Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-03-08
liqI)t laeo0inQ.
1aE WOMAN WITH ONE HAND
THE SURGEON s STORY.

/ do not believe in ghosts l have no
faith in any supernatural manifestations or
appearances whatever. beg any one who
may peruse this narrative to understand
that | am no supcrstitious creature, afraid
of my own shadow, lending an attentive
ear to old women's stories, and seeing
something white in every corner where
the shadows gather thickly after dusk 1t
is scarcely likely that an old surgeon, who
has stood beside SO many dying pillows,
and watched so many spirits take their
flight from racked and wounded bodies,
should tremble at the thought of a diem
bodied soul | know too we'll the release
death often is to the poor, pain-stricken
mortals, to fear voluntary return to tae
scenes of their unhappiness and suffering
Neithcr am | the victim of dsordered
nerves or fevered Imagination. | have per-
formed operations in which one tremor of
the hand would have been fatal, when, had
my hand swerved but hairs breadth to
the right or left would have been mur-
dcrer Nay, I, DR.. Greystock, can do
what many able, energetic men have found
impossible, for have had those dearest to
my soul beneath my hand, and, each mean
of anguish, each futter of the heart, went
through my every nerve. the kindly cruel
knife worked on as steadily as though it
carved a block of senscess wood.
was born in a quiet and retired coun-
try village. My father mingled the pro-
fession Of doctor and apothecary, and at
times drew teeth, pr set a fractured limb
anything for living poor man, for he had
large family, and neither property nor
expectations of a legacy. His patients
were distributed over wide tract Of coun-
try, and during an unhealthy season he
was often on horseback from mcrnine un-
| til night, enduring the scorching sun of
summer The cold blasts of winter, or the
masmaic vapor of the marshy ground over
which he was called to travel upon many a
rainy midnight to prescribe for some poor
creature who was very low with the fe-
YER" During bis frequent absences pre-
sided over the pills and potious, mixed
washes, made up prescriptions. and amused
myself by the perusal of several works on
anatomy, which graccd the bookshelves of
the room behind the shop. This science
was my chief delight and in a little while
the determination to become surgeon fill
ed my mind. Much experience had made
me doubt the power of medicine. The
mysteries of the unseen machinery within
us might battle the most learned, but the
surgeon, dealing with the outward man.
could see his work, and really benefit bis
tellowcreatures. | knew the strength of
my nerves and the value they would be to
me In the surgical profession, and de-
clared my intention to adopt it before
had reached my sixteenth year. My faith
er was pleased and gave his consent at
once, bat there we're somo prelimlnarles to
be arranged, and some funds to be accu-
mulated before | could enter regular
course Of study. Meanwhile stayed at
home. impatiently, and gathered all could
from books and my fathers Instructions
The time passed tediously enough for was
anxious to commence my career, and start
upon the high road to wealth ard emf
nence, and many were the anxious days
and slecpless nights which spent ere the
time arrived which witnessed my depart
ura from the city. At last, however, al
was ready bade adieu to my mother,
my father, and my young brother, from
whom had never yet been separated for
one night, and, with heart which beat
with high hopes even amid the grief of
parting took my place in the stage, and
left for the first time, the home OF my glad
childhood
In a month had become accustomed to
the separation and thought only of my
profession. 1'.
Medical students are generally wild,
reckless and disipatea. was neither =
The discretion of old age seemed to have
come suddenly upon me- l shared my
comrades studies but refused to mingle in
their orgies, for | had determined to re-
tain my strong nerves and mistaken hand
to the last. Nevertheless | was a general
favoritc, and formed many friendships
among the giddy band, which lasted long
after they had become gray headed men,
There was one among the number whose
name was Robert Redlaw-a gay hand
some boy he was, full of fun and frolie,
and terribly addicted to practical jokes -
but, nevertheless kind-hearted and gener-
Gus to a fault, for he would have given his
last penny to any one who seemed in need
of 1t. To the living he was all tenderness :;
to the wounded wretch at the hospital his
hand was as soft as any woman S, and
have seen his eyes fill with tears while he
inflicted necessary pain but to the dead
he seemed hearless-a liselegs body being
of no more value, in bis eyes, than the
trunk of a dead tree
Would you value your old violin case 2"
he would say when any one demonstrated
with him ON the subject The strings
broken-nay, the instrument destroyed
of what value is that which was but formed
for Its protection. For my part. when my
soul has taken fight, care not what you
do with this complication of flesh and
bones which now contains it. And upon
this principle be seemed to act in-yoluntari
ly.
Que night-oh. how we'll l remember
it-a cold, bleak evening in midwlnter I
sat alone beside my fire. absorbed in med
itation. The book had been reading Law
beside me, upon table. and my candle
burned low within the socket, for it was
nearly one clock. although had not yet
retired. Suddenly Twas aroused by a loud
ringing at my door-bell, and a sound of