Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-05-20
an ylttrtstiy1g Storg.
THE DOCTOR'S RIDE.
BY EMERSON BENNETT

".We Doctors meet with strange adventures, y
once said to me distinguished physician, with
whom was on terms Of intimacy.
81 have often thought" l replied, "that the
secret history of some of Your profession il
written in detail would make work Of thrill
ling interest"
II don't know that exactly agree with you
in regard to detail, rejoined my friend: there
is great deal that is common place, and there
fore not worthy of being recorded but grant
us the privilege Of your novelist, to select our
characters and scenes and work them into q
kind Of plot, with view of striking denoue-
ment, and doubt not many of us could give
YOU romance in real life, comprising only
what we have seen, which would equal, if not
surpass, anything you ever met in the way OF
fiction. BY the by, l believe never told You
of the most strange and romantic adventure OF
my life?
"You never told me Of any Of your adven-
lures. Doctor, replied; but if you have astory
to tell you will find me an eager listener"
every we'll, then, as have a few minutes to
spare, will tell you one more wildly romantic,
more incredibly remarkable, if I may SO speak
than you probably ever found in work OF tic
tion"
81 am all attention"
"Twenty five years ago." pursued the Doctor
"I entered the Medical College Of r as Q
student l was then quite young, inexperienced
and inclined to he tmid and sentimental; ant
we'll do remember the horror | experienced
when one of the senior students, under pretcnct
of showing me the beauties of the institution
suddenly thrust me into the dssecting room
among dead bodies, and suddenly closed tho
door upon me nor do forget how my screech
cs of terror and prayers Of release from thai
awful place made me the laughing stock of my
older companions.
Ridicule is hard thing to bear; the coward
becomes brave To escape it, and the brave mar
fears it more than he would a belching cannon
suffered it till could stand it no longer ant
wrought up to pitch of desperation, deman
ded to know what might do to redeem my
character and gain an honorable footing among
my fellow students.
II will tell you," said one, his eyes sparklin!
with mischief, {" if yon will go at the nidnigh
hour and dig up a subject, and take it to you
room and remain alone with it till morning. vi
will let You oil and never say another wore
about your womanly fright"
sIludtlered. 1t was fearful alternative
but it seemed less terrible to sucr all the llur
rors that might be concentrated into 4 singl,
night, than To hear day after day the jeers o
my companions.
"Where shall go? and when? % was III,
timid inquiry and the very thought of sucI
III adventure made my blood run cold.
"To the Eastern Cemetery, tonight, a
twelve O'clock" replied my tormcnter, tixin!
his keen black eyes u!.On me, and allowing hi
thin lips to curl with contempt 4" But what i
the use of asking such coward as you to per
form such manly feat?" lie added deridihsly
His words stung lie to the quick ; and with
out further reelection, and scarcely Of what
was saying, rejoined boldly:
'' am no coward, sir, us will prove to YOU
by performing what you call a manly feat"
O. You will go?" he asked quickly.
81 will"
&c Brayey said, my lad !" he rejoined in
tone of approval, and exchanging his eSprcssi.
of contempt Tor one one of surprise and admi
ration. edo this, Morris, and the first ma
that insults you afterwards makes an enemy Q
mem
ss Again felt cold shuddcr pass throug
nv frame at the thought of what was bcfor
me: but I had accepted the challenge in tn
nresence of witnesses-for this conversation oc
cnrrel as we were leaving the hall, after listen
inc to an evening lccture-and was resolves
TO make nv word good should it even cost III
INV life in fact knew could not do other
wise now, without the risk Of being driven il
disgrace from tho college.
should here observe that in those days thcr
were few professional reSurrcctiOniSts and as
was absolutely necessary to have subjects 70
dissection, the unpleasant business Of procuring
them deYolYed upon the students, who in con