GET PERMISSION TO WORK.
Rules required me to leave Campbell at five o'clock, but the sun was
going down, and I lay on a cot, in the bad ward, feeling that going
home, or anywhere else, was impossible, when that large doctor came,
felt my pulse, laid his hand on my brow, and said:
"You must not work so hard or we will lose you! I have been hunting for
you to ask if you would like to remain with us?"
"Like to remain with you? Well, you will have to send a file of soldiers
with fixed bayonets to drive me away."
He laughed quite heartily, and said:
"We do not want you to go away. I am executive officer; Surgeon Kelley
and Dr. Baxter, surgeon in charge, has commissioned me to say that if
you wish to stay, he will have a room prepared for you. He hunted for
you to say so in person, but is gone; now I await your decision. Shall I
order you a room?"
"Surgeon Baxter! Why--what does he know about me?"
"Oh, Surgeon Baxter, two medical inspectors, and the surgeon of this
ward were present this morning when you came in and took possession."
His black eyes twinkled, and he shook with laughter when I sat up,
clasped my hands, and said:
"Oh, dear? Were they the men who were standing around Charlie? Why I
had not dreamed of them being surgeons!"
"Did you not know by their shoulders traps?"
"Shoulderstraps? Do surgeons have shoulderstraps? I thought only
officers wore them!"
"Well, surgeons are officers, and you can know by my shoulderstraps that
I am a surgeon."
"Oh, I do not mind you; but Dr. Baxter! How I did behave before him!
What must he have thought? And he does not allow women to come here!"
"Well. You passed inspection; and as you propose to stay with us, I will
have a room prepared for you."
He then went on to state that the reason Doctor Baxter would not have
female nurses, was that he would not submit to Miss Dix's interference,
did not like the women she chose, and army regulations did not permit
him to employ any other.
"But," he continued, "no one can object to his entertaining a guest, and
as his guest you can employ your time as you wish."
Ah! what a glorious boon it was, this privilege of work, and my little
barrack-room, just twice the width of my iron cot. I would not have
exchanged for any suite in Windsor palace.