GARDEN OF A COMMUTER'S WIFE 193 



reached father, but it was only recently that the 

 extent of the abuse first appealed to me. 



I was arranging some Christmas greens in the 

 men's surgical ward, when a poor fellow, an engi- 

 neer who had lost both legs through a railway col- 

 lision, called me and said with grave face but keen 

 humour twinkling in his hollow eyes : 



" Ma'am, isn't it funny how some well-meanin' 

 folks like to grind a fellow when he's down," and he 

 pointed to a card hanging on the opposite wall, and 

 to a book on the floor beside the cot. The picture 

 was' a flaming illuminated text hung by a ribbon. 

 It read, " Arise, take up thy bed and walk ! " The 

 book was a sensational account of railway acci- 

 dents ! 



The grim humour of the combination struck us 

 both, and we laughed over it heartily as I confis- 

 cated book and text, the man telling father after- 

 ward that the cheer of the sympathetic laugh was 

 the first thing that encouraged him to get well. 



I bore the articles to the superintendent's office 

 and there listened to a tale from his wife that amazed 

 me. Not only were useless articles of furniture and 

 clothing sent almost daily for which receipts and 

 official thanks were expected, but unsuitable food 

 arrived as well, skim milk on the turn, soggy 

 o 



