That Last Waif

Reproduction of the original: The Last Waif by Horace Fletcher

Example in this ebook It is now five years since the first section of this crude little announcement of a great physiological discovery was published; and while the author has spent all the intervening years in unremitting study of the subject of which it treats, with the heads of many of the great physiological laboratories of the world assisting him with their best facilities and information, as to the "reasons for things," there is but small correction to make. This does not imply that the "last word" upon the subject has been herein stated, or that corrections may not be made as the study progresses, but it means, that as an honest description of an effort to get to understand the natural requirements in our own nutrition, it is perhaps better put than the same author could now do; that is, if intended for the enlightenment of persons whose curiosity has not yet been excited, or whose interest in their nutritive welfare is still young and inexperienced. With regard to the statement that "whatever has no taste is not nutritious," copied from a high educational authority, correction certainly must be made. Pure proteid has no perceptible taste as measured by taste-bud appreciation, any more than pure water has specific taste, and yet who may not say that "water tastes good" when one is really thirsty. Taste is a very subtle sense and is closely allied to feeling. Things are often said to taste good because they feel good in the mouth or to the throat as they descend to the stomach. Regarding also the advice to remove from the mouth refractory substance that the teeth and saliva cannot reduce to a condition to excite the Swallowing Impulse. There is theoretical and actual nutriment in the cottony fibre of tough lobster, or poor fish, or lean pork, and there is good reason to believe that a strong digestive apparatus can take care of such tough substance after a fashion and get nutriment out of it. In the same way the hard, woody fibre of old nuts is the identical material that was rich in juicy oils and proteid when the nuts were fresh, but if swallowed in the toughened condition that age brings to nuts, it is but slowly reduced in the stomach and intestines and only at enormous expense. If putrifactive bacterial decomposition has to be resorted to to get rid of the stuff the process is then poisonous as well as difficult. According to physiological authority which we must, for the moment, accept, proteid is a vitally-necessary material and we cannot afford to waste it. Our life depends upon proteid to replace the waste of muscular tissue which occurs with every movement, but when even good proteid is found by the mouth to be in a form that is too refractory for the teeth to handle, it is poor policy to send it on to the toothless stomach and intestines for the accomplishment of the reduction. If the mouth cannot handle what its guardian senses don't like, it can spit it out and get rid of it immediately; but if the stomach or intestines are afflicted with something that is harder than they can easily take care of, they have to call in the assistance of bacterial scavengers whose method is poisonous decomposition, and whose fee is putridity of odour penetrating the whole system and issuing at every pore, making Cologne water a large commodity even in so-called Polite Society. To be continue in this ebook

"The Waif Woman" by Robert Louis Stevenson was a short story that didn't see the light of day until two decades after Stevenson's death. The author is famed for his stories of adventure and supernatural events, however, this story was suppressed by request of the writer. Written as a magical fairytale or myth, Stevenson weaves an atmosphere in his signature style. Thus, it is fortunate that this story was found and published before it could fade into obscurity forever.

Highland warrior Kieran Mackenzie will stop at nothing to foil Clan MacDonald’s plans to take over the north and that includes stealing MacDonald’s bride. From their first meeting, Trulee Macleod is unexpected―a waif who needs a laird’s protection. On his deathbed, Kieran’s father confesses his sins and gains Kieran’s vow to settle down and beget children. He wants him to find love, happiness, and all the things Kieran had been deprived of all his life. But Kieran knows there’s one more battle to finish before he can do as his father requests—to unite the northern clans and thwart the MacDonald’s plan to overtake their clans and lands. Kieran saves Trulee Macleod from a horrible fate. She’s an enchanting woman who stirs more than desire for the hardened warrior. Although she is blunt toward him, she’s all sweetness to everyone else. Kieran is fascinated by Trulee’s mystical aura and tempting allure. When Kieran finds out who she is, he realizes she is the perfect pawn he needs to gain the peace he seeks. He must make her his to prevent the MacDonalds from using her to enact war. But getting Trulee to agree to marry him comes with danger for them both. Kieran finds out more about his past, events that changed his life. Now he has an opportunity to find brotherhood, and solace. Can the waif secure his heart and help him defeat his past torment?