The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-05-28
Tho Doctors Pern5


lNMfN 70 now NNtutthlltN w lNt WuillallNf
d knife, naturally End gracefully as those o.
iiha pld WuRiaHgani iAF pFairie The ample
chest, fmHil auklrs and proud neck, and the
Wldr-apari prominent eyes, and open nos
+ ir,lF EuQlld gcIlr AlngA Ail a. Liz Ll.a i
siw him old age had Whitencd his brautful
bay coat long tuih ui hair we're growing be-
hind each foot, his eyes we're rhrumY, And
lhe few long teeth which be possessed we're
loose,
had noticed tho care and attention be-
slowed on him by every Inmate Of the family
Not O day passed that bis neck and face were
not caressed hy suh feminine hands and II /
had been surprised a. lhll, how much more
% was when Mrs, Morrison, Who, like my
self, was staying there through the summer,
would frequently throw both arms around
bis neck, and while bis soft nose rested
against her shoulder would call him pet
namea, and not unilequeHly her beautiful
e,es would ON with tears while thus employ
ed. "Don John" received oil these caresfea
as N he hnd been accustomed 90 them ire-
quenty following one and another Of the In
mates Hike huge house dog, My curiosity
al length became so great that resolved %
become acquainted with the reason why he
rspa Tins hOu0rrd With the respect and at
llchmeut Of the household, Not many days
elapsed before / became acquainted with the
reasons, and ! assure YOU, gcdtlo reader,
considered them sufficient 10 excuse ans
UrUUurt N Htrrtrur 'HIirfT rT7fTfTt rtrusu-
superior brute 20 bestoW upon his fellow, the
dumb pno,
. llo had belonged 10 Dr.. Mosely Of Whites
/ b0ro Tor many years o pracl,cing physician
ip that place, aud "Dou John" had carried
his master % and from many q bed ~ death
and God help him, gfe had flown from hi
honh a. many times 90 his short, fleet steps
had dashed across the Mohawk on the old
bridge, not needing the newborn Infants
wall that greeted his ear in his quiet oorner
awaiting he masters pleasure not that Il
WAS the wall fur the advent Of q human soul
doomed o. suffer i'h number Of years, them
die, II his master had acquired iamt-ss
all knew hs had-"Dan John" had also hiA
laurcls 10 bc proud Of
The Doctor had been called 20 Utica on
business connected with his profession, and
had been absent three days, During his ab,
scnce one of those drtuchng, warm, break.
ing.up rains had sc, In, Mountains ofsicc
we're rushing down the Mohawk, swceping
every thing before them, oycrtoWing the
hanks, carrying away bridges, dwellings and
alarming many OF the inhabitants, as well IL ,
might, for one must scc frcshct to under
stand its TERRIBLE Importance One must
hear tho crash and roar, behold the
floating wrecks Of many a dwelling often
htaIiGs "a thing Of Life. and spmcilmrA All-
man life, as WAS Witnessed few years since
on the SchuNlkll
Thc uighi vas inky black, and "Dou John"
picked out the way faithfully and steadily,
TSyg ,e se@4i6sss aei6s NJ. aa6 6heSsR, RSRGlSsc tSso
"a tAp earth. his master had little Tear Tor ]
e,psroucucrs They we're approaching ouA- |
kan, where o bridge spanncd the Mohawk
and "lion John" whinuered pitilully once or I
twice, tn a sharp word from his master warn /
ed him not Co show the white feather On
the other side he could just distinguish |
through the dense darkness, moving ANA
rlimmcring lights, and once he ianccd he
heard shout, but he little needed aught
save getting housed an soon us possible, aud
liis.s-frs-r,. ftiir..-.- e-.i,-. st-i - l-
profession. "Now, Don, step surti old Or
iskany bridge 10 my own aud your kuoNl-
edge, has lost maPN plank said the Doc
tor, patting his beasts neck and pushing
the wet and tangled front lock irom his
eyes.
They were now ascending the little cmi-
ncnce leading TO the entrance, whom the
horse stopped, eco on, SIR enid the Doc
tor, "you are nearly home now Still no at
tc,npt nt going on, and beneath them the an
CRY waters rourcd and beloved like madden
ed devils bnlkcd of their Prey. "l)o YOU
hear me, sir ?' with % smart bullet on the
neck, and q gathering up Of the looscncdl
birdie into q firm and determined hand, and
the animal stnrtcd-lowy, steadily, surcly,l
6rmly--though the broad back slightly sh-
yerrd from time TO time, and the gait Was 80
measured and mcthodical that ut any other
time he would have observed IT, As II was,
he onlx lyt him have his own way, though he
may have smoothrd his neck, for he had a
Kind heart, and his poor beast had lobortd
hard through the dreadful weather, and
was very sadly in want Of both food and
shelter,
Towards the eId Of the bridge the stea..
became slower and once stumbled in the hind
foot. A quick grasp Mt the bride and n
uhccry "liasy, John--easy SIR and ngain
the cautious hools resoundcd on the hArd
wood. They were across, and the animal
neighed and tossed his head ill the Doctor
shook IN the saddle. "One more mile 10 60,
moor fellow but first ! and you want some
refreshmcnts." Riding up to the small Ia
yern door, where genial light was shining
from the windows, he called loudly for the
landlord A dozen or more OF the inmates
came rushing to the door with lanterns,
which they held nloo, and Good Lord
doctor who're did you come from p broke
out from their lips almost simultaneously
"Come from Why, from from over the
Mohawk What is the mat,crP Has the
frcshet carried away any of your senses =
Here, boy" as dismounting, he threw the
reins to gaping fellow, give John some,
| thing nice and dry him of. Keep him well
wrapped up while he eats, and landlord
| want a tumbler of red hot Jamaico, quick
"Doctor," said the group, "hoNe you cross
70 ed the Mohawk tonight and if so, how p
G "Why, on the bridge are you all drunk ?
said the eNnsperated physician.
"Doctor,"Sai the old. gray-hcaded land
P lord, "that bridge went down the Mohawk
e this afternoon. Come with me and ! vii
( snow you. If you crossed, God only knows
how you did it,"
- A shiver went TO the doctors heart-and
lantern in hand, he followed the footsteps OF
the men to the margin Of the swollen ant
rnnid river. Where was the bridge
{ "Amighty God!' said the horror-strucl
! doctor. "where is my gratitude My nobl'
- onr-,.. unnr hnrn Ihia mimi hnck ed hl