The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-05-05

| tAlId tADeIlSe YOU VIII nave.
. We would rather give him our own
bed" was the answer, " than to have
any of your friends sleep badly, doc
tor" Then both husband and wife set
themselves about preparing bed for
the young man, who could hardly hold
his head up. The doctor helped them
to undress the invalid. left prescriptions
for him, and went away.
Next day the young mans condition
was much worse; his fever took more
virulent shape; he became delirious and
wandered in a foreign language which
the doctor recognized as German. He
called his mother to his aid, he mingled
national songs with his complaints and
cries of despair; he promised his be-
trothed that he would soon marry her.
Never did fever produce a more con-
fused or more deplOrable disorder Of
thought. For eight days and nights
the two people to whom the doctor had
confided the stranger watched by his
bedside. The old doctor himself visited
! him several times day, and at last
their devotion found its reward. The
delirium went off, the fever lost its dan
ger and the patient could eat light food
to revive his failing strength. There
was great rejoicing in the humble lodg-
ing that day, for Antoine and his wife
had conceived a parental affection for
! the young man who now owed their lie
to their care.
The convalescent's first words were to
thank these good people, and then to
ask them the name of the benevolent
old man who had succored him. To his
great surprise. ne found that neither
! the husband nor the wife knew his
name. He had once given assistance to
one Of their neighbors, and when the
neighbors heard that Jeanne was sick,
! he had asked the doctor to cure her
! too. and the old gentleman had under
! taken if. and succeeded in doing it.
| One day. when the old man was leaving
! the house where he brought health and
happiness. Antoine had slipped into his
hand three pieces Of gold wrapped up
in bit Of paper.
You ought to have seen his look at
this time" continued Antoine, Do
you think" he said, d" that | use my art
! that YOU should give me the price OF
whole month Of your work? You have
already lost too much of your time in
taking care Of your Wife" Then he
went away as though | had offended
him. and he did not come back for
eight days, and that was when he
brought you with him.
This story, told by the poor people
with praises for the old doctor at every
word touched the young mans heart
and increased his gratitude When he
saw his benefactor como in the evening
the invalid lifted his hand respectfully
to his lips.
% / owe you my life" he said; -" owe
YOU more, for. without you, | would
have been guilty OF a crime
. Yes. it would have been a crime,
my child" said the old man, " for it is
always wrong to seek escape in suicide
from the trials that God puts upon us,
or even from the injustice that society
heaps upon us in return for the services
we have rendered it. God holds us
accountable for the first, and for the
second we should only revenge our
selves by pardoning." The old man
sighed at these words, and with so much
sadness that it was easy to comprehend
that they reflected his own bitter eXpe-
rience.
"What. exclaimed the young man,
'you. so noble. generous and wise
have you any reason to complain of so
ciety or your fellow-rnen p
I" We will not speak Of that" replied
the doctor let's rather talk Of your
plans, now that you are getting well.
What do YOU propose to do, and how
can DE useful to your
. ! would owe YOU the account of lay
whole life, even if 1t had any secrets
but it is very simple and common
place" was the reply. - was born in
Vienna, whore my father practiced
medicine with moro renown than profit.
He died poor about four years ago, and
left my mother without any other re-
sources than the legacy in dispute at
Paris. had been engaged in scientific
studies at the university. Nothing
would have been wanting to my happi-
ness if ! could have secured a small
practice sufficient to marry my cousin
Nina. whom | loved, and to support us.
But young doctors have hard time to
work into practice. After a year of
useless efforts and disappointed hopes,
my mother advised me to come to
Paris and endcavor to recover the dis
puted legacy, as the only means OF rem
dering my marriage possible. obeyed,
left Vienna, arrived at Paris, looked
into the matter, and found that my
rights were incontestible. But it was
necessary to 90 into court, and | had
not the money for lawyers and expen-
ses. Besides, was foreigner and had
no friend to recommend me. Just at
this time, the war between France and
Germany broke out; it was impossible
for me to return home, and | could
only be thankful that my obscurity
kept me from being arrested and held
as prisoner of war. | lived for while
by giving German lessons to some stu
dents, but sickness deprived me even
Of this support. Overcome, heart-bro-
ken, and almost mad,-you know the
rest forced myself to beg, and if it
had not been for you, sir, | would have
died a suicides death.
Your fathers name is known tome,
young man." said the physician.
know that medicine and science are in
dpbtp1 IN him for many importnnt dis