Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-12-28
PARIS. ME-.
MIS $ G T. LII AN Y
THE WOMAN WITH ONE HAND.
nv MANY ErLE DALLAS.

Appearances whatever. be- any one who
may pcruse thi. narrative to understand
that am no superstitious creature afraid
Of my own shadow, lending an attentive ear
TO old womsn's stories. and seeing " some-
thing white" in every corner where the
shadows gather thiekly after dusk. IL il.
scarcely likely that an old surgeon. who has
stood beside % many dying pillows, and
and with perfect composuro watched
30 many spirits take fight from rscked
and wounded bodies, should tremble a, the
though, OF a discmbodied soul know too
we'll the release death often !. TO poor. pain
stricken morials, TO fear their voluntary re.
turn to the scenes Of their unhappincs' and
suffering. Neither Am the victim Of dis
ordered nerves or fcScrcd Imagination. |
have performed operations in which ono
trcmor Of the hand would have been fatal
where. had my hand swcrVei but hairs
SrsAi,h TO ,h, right or lelt, would have
bceu a murderer. Nay, I eau DO what
mpny able and energetic men have found
impossible. for have bad those dearest 90
my soul beneath my hand. and though each
moan OF anguish. each auiier Of the heart
went through every nerve. the kindly cruel
knife worked ON as steadily AZ though IL
carved a block Of senselcss wood. The por.
fr.tt ~ ,,,..tf ..l..l t.... d. 49,. a.. ......
isl yonisr. is not that Of dreamer or u
maniac. and We, should pronounce the
mAu who told the such a tale a. that an
about 70 commit ,opaPcr a Ct inmate for
luuatic asylum. Even nos ! pause before
I write the words. Ani am half inclined 10
ding aside tho pen, lest any Who should pe-
ruse the story should pronouncc old Dr.
GrcysiOek mad Aud what II thcy should
DO 80 | iHoir that every scene shall 70.
cord las pass,l bciore my eycs. that my
mind i calm and clear, aud my sense. un-
impaired. Shalt I. shn never fAltcrcl
when | knew that one false movement would
sud the cruel steel through dear broth.
cr's loving heart. turu coward now,
and hide the truth le.i the world should
laugh at ms' will not. Come on my
gray soo.e-quill. aud DO your task, ere am
grown 50 OLD that ih1 story shall be deemed
the dwelling Of childish brain.
was born in quic, and retired coun.
try village. My father mingled she pro.
fc..iou' Of doctor and aPoIhecarJ, and a,
time, drew teeth or .et fractured limb
anything for living, poor man, Tor he had
large family, and neither property nor the
eIpsctstions OF a leTAcy. ~. patients we're
distributed over a vide tract OF country,
and during an unhealthy season be was Of
ten upon horseback from morning until
night. epduring the scoschins sun OF SUM
msr. the eJld blasts Of winter. or the MAS
matte VapOr' Of the marshy ground over
which hs wA. called 10 travel, upon many a
rainy nigh, 10 prescribe Tor .omc poor crca-
;urs who was very low with tho fever. +"
During b.. frsqusu, absences, ! presided
over the pill. aud po,ions, mixed washes.
made up prescriptions, and smu'Od myself
by the perusal Of several works upon anato.
my which gracod the book.shelVos OF the
room behind the shop. The science wa,
my ehisi delight. and in little while the
determination to become a Surgeon filled
my mind. Much experience had made me
doubt the power Of medicine Tho mystic.
re, Of the unseen machinery within us
might baitle the most learned, but tho sur
gson. dealing with the outer man. could
-ss hi. work. aud really benefit his fellow
creatures. knew the strength OF my
nsrses, and the value they would bS 10 me
in the surgical profession, and | cared
my intentiO0 10 adopt It before | had r iaeh'
ei my sixteenth year. Ny father was
pleased, and gave hi. eoBssnt at once; but
there sas SOME prel,uinariss to bo arrs.ns-
eI. anl some funds u be accumulated. De.
fore ! could enter upon regular cour % Of
study. Meanwhile, stayed a, home, im.
patiently, and gathered al could from
books and from my fathers Instructions.
The time passed ,ediously erOugh. for vas
anxious 10 commenc NV career, and start
upon the high rOld 10 veAlth aud eminonns.
and many were the anIiou. DAYS and sleep
les nights which spent ere the time arri-
we'd xLlch witnessed my departure for the
city. At last, however, all Ma ready. I
bais sdieu to ny mother, nay father, and
my younger brother, froa whom I had ney.
er yet been separated for one night, and
Sith hear, which beat vith high hopes,
even amid the gSisf Of parting. took my
place in the stage, and loii. Toe the fTss
time, the home Of my glad childhood.
IN month, had become seea,tomcd to-.
the separation, aud thought only Of my pro-
fession.
Medical students are generally Wild, rec k
lee. aud dissipatOd. ! was nci,her. The
discretion Of old age seemed to have come
suddenly upon me. shared ny con ,rades
stories bat refused to niEgIe in their 'rsie.,
Tor had determined to retain uy strong
nerves and unshaking hsod to the last.
Nevertheless. was general fa'orite. and
formed many friendships among the g'idy
band which lasted long sf.es they had be.
come gray.headed men. There uss one
among the number whose name vas L Rob-
ert BE lava gay, handsome boy be Ma
fnll Of ion and frolie. and terribly addicted