The daily crescent., 1851-11-08
From Chambers Edinburgh journal.
A Tale OF Days not Long Gone BY.

- A"AO VI D6yb uOG LUNG SvAAS ~
There resided some years ago, in London,
young surgeon named Gerald Spencer. He was
the younger son of a gentleman OF good family,
but small fortune; and a. every thing that remained
to the father entsed on the eldest son. good
professional education was all that Gerald could
expect from his father. and it was all he got But
in the matter Of education nothing was spared;
and as Gerald had both the will and ability TO pro-
fit by the instructions he received there was great
reason to hope for successful professional career
body to rely on but bimselE Those who have
something 10 fall back upon, hops TO do and may
DO; but he must do or die; and this stern allerna-
tive quickens mans wits, and lends amazing
the necessity; and all the more, that he was deep
ly In love with the daughter of one OF his fathers
nelghbors. He had known Lucy Manwaring
from her childhood, for she was six years his Jun
ior, and he had loved her ever since ne was old
enough to know what love was. But though she
was the daughter of gentleman, like himself, she
had nothing but her personal qualifications TO re-
commend her. Those, however, were considera-
ole, Tor she was both amiahle pretty and inteiii-
gent and above all, devoutly attached TO her low
er respecting whose talents she was quite enthusi
astic a4
You may not think Gerald sufficiently good
match for me now, papa" she would say, hut
know the day will come that you will be proud ~
call Gerald ,our son in-law."
That may be do not dispute Mr.. SpeDcer's
talents; but in the mean time he has no money;
and however clever young man may be, it Is often
Yeas before he gets into practice"
Very well, papa, we are in no hurry. don't
think 1t will be SO long you expect before Ger
aid makes his way. Such talents as his cannot
long remain unknown but, as said just now, we
are in no hurry; and he would BIZ quite as averse
TO our marriage taking place prematurely, as you
would be- He said only the last time he was here,
that until he had comfortable home to offer me,
he would never mention the subject to you"
Very well, Lucy, much the better only
don't let him mention it to you either; and take
care you have not to wait for him till all the bloom
Is of your cheeks" ANa
"Pm not afraid, papa, !" answered Lucy: but
even il | were So Gerald would love me just the
same, and we could be very happy without the
bloom"
Secure Of his love and sanguine of fsuccess, Gerald
thought he could wait too bright anticipatons of
the future lenr charm to labor that was TO be so
sweetly rewarded and afer studying at Paris
and Vienna and rendering himself in all respects
worthy Of the public patronage he counted on, with
the assistance Of his father he took small house in
the neighborhood Of Golden square, ,and with a
brass plate on the door, announcing his name and
profession, he sat down to wait for patients; and
patients came, not few, between the hours OF nine
and eleven o'clock, when it was understood he was
at home; bun alas, how seldom did one of them
bring guinea in his hand! They were all pau
pers, or next tot--people whom he had attended IN
the hospitals, or such as were sent by these Tor,
enthusiastic in his art, he had willingly and care
fully investigates and miuisfered to the maadies
ot the poor, and when they learned where he was
to be found, they crowded to his door. And he
was content 10 see them-they offered subjects for
study and improvement; but there would be no
getting on without few rich ones TOO how elsa
was lie to pay his rent, and have home for Lucy
However, there was nothing to do but TO wait and
hope, aud he did both-wearying though such
waiting is TO man eager to rise, and who knows
he has the capacity to do SO, if he could only
get his foot on the ladder.
The disappointments and anxieties that have at
tended The early career of many man who has
afterwards risen to eminence, have been fire..
queDty described that they need not be dwelt upon
here; is enough to say that poor Gerald Spencer
endured them all and as he had spoken with con-
fdence of his certain success, both to his own
friends and TO his mistress, it doubly mor.ify.
ing TO find his performance falling so far short of
his promise, that the first year he was obliged to
apply to his father for money to pay the rent--a
favor that he was not granted without some vexa-
tlous illusions to the large sums that had been spent
on an education which ii was high time should
produce its harvest. But still the rich drove past
his door, flying to men whose established reputa-
lion inspired hope and confidence, whilst he
exercising all his skill on those who had nothing
but blessings to give him 10 return. But although
blessings indeed blessed things, they will moi
furnish man's table pay his rent still less
be marry upon them; and the young surgeons
heart grew sick with disappointment, as his hopes
faded from day to day.
"Yes," he would say to himself with bitterness,
"when the present generation have died off when
Ashley Cooper, and Cline and all the rest Of them
are gone; when am fifty years old, and Lucy
Manwaring is married to somebody else-for how
can expect her to wait for me all her life and u.s.
perhaps, the mother of dozen children, shall get
into practice and drive my carriage. l had better
have been born day laborer than be the son of a
gentleman with an empty purse, and talents can
find no opportunity of exercising"
His po' ition was difficult too, for his pride
forbade him to tell the whole truth and whilst he
was holding out fallacous hopes to his mistress,
he found them far as ever from realization.
Amongst the students Of medicine he had become
acquainted with about the hospitals, was one
called O'Grady. He was an Irishman, as his name
Indicated apparently of low birth, and without con-
nections and with little talent industry Neither
did he seem to evince any desire ambition to
rise. He seemed either conscious that he was
born for medocrity content with little but that
little he never appeared to want. Yet those who
had known him longest understood from himse If
that he bad no private resources, but had come
to London to trade on his talents and education,
like many amongst them. 1t occurred to Gerald
sometimes to wonder how he contrived to live
whether he might not have fallen into some infe-
rior line of practice that paid in some degree-a
practice that in perspective, he would himself
have scorned, but now he would be too glad to
take anything he could get With the view o
finding out O'Grady's secret he cultivated his So
cety, which, from not liking him, he had originally
rather avoided. When the Irishman found him
disposed to be civil, he showed himself ready
enough to meet him half way and one day as they
quilted one Of the hospitals together, he invited him
to dine with him at an eating he frequented
in the neighborhood.
The dinner was not in grand style, but it was
plentiful and OGrady called for bottle Of wine
to relish it-a luxury which the other was very
little accustomed to.
"Upon my word, O'Grady," said he, "yor
make it out capially, if this is the style you live ir
every day. don't know how it is, but though
get plenty of patients, never get fee."
"Nor either" said O'Grady. why, man, i
depended on fees, should not get any butter tt
my bread"
"Oh' beg your PARDON" said Gerald, "yo'
have doubtless some private resources Fortunat
man, say |. wish I had" sl
O'Grady did not deny the mputation, and so tn
matter rested for that time, but as, either for mo
tives Of his own from good nature, he not infre
quently invited Garald 70 share his dinner, the in
timacy continued till degree Of confidence wa
established between them that led to momentou
results. sg ~
As for my getting into practice here, l loo
upon II as out OF the question, without some extra
ordinary lucky hit," said O'Grady one day ("
mean by-and- bye to go back to old Ireland. wher,
in some miserable hole or another, shall settI
down country doctor, and spend The test
my life sstride Of the sharp back bone OF an lris
horse. But you ought to get into practice I: VIC
have not only abilities but industry, and there ism
man amongst us who has better right to get q
than You have"
"And Yet this ability and industry you a.
pleased TO attribute 10 me, will scarcely find me