larence Crispin

ome time ago Baron Von Lodge was the head of a small country near Switzerland known as Lilliland.

Lady Angela of Alpine Castle, the Baron’s fiancée, told the Baron an interesting story that she was not sure that she believed.

It seems that a friend of a friend of Lady Angela’s was in the hospital suffering from a serious illness. The man’s name was Peter and he was in a two-bed hospital room. The other bed, known as Bed #2, was occupied by a man named Clarence Crispin. Clarence spent a lot of time talking to Peter in a soft reassuring voice. Clarence assured him that every day he was getting better. At first, Peter was sure that due to the seriousness of his illness, he had doubts that he was going to come out of this situation and be able to go home to his family.

But the persistent conversations with Clarence were guiding Peter through the self-doubts and slowly he began to feel better. He could finally sit up in bed, and then stand by his bed. Walking was the next step. The doctors were so pleased with Peter’s progress that he could soon be released from the hospital.

Peter was released from the hospital and told to continue resting at home for two weeks. Then he could resume his normal schedule.

After Peter resumed his normal schedule, he tried to contact Bed 2 at the hospital to thank his friend, Clarence Crispin. The hospital told Peter that Bed 2 in the room he had occupied had no one by the name of Clarence Crispin. Peter thought for a moment and then asked if he had been moved to another room. But the hospital said that there was no patient by the name of Clarence Crispin registered in the hospital. Peter was puzzled and asked the hospital to check further. The hospital reported that there never was a patient by the name of Clarence Crispin.

This latest news really confused Peter. “Did I simply make up an imaginary person in the bed next to mine? What about the kind words of encouragement that he offered me day after day during my recuperation?

“Was Clarence Crispin an angel from Heaven to look after me, or what?” Peter decided that he did not know what to believe, but he was very well as far as his health, and went to church regularly to pray and give thanks for making him well.

A year later a new priest arrived and his name was Father Crispin.