and I were starving."

The terrible cancer had so extended its ravages that the reason for
the veiled corner was obvious, and also for the effective ventilation.

"He suffers a lot, Doctor, though he won't own it," now chimed in the
old woman.

When the interview was over, I was left standing in a brown study till
I heard Skipper John's voice calling me. As I descended the ladder he
said: "We're so grateful you comed, Doctor. The poor old creatures
won't last long. But thanks aren't dollars. I haven't a cent in the
world now. The old people have taken what little we had put by. But
if I gets a skin t' winter, I'll try and pay you for your visit
anyhow."

"Skipper John, what relation are those people to you?"

"Well, no relation 'zactly."

"Do they pay nothing at all?"

"Them has nothing," he replied.

"What made you take them in?"

"They was homeless, and the old lady was already blind."

"How long have they been with you?"

"Just twelve months come Saturday."

I found myself standing in speechless admiration in the presence of
this man. I thought then, and I still think, that I had received one
of my largest fees.

Ours is primarily a medical mission, and nothing that may have been
stated in this book with reference to other branches of the work is
meant in any way to detract from what to us as doctors is the basic
reason for our being here, though we mean ours to be prophylactic as
well as remedial medicine.

St. Anthony having so indisputably become the headquarters of the
hospital stations, there can be but one answer to the question of the
advisability of its closing its doors summer or winter in the days to
come. For not only is our largest hospital located there--its scope
due in great measure to the reputation gained for it by Dr. Little's
splendid services, and continued by Dr. Curtis--but also the
Children's Home, our school, machine shop, the headquarters of various
industrial enterprises, and lastly a large storehouse to be used in
future as a distributing centre for the supplies of the general
Mission. Moreover, the population of the environs of St.