Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-05-09
A West virginia Doctor.

The major presented me to Doctor
Didiwick, a red-headed, suffering, &C.
centric individual, who was going up to-
ward Yeokem's on professional tour,
and would ride with US. This was for
tunate. as the road we contemplated
. travelling was very obscure and difficult,
and the country not an agreeable one to
get lost IN.
The doctor also cOunseled us to pre-
vide against all contingencies on tO-mOr-
rows Journey SO we ordered our hos
tess to have prepared ham, sack OF bis
cult, and some bottles of cold tea-this
last, by-the-way, most excellent bev-
erage for wayfaring people.
After supper, hearing a mighty and
continuous humping i'll the direction of
the kitchen, thought it advisable to
look in and give some special directions
about the biscuit, which should be well
beaten and thoroughly baked to prevent
their getting mOuldy.
Opening a door, stepped out on the
back porch, and, to my establishment,
caught the doctor pelting and pounding
at batch of dough. The dough looked
rather dark, to be sure, and the doctor
slightly embarrassed; but, not to be
cermonious, said;
Really, doctor, this is very consid-
crate in you to make the biscuit for us
yourself"
''What b-b-b-biscuit ?" he suffered,
surprised and offended. $50 to the
c-c-c-cook. I'm making blue pills for
my patients Tomorrow
I'm the name of Hsculapius, how
many do you make at time"
Oh" SAID he, "a p-p-p-peck, more or
less. Practice in these mountains is
different from your city practice. l
make my rounds only once a month,
and it takes a weeks riding to go
through. so that | have to provision n
whole district to last until come again. y
In the morning we were on the road
betimes, all in fine spirits except Cock
ney, who was a little sore from ycster-
days ride but did his best not to mind it.
The country was wild and rugged
enough, but more pOpulOus than we had
imagined The doctor called at every
house, and at his familiar hallOO all the
inmates, from the hObbling Centrnarian
to the tOddling ycarling, tlOCked out to
greet him. He inquired after their wei
fare. physical and moral, in most kind
and fatherly manner, naming such as
had been ailing at his last visit. Hav-
ing audited all their complaints, he
would leave one or two teaCuptUls OF
pills and ride on. Sometimes he took
the trouble to dismOunt and enter the
cabin of some bedridden patient; at
others he would simply inquire concern
ing a family living far back in the woods,
and leave measure of pills to be sent
over next Sunday. Occasionally he had
the luck to meeta customer on the road,
and delivered his monthly allowance on
the spot. The doctor was evidently
hOnored and beloved by the whole Coun-
try, and consulted on all questions that
arose, in law, agriculture. or politics,
He was a sturdy Democrat, and dispcns-
ed gratuitOus opinions on this subject aS
freely as he did his blue pills. He slut
tered sarcastically against medical
quacks, and thought the laws We're not
sufficiently severe against them. some
wears ago a sO-called herb doctor came
preaching upon his domain, and was a
great grief of mind to him. The fellow
was civil and would not quarrel, but Sc
cretly undermining the regular practi-
TONER was getting all his patients,
and running the health Of the district.
The interlOpcr had two Weaknesses
he was fond Of backgammon, and hated
snakes. Didiwick cared no more for
snakes than he did for fishing worms, 50
he took all opportunities to bedevil his
rival with practical jokes in which Scr
penis played a leading part.
One day he challenged the herb doc
tor to a game of backgammon. Pleased
with the unusual civility, he accepted,
and seated himself at the table where
the box lay closed before him. The
tavern loungers, aware that something
was up, gathered round to witness the
game.
Set the board, doctor" said dbl
wick, ''while go to order two juleps.
The doctor Opend the board, and a
siX-foot black snake leaped out into his
face He fed, and returned no more.
"And so | got rid Of the cussed hum
bug before he killed off my whole dis
trict. "-[PoRTE CRAVoN, in H1rper y
-lagaejne for May.