isa-normaladvance-1913-00031

Description:	THE NORMAL ADVANCE31aint much of a skirt to be tankful fer. Wotyou goin to be tankful fer?For one thing, that your leg is gettingalong so nicely, Butsey. Miss Marjory hadcome to the place where she had to say suchthings in order to convince herself that shewas entirely devoted to her wTork.,Never mind about my leg, advised Butsey.Im doin all the tankin necessary fer dat.Aint you got no relations, Miss Marjry?No near relatives, Butsey.No ma ner aunts, nuther?No, dear, Miss Marjory replied softly.An no cousins?An no guvner ner uncles? Butsey wasevidently steering toward masculine relatives.No, Butsey, I havent any near relatives.Why dont you get you one?Why, Butsey, how do you mean? askedMiss Marjory. Perhaps she had herself beenthinking of the advantages of a male relativeover a life of devotion to hospital work.Mm, said Butsey, with a knowing look.Theres lots of ways. Say Miss Marjry, wotdo you expect to do all your life, thout any relations?Im going to be a nurse, Butsey.Always? in a doubtful tone.Always and always. Miss Marjory didnot seem to be elated over the prospect, herself.Butseys face grew grave. Miss Marjry,take it from me: Taint no good not to haverelations. Just every Thanksgiving anChristmas an—an Fourth of July, just to beby yourself an—an—Miss Marjry, taintright.Miss Marjory fingered her handkerchief andlooked out of the window.Say, Miss Marjry, if all you good-lookingJanes is-goin to stick in hospitals an be nursesfer always an always, say, wots the old uglyones agoin to do? Huh? An wots all themens wot aint got no relations an wants one,wots they goin to do?But, Butsey They aint no but to it, Miss Marjry.They dont make curly gold hair an blue eyeslike yours fer hospitals. Straight hair anplain eyes is good enough fer them.Butsey, dont talk that way, or Ill have toleave you alone. Miss Marjory was tryinghard to be angry, and to keep her devotion tohospital work in mind, but—she did have nicehair and eyes, and she couldnt help that,could she?Leave me alone? An I wouldnt like to bealone, neither, w7ould I ? An neither will you,Miss Marjry, you wait an see. Just wait tilltill tomorrer, when everyones asittin wid hisma an pa an wife an kids, Miss Marjry,eatin toikey an cranbries an all, an thenyoull see. Butsey had the attitude of aprophet talking to a child.Butsey! and the nurses face was veryred, you know I dont care if I havent anyone to care about me, and, and if I eat alonetomorrow, and, and—if my, my hair is cu-curly, and sobbing she left the room.Butsey could hear her sobbing from the supply room across the hall. Hate to hear hercryin, but thats the way you got to workem, he told himself.The doctor came to the door. How are yougetting along, Bud? Wheres Miss Marjory?evidently much more interested in the latterquestion.Come ere, Doc, whispered Butsey hoarselyand importantly. Shes in the supply room,dyin for a relative, Doc. And as the doctorstarted to go, Butsey held his arm and whispered, Doc, ole man, if we dont have datTanksgivin feast it aint agoin to be myfault. An if my leg wrasnt in splints, Doc,Id walk in at the right minute, an give youmy blessin. Gwan, Doc. And Butseygrinned.That night when the lights should have beenout, the doctor and Miss Marjory were sittingon Butseys bed, and Butsey was murmeringsleepily, Toikey an crabries an the Doc evensays plum puddin! Hully chee, Ill haveenough to be tankful fer. An say, dat MissMarjrys shure a hummer, but—but—she aintgot—nuttin—on—Doc.
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/34476
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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