New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-02-21
The Old Doctor /;
OR, STRAY LEAVES FROM MY JOURNAL.

While living near the Battery, during the
early part of my practice, had often noticed an
old gentleman, whose sole occupation appeared
TO he to pore over the contents Of an old book
stall which was kept by Scotchman in that
neighborhood. No matter what the weather.
summer or winter, fine cloudy, aye, even
rainy--l seldom passed in the morning ON my
way up town that did not observe this old Eel
low, spectacle on nose, eagerly tbun.OiDg the
dilapidated and venerable lore for which the
stall was noted; for the keeper prided himself
on being an antiquarian, and if ancient tones
out Of print. and long ago forgotten by the
world, were to be found anywhere, they were to
he procured at old MTavishs stall, Being some
what addicted to taking up any book which lay
before me myself and curiously looking into its
contents, often stopped minute or two while
on my way to business, especially of fine morn
ing when was tempted abroad little earlier
than usual, and we gradually grew to acknowl-
edge q sort Of passing acquaintance, on my part,
generally speaking, nod and cheerful good
morning., but on the part Of the old gentleman,
grunt as if il came from the husky throat of
bear and To see him he stood, his brown
scratch wig showing beneath his old-tashoned
three corner cooked hat, his long skirtcd, snuff
eolored coat, and his indispensablea OF the same
hue, finished of by worsted stockings and
bucked shoes, added to his Ratchet face and pro-
truding chin, and sunken mouth which be-
tokened age more than any other part Of his
person, for he was brisk enough in his move
ments, and his eyes despite his spectacles, which
he looked over instead Of through, were bright,
keen, and restless as those OF an eagle, he looked
the impersouifcation of an old miserly bibliopole
of the past generation,
One day, having made purchase Of some an
tique volume, when, for wonder the old gen
tlemAn was not present, i asked the keeper of the
stall, who his constant visitor was. and whether
he was profitable customer:
as We ken about rs muckle o him as i do my
SELL returned the man; " dinna ken who he
is, but he spends hours, almost every day, Mt
my stall thumbing over every volume ON the
shelves and often reading whole pages where
onythug interests him. As to his being good
customer, he's weel enough for that, mair espe-
oially when get fresh supply Of auld beuks
from my brither in Edinbro Sometimes lie
buys the whole stock but at other times he
comes, as you see, to the stall, and thumbs them
over just l fancy he kens by heart maist every
line Of the standing stock % my wares -
This was all | could CLEAN from NJ lavish, and
the next day the old man was at the stall AS
usual, hut he was closely mufied about the
throat, and, while passing, | heard n hoarse
cough, showing the cause Of his unwonted
change Of attire,
For some days lie was absent from his usual
post, hut the next time | saw him there, stop
ped and noticed the same dry, honrse, hacking
cough
determined to address him on the subject
for an aged invalid 10 be abroad, especially tC
be standing in one spot, az he was, usual, in
tent upon the books.
You appear to have a bad cough, sir ;"
said interrogatiyely
"Humph," was his brief reply. as / under.
stood the tone, afhrmatiyely.
"Surely this is an unfit morning for you L
be abroad in | added.
'.And who may have given you the right t,
say when iJ- fit for me ~ be abroad, pray
Who arc you r
" The question may well be asked" | sal,
with smile, 8 for, though for well nigh two
years, We haze exchanged greetings Of Il morn
ing, ! believe this Is the longest conversation VI
have ever held together. | am physician sir
DR. -, residing in this neighborhood, and
therefore from my profession, | hatter mysel
capable Of judging when it is proper for an in
valid to be abroad
Hunrh--a physician ! thought as much
and you want to ggt me under your hands, ell
found you out don't ike doctors--physic-
all humbug It's doc,o.s fill the ehurchyards,
and so saying, the old man porcd more deep
into the book he was pcrusng when came up
and deigned no further conversation
He was now absent oftener than usual, an
when did see him at his accustomed spot tn
cough which troubled him still fingered, an
evidently gave him some alarm for he glance
turtively NJ me, and often seemed as though h
would have spoken, but desired me first to brea
the ice hut | had received such rebuff whe
] ventured To speak to him before, that deter
mined he should address me first One day
after a violent fit Of coughing, he said:
. 90 You seem young in your business, an
haW't learnt yet half the humbug of your ell
ers you can come to my house, If you like,
10 O'Clock tomorrow, and perhaps you can civ
Inc something 10 cure me OF this plaguey cougl
the only sickness have ever had in my life
not that J believe you will though--get whi
VfuT raj a
he took out an old pocket-book that might ha'
We'd IN antiquity with the most ancient tome
my friend Mc1avishs stall, and writing h
name and address on a blank leaf, he tore it Of
and gave it to me.
Willing to humor the old man. took it 60,
temperedly, notwithstanding the brusque ma
rer in which it was offered and the ofens
expressions which accompaniedit it, and bowling
good morning, passed on my way,
As | walked up Broadway, glanced at t
leaf and read the addIcss--NIr. ----, No,
Maiden Lane, aud recognized in the name one
the reputea wealthy men of the city an old bac
elor Of eccentric habits, who kept no compan
but lived II perfectly retired life, only having
housekeeper, said to be as eccentric as her ma
teg, to look after his household.
The next morning, punctual to my appoir
ment called at the house. 1t was an old bull
ing, long since pulled down, displaying no oil
ward preteusions to wealth or even comfort, a
having before the lower part piazza wi
wooden jalousies, reached by mounting hiq
old-fashioned Dutch stoop,
On kn Icking at the door, it was opened by
vinegar faced hOusekeeper Of prim and sti
aspect who answered my inquiry" Does y
W reside here" by propoundng 4
- ether:
'sWho may You be " said she.
"I am Dr. ---," replied, G and hf
called at the request of Mr.. W., whom n
yesterday"