It was some distance to go, for the study of bones, to the doctor's house, and he wanted something that he could keep in his room, and have at hand to refer to; besides, the doctor had none of the bones of the trunk—only the skull2 and part of the limbs. He likewise wished to dissect3 and study muscles, tendons, the structure of skin, bone, veins4, arteries5, and internal organs, in their natural state, since for him to procure6 a human subject was at that time out of the question, as he was without means to purchase even a skeleton.
In these circumstances he conceived that much might be learned by a careful study and dissection7 of the bodies of animals in connection with the plates found in the books.
Mr. Clemens, the husband of Rich's landlady8, owned and worked a large breadth of land, which[Pg 181] necessitated9 the keeping of many horses, as he did all his farm work with horses; but after his decease the greater part of the land, and all the horses except one, were sold. On the lower floor of the stable was a small room, once devoted10 to storing and oiling harnesses, in which was a fireplace, and at one corner, a large closet without shelves, and very broad, where the more valuable riding harnesses, not in constant use, were hung, to defend them from dust. There were also some harness-maker's tools, old straps11, thorough-braces, and a large leather boot, that had survived the vehicle to which it was once attached.
Fire-wood in those days was made but small account of, especially by Mrs. Clemens, who could not consume half of the decaying and downwood on her land.
"Mrs. Clemens," said Rich, "are you willing I should clear out the old harness-room, and make a fire there occasionally?"
"What for, Mr. Richardson? If you want more room in the house you can have it. It will certainly be more comfortable than the barn; besides, I am afraid you will take cold."
"Indeed, Mrs. Clemens, I need not hesitate to tell a lady of your respect for and appreciation12 of the medical profession, that as I proceed in my studies, I shall want to dissect and experiment upon the bodies of animals. You know that, although the courts and the community are ever[Pg 182] ready to prosecute13 a physician to the extent of the law for a mistake in setting a bone, they throw every obstacle in the way of his obtaining any accurate knowledge of the machine he is expected to repair." The law in respect to this matter was more stringent14 then than at present.
"But, Mr. Richardson, if you should lose a mother, sister, or dear friend,—Mr. Perkins, for instance,—and had placed them in the earth, with all the respect nature dictates15, could you bear to feel that they were taken from the grave, exposed upon a table, and cut to pieces by students smoking cigars, and laughing, and jesting, as though to fit and harden them for their profession by driving every spark of feeling and humanity out of their bosoms16?"
"No, I could not. I don't believe, however, that there is the least necessity of this hardening process you have referred to; if I believed that, by devoting myself to the study of medicine, I should lose one particle of kindly17 feeling that I now possess, should harden my heart and curtail18 my sympathies, or change in any respect, except in obtaining self-command that I might discharge more efficiently19 my duty, I would relinquish20 study and go back to the anvil21 to-morrow. If a doctor is rough and unfeeling, it is to be attributed to his natural temper, and want of culture, not to his profession."
"Then I suppose you are just the one who[Pg 183] ought to be a doctor, though I think it is strange that you should choose that profession. As I was telling Mrs. Merrill the other day, I observed you was so sensitive you never could do some of those dreadful things doctors were obliged to perform. But as for the harness-room, you may do whatever you like with it; there's a padlock in the house belongs to the outside door, and a key to the lock on the closet. If there is anything there worth saving, put it in the loft22, and any old rubbish you can burn up."
"But the wood, I will pay for that."
"By no means, there's wood enough."
After clearing out the place, and cleansing23 it thoroughly24, Rich made a table, and put iron rings into it, in order that he might fasten any animal that he wished to operate upon. He then procured25 buckles26 and waxed ends, and from the boot of the old chaise made straps of different lengths for the same purpose, and put a lock on the door in lieu of the padlock. As the stern, patient smith of the wilderness27, amid the melancholy28 moan of pine forests, and the roar of the stream, wrought29 out by sheer pluck and perseverance30, a mechanical trade, so his earnest grandson, completely absorbed in his chosen pursuit, strove to verify, by experiment upon the bodies of such animals as he could procure, the theories he studied.
In short, under the intoxication31 of a dominant[Pg 184] impulse, he did things that, had they come to the knowledge of Mrs. Clemens, she would no longer have doubted of his adaptedness to the medical profession on the score of sensitiveness; so impervious32 to emotion in certain directions will an absorbing idea render a person otherwise most impressible.
He dissected33 frogs to observe the muscles of the thigh34, and irritated the muscular tissue of animals, thus creating inflammation, in order to watch its progress. Though there are striking differences between the composition of man and the animal, still there is correspondence enough to admit of much being learned; and in default of a human subject, he resorted to this method, as his grandfather, unable to procure an anvil, made a stone answer the purpose. The lungs of a hog35 are very similar to those of a man, and he found no difficulty in procuring36 these. If a stray dog came along, he was most kindly welcomed by Rich; but it was observed that no stray dog, having once entered Mrs. Clemens's yard, was ever seen to come out again.
