Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-01-28

long been their family physician, bu
whose age and many iu6rmities rendered
| it probable that he would not long stant
in the way of his young successor.
t"There is nothing like patience,
thought Herbert, as day after day passed
and still no call to exert his skill in the
healing art. "This is favorable oppor.
tunity to review my studies" and he
scrupulously devoted large portion Of
each day to the attentive persual of the
many valuable volumes which composed
his library.
At length the long expected moment
arrived A loud and hurried peal at the
bell summoned the young doctor to the
door of his office. A carriage had been
overturned on its way from the depot to
the hotel, two ladies injured, immediate
attendance desired. Visions of broken
limbs and fractured skulls Aoated through
the brain OF the young practitioner, as
seizing his case Of surgical instruments
he hastily followed the messenger. The
ladies had already been conveyed to the
hotel, and he was at once admitted to their
apartment. They appeared to be mother
and daughter. One glance at the almost
deathly c6untenance of the mother, who
was reclining upon a couch, convinced
him that she was the principal sufferer,
and he fastened to make enquiries as to
the nature and extent of the injury she
had received.
is."My daughter is your patient, doctor" F"
she replied, while an expression of anx-
ious solcitude passed over her counten-
eance. "I am uninjured, save from the jar
and fright Helen, my love, show your
arm to the doctor, at once. There is mo
time to lose"
Herbert turned quickly. toward the
young lady who, with vain attempt to
conceal the acute pain which she suffered,
forced a smile, as she ,knF6ered
"You are too aH1 rQncerning me,
dear mama. I trust the injury will prove
trifling one )" but even as she spoke, a
certain faintncss came over, and she would
have fallen from her chair, had not the
strong arm of Herbert supported her.
Gently placing her upon the couch
from which her mother had risen to offer
her feeble aid, he proceeded to, rip the
sleeve, which the already swollen condi-
ton of the arm prevented him from loos-
ening in any other way A careful ex-
animation convinced him that no bones
were broken. The violent pain proceeded
from a bad sprain, which was likely to
prove somewhat tedious, but by no means
dangerous.
His favorable report seemed to lift a
mountain weight from the mothers heart.
Suitable remedies were at once applied,
which relieved the intensity of suffering /;
and with renewed strength and energy,
Helen at once turned her whole attention
to her invalid mother, and earnestly i'm
plored her to take some re st.
For moment, nerbert's eye dwelt ad-
miringly upon the perfect symmetry of her
fairy like form and the extreme loveliness
of her countenance, now lighted up by
filal affection, and then he also gave his
attention to the pale invalid 1t was evil
dent even to his unpractised eye that her
days were numbered. Death was rapidly
and surely approaching, and human skill
might not hope to stay him on his course.
Something might, however, be done for
present relief She was then suffering
from the effects of the excitement occas-
ioned by the accident, and he strongly re-
commended perfect quiet for several days.
Then giving directions for a composing
draught, he took leave, promising to see
them again before many hours.
Hastily returning to his Office, he closed
the door, and throwing himself into his
favorite chair, INDUCED in one of those
reveries delightful at times both to young
and old.
At last, then, he had met with his first
patient, whom he had so long cherished
the belief would exert so powerful an in
huence over his future fortunes. A thous-
and times he had pictured to himself the
sudden and alarming illness of some
wealthy and influential individual, who,
restored to life and health through hi.
medical skill, would gratefully endeavor
to assist him in his profession. The ma
ture of the vision was now changed His
first patient was indeed to rule his destiny
but in different way from what he had
imagined Already was her image indel
IDLY engraven upon his heart and though
as yet unknown to him even by name