PUBLIC SENTIMENT. 



285 



attention than before : and whenever the circum- 

 stance was spoken of, the exertions we had made, 

 though unsuccessful, were everywhere duly felt 

 and acknowledged. The poor father could set 

 no limits to his gratitude ; and at last we were 

 obliged to be careful, when in his presence, how 

 we expressed a wish for anything; as he never 

 failed, upon discovering what was wanted, to send 

 at any cost, and to any distance, to fetch it for us. 

 When I was coming away, some weeks after- 

 wards, he insisted upon my accepting the most 

 valuable curiosity he possessed, and which he had 

 cherished with care for fifteen years — a beautiful 

 bird of the country, celebrated all over the pro- 

 vince of New Galicia, and considered as the finest 

 specimen of its kind ever seen. 



I now made a firm resolution to meddle no 

 more with the practice of medicine ; and had just 

 declared my regret at having been induced, on 

 any account, to place myself in the way of re- 

 sponsibilities, which I could not bear with a safe 

 conscience ; when a man burst into my room, and 

 exclaimed, that I was wanted immediately, as a 

 young woman was dying, a few doors off! I said 

 I was no doctor — knew nothing of medicine- — 



