The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-05-03
The Doctors Secret /:
THE TWO APOTHECARIES.

gentleman named Turner. He had an
only son. who, having attained the age OF
fifteen, was very desirous OF qualifying
himself to follow the profession Of an
apothecary and surgeon. Accordingly
his father had him bound to am emf
nent surgeon of the same place, whose
name was Stevens. The young man was
80 attentive to his business. that, before
he was out of his time, he was universal
ly allowed to be as great a proficient in
medicine as his master.
His apprenticeship Icing orcluded,
the friends and acQuaintances Of young
Mr.. Turner came to make merry and
spend the evening with him, as was at
that time customary; and among the
rest, his father, who, entering into con-
versation with Mr.. Stevens relative to
his sons capacity and inclnatons for his
profession, at last thus addressed him
'Sir, should grieve to find anything
left undone that might prevent or lessen
bis qualification to his art"
The apothecary said:
I" Sir, | believe him to be as capable in
it as myself, barring that he cannot have
had so much experience, | have neglect
ed no part of his instruction, and have
communicated all know except single
point which is a secret discovered my
self, and having experienced its truth and
value, | am not willing to impart it to
any one, without an adequate cOmpensa-
ton"
AIR. Turner was unwilling that his son
should be deficient in any point which
might be wanting to complete him for the
profession, and therefore demanded the
price of his secret
"Sir," answered Mr.. Stevens, % if your
son makes proper use Of it, it may bring
in thousands. look upon it as iniallble,
and to a man Of prudence, and in great
practice, it may be invaluable; but as
your son has served his time with me-
and has behaved well, and attended dill
gently to his business, | will make him
master Of this useful and excellent nos,
trum for thirty guineas"
After little consideration, and deba-
ting matters with his son, Mr. Stevens
agreed to make it twenty guineas, which
were paid Immediately, and he gave in
return slip Of paper, on which seven
words were written, being the recipe Of
his great and precious nostrum.
The old gentleman after reading the
recipe, burst into a violent passion, say.
ing he had been defrauded, and had part
ed with his money without an equivalent
and that he would appeal to the laws tol
redress. The surgeon, being in posses
sion Of the money, remained quiet, ant
permitted him to vent his rage at leisure
when this had somewhat subsided, he
said calmly. to Mr.. Turner:
"Why, sir, although you now make 81
slight Of this secret, because you know it
yet, insignificant as it may appear to you
it has put many hundred pounds into my
pocket, and if your son will always bea
it in mind, and make proper use Of it, h,
may turn it to as good an account as
have DONE"
Still this did not satisfy Mr. Turner
At length, his son interposed, and said t,
his father:
"Do not, sir, make yourself uneas,
about the purchase of this seeming trife
my master has treated me honorably ant
kindly during the whole Of my appren
ticeship, and | have no reason to suppos
ne wishes to impose on either of US
You do not understand our business
there are secrets in all trades and hav
no doubt but shall, as Mr. Steven
says, profit greatly by this valuable area
mum, so that | beg you will be contented
and leave the rest to me- | shall tax
care that the money shall not be throw
away"
By this interposition of the son, hi
father became at last easy, and when tn
company broke up took him home
a few days after, he wanted his son t
set up business for himself Immediately
in opposition to his old master, whom h
still considered as having cheated him
The young gentleman, however, had
mind to travel, and endeayored to cor
vince his father how necessary it was to g
to Paris for further experience in tn
practice Of surgery and that, in that city
aurgeons had the opportunities of perfet