Marvelous was the industry of Rich, only equalled by his ingenuity37. He soon had the large closet in the stable filled to overflowing38 with the skeletons of various animals he had dissected and wired together with great skill. He was much attached to Dan, who procured him animals to operate upon, while he, in turn mounted[Pg 185] birds and squirrels for Dan—a matter in which Rich was very skilful39.
He had been for a long time desirous of examining the structure of the eye, but could not procure a suitable subject. Mrs. Clemens possessed40 a cat of beautiful color and proportions, affectionate disposition41, intelligent, and perfectly42 trained. Between this member of the family and Dan the affections of the good lady were about equally divided. When, as occasionally happened, Gertrude was unwell, the good lady was at her wits' end, as she would have nothing from Buchan, and eschewed43 Burgundy pitch plasters, salts, and senna. Indeed, she had much rather Dan would be sick, than Gertrude, for she knew what to do for Dan, while Gertrude would have nothing but catnip. At every meal she sat beside Mrs. Clemens in a high chair, and never offered to take anything from the table, waiting the leisure of her mistress. Dan also loved Gertrude dearly, and had taught her a great many tricks. Rich likewise conceived a fondness for the cat, being naturally fond of pets.
Gertrude was exceedingly social in her disposition, rejoiced in a numerous circle of friends, and was not in the least stuck up.
There was a large Thomas cat—an enormous creature—that often came to call upon Gertrude, in a friendly way, and spend a sociable44 evening. Silver-gray along the back, annular45 stripes on the[Pg 186] tail, white feet, snow-white breast, large, lustrous46, prominent eyes, and a magnificent pair of whiskers; in short, this Thomas cat was a splendid creature, and, as Rich thought, would afford him, if in his possession, an excellent opportunity to observe the structure of the eye. Dan, Frank Merrill, and Horace Williams, did their best to take the creature, dead or alive, but in vain.
A door opened from the wood-shed into the stable, and a passage was left to this door in piling the wood that was tiered up on either side to the height of five, and on one side seven, feet. Several times the boys had got the Thomas cat in this passage; but the wily creature either went over the top of the wood, or ran through a small hole beside the door, that it would seem no cat could get through. Rich nailed the mouth of a meal-bag to this hole on the stable side, and placed a board on the other, ready to put up to prevent the cat's return.
One Wednesday Horace Williams came over to spend the afternoon and take tea with Dan. Just before the tea hour, Dan, coming in, whispered to Rich, "The cat's in the passage. I can see his eyes shine just like balls of fire." Armed with sticks of wood, they approached the end of the passage, gave a fearful howl and let the wood fly; the globes of fire vanished, and they knew by the sound the cat had not gone over the wood-pile.
[Pg 187]
"He's in the bag, I know," said Dan. "I heard him squeeze through the hole. O, crimini!" and he ran to put up the piece of board. Rich and Horace lost no time in putting a string round the bag in which the cat was struggling, tearing it from the hole, and immersing it in a tub of water. Just as the struggling ceased the bell rang for supper, and flinging the bag and its contents into a horse-stall to drip and dry, they sat down to eat.
Dan sat on his mother's right hand, next to him Horace, and on her left was Gertrude's high chair; but it was empty.
"Where can Gertrude be?" said Mrs. Clemens, after pouring out the tea; "for seven years she has never before been absent from my side at meals unless sick."
A fearful suspicion crossed the mind of Rich, and catching47 the eye of Dan, he saw that he was similarly affected48.
Hastening to the stable when the meal was over, with a light, they turned out the contents of the bag, and lo! it was poor Gertrude, that in the dark they had mistaken for the Thomas cat and drowned. Rich was very much distressed49; so was Dan, as, aside from his sorrow for his mother, the cat was a favorite pet of his, and had grown up with him.
Placing the dead body of Gertrude upon the dissecting50 table, they locked the door for [Pg 188]consultation. At first they thought of owning up, but finally concluded to keep the secret, and, as long as she was dead, thought they might as well make the remains51 of some advantage to science. Richardson possessed already one skeleton of a cat, and only cared for the eyes. Dan therefore persuaded him to mount Gertrude for him. This Rich did, making a small incision52, turning the body through it, and replacing the skull and leg bones, after removing the brains and flesh, supplying the rest of the skeleton, so far as was needed, with wire.
Having already mounted several birds for Dan, he made a tree, put the birds in the branches, and having furnished Gertrude with eyes of colored glass, placed her under the tree in a natural attitude, as though watching a squirrel, the wire in the limbs enabling him to bend them in any direction. A red squirrel was also placed half way up the tree, as though alarmed by the cat. Dan was delighted, and thought he had much rather have his pet dead than alive.
All these operations were performed with closed doors, and the birds and animals placed under lock and key in the closet.
Mrs. Clemens mourned for her cat, and refused to be comforted. Gertrude's empty chair was always placed beside her; at table she often recounted the virtues53 of the departed, considered and spoke54 of the event as one of those mysterious[Pg 189] dispensations of Providence55, to which, though we cannot fathom56, it is our duty to submit.
"I do wish my mother would bury that cat," said Dan. "I'm sick and tired of hearing about her—should think she might pick up another kitten."
Month after month passed, and still Mrs. Clemens mourned the loss of her pet. At the expiration57 of this period, Fred Evans, a cousin of Dan, came to visit him. One afternoon Dan persuaded Rich to put all the things on the table, make a grand show, and let Fred see them. To this Rich consented; the door was locked, and Fred sworn to secrecy58.
On the table was placed the tree set in a block, with birds in its branches; half way up the trunk a red squirrel looking down and chattering59 at the cat, crouched60 at the roots as in act to spring.
Disposed around the tree that occupied the centre were the skeletons of various animals, wired together, and in an upright position, fastened to blocks—rabbits, dogs, a cat, wood-chuck, rooster, and pig. The tree was formed with great ingenuity, by placing a real branch in a thick block of pine, carving61 the spur roots from the substance of the block, and covering with moss62, dried leaves, and twigs63, confined with glue, while Gertrude, seated on the moss, seemed actually alive.
Horace Williams was invited, being already in[Pg 190] the secret, to help entertain Fred, and as an intimate friend of Dan.
Rich wanted a shingle64 to put under one leg of the table, the floor being uneven65, and sent Horace after it, who forgot to lock the door at his return.
Mrs. Clemens, having occasion for Dan, and not finding him in the house or yard, sought him in the harness-room, where she knew he spent much of his leisure time.
Opening the door upon the startled group, the first object that arrested her attention was the long lost and bitterly lamented66 Gertrude, as she verily thought, alive, and in the act of springing upon a squirrel. Exclaiming, "Gertrude! my Gertrude! where have you been?" she clasped the effigy67 to her breast. Alas68! there was no answering caress69; there was no "speculation70" in those eyes of stained glass, and the dried skin rattled71 in her fond embrace. It was a stuffed cat. "What does this mean?" she cried, permitting the imposture72 to drop on the floor, thoroughly overcome and faint with this sudden blasting of new-born hopes. She would have fallen to the floor; but Rich and Dan conveyed her to the house, where, after seeing her safely placed in the easy-chair, Rich took to flight, feeling that Dan could settle the affair far better than himself.
Gertrude My Gertrude
"Gertrude! My Gertrude!" Page 190.
It required all Dan's eloquence73 and power of argument to convince his mother that Gertrude was killed by mistake.
[Pg 191]
"But why did you not tell me at once, Daniel, that I might have had her properly interred74, instead of making an exhibition of the remains?"
Dan at length convinced his mother that it was his affection for Gertrude that led him to take this method of keeping her in remembrance. But never after this did Mrs. Clemens deem Rich unfitted for his profession by over-sensitiveness.
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1
anatomy
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| n.解剖学，解剖；功能，结构，组织 | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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dissect
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| v.分割；解剖 | |
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veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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arteries
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| n.动脉( artery的名词复数 )；干线，要道 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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dissection
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| n.分析；解剖 | |
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landlady
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| n.女房东，女地主 | |
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necessitated
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| 使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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straps
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| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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12
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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prosecute
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| vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官 | |
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stringent
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| adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的 | |
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dictates
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| n.命令，规定，要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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curtail
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| vt.截短，缩短；削减 | |
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efficiently
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| adv.高效率地，有能力地 | |
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relinquish
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| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
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anvil
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| n.铁钻 | |
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loft
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| n.阁楼，顶楼 | |
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cleansing
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| n. 净化(垃圾) adj. 清洁用的 动词cleanse的现在分词 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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buckles
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| 搭扣，扣环( buckle的名词复数 ) | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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impervious
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| adj.不能渗透的，不能穿过的，不易伤害的 | |
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dissected
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| adj.切开的，分割的，（叶子）多裂的v.解剖（动物等）( dissect的过去式和过去分词 )；仔细分析或研究 | |
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thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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hog
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| n.猪；馋嘴贪吃的人；vt.把…占为己有，独占 | |
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procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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overflowing
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| n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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eschewed
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| v.（尤指为道德或实际理由而）习惯性避开，回避( eschew的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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annular
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| adj.环状的 | |
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lustrous
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| adj.有光泽的；光辉的 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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dissecting
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| v.解剖（动物等）( dissect的现在分词 )；仔细分析或研究 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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incision
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| n．切口，切开 | |
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53
virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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expiration
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| n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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carving
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| n.雕刻品，雕花 | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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shingle
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| n.木瓦板；小招牌(尤指医生或律师挂的营业招牌)；v.用木瓦板盖（屋顶）；把（女子头发）剪短 | |
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uneven
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| adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的 | |
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lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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effigy
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| n.肖像 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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71
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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72
imposture
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| n.冒名顶替，欺骗 | |
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73
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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74
interred
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| v.埋，葬( inter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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