The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-05-10
A West Virginia Doctor.

n west NlTSlnit DOttOTs
The major presented me TO Doctor
Didiwick, red headed, suffering,
eccentric individual, who was going up
toward Yeokem's on a professional tour,
and would ride with Us. This was fortu
nate, 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 Hs 10 pro-
vide against all contingencies on to-
morrow's journey; so we ordered our
hostess to have prepared ham, sack
of biscuit, and some bottles OF cold tea
this last, by-the-way, most excellent
beverage for wayfaring people.
After supper, hearing mighty and
continuous humping in the direction
of the kitchen, | thought it advisable
to look in and give some special direc-
tons about the biscuit, which should be
well beaten and thoroughly baked TO
prevent their getting mouldy.
Opening door, | stepped out on the
back porch, and, to my establishment,
caught the doctor pelting and pounding
at a batch of dough. The dough looked
rather dark, to be sure, and the doctor
slightly embarrassed; but, not to be cere-
monious, | said,
Really, doctor, this is very consider
ate in you TO make the biscuit for US
yourself"
"What b-b-b.biscuit2 p lie suffered,
surprised and offended. $50 to the
c-c-ccook. I'm making blue-pills for
my patients tomorrow"
In the name OF Ksculapius, how
M my do you make at time?'
ooh" said he, "a p.p-p-peck, more or
less. Practice in these mountains is
different from your city practice. |
make my rounds once month, and it
takes a weeks riding to get through, so
that have TO provision a whole district
to last until | come again"
In the morning we were on the road
betimes, all in fine spirits except Cock
ney, who was a little sore from yester-
day 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 centenarian
to the toddling yearling, hocked out to
greet him. He inquired after their
|
kind and fatherly manner, naming
such as had been ailing at his last visit.
Having audited all their complaints, he
would leave one or two teacupiuls 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 meet u customer on the
road, and delivered his monthly allow
ance on the spot. The doctor was evi.
IDENTITY honored and beloved by the
whole country, and consulted on all
questions that arose, in law, agriculture
or politics. He was a sturdy Democrat
and dispensed gratuitous opinions on
this subject as freely IS he did his blue.
pills. He suffered sarcastically against
medical quacks, and thought the laws
were not sufficiently severe against
them. Some years ago so-called herb
doctor came poaching upon his domain,
and was a great grief OF mind TO him.
The fellow was civil and wouldn't quar-
rel, but secretly undermined the regular
practitioner, was getting all his patients,
and running the health of the district.
The interloper had two weakn esses-
he was fond of backgammon, and
hated snakes. Didiwick cared no more
for snakes than he did for fishing
worms, so he took all opportunities to
bedevil his rival with practical jokes in
which serpents played leading part.
One day he challenged the herb
doctor to 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 Did,.
wick, "while 90 to order two juleps.
The doctor opened the board, and a
six.foot black leaped out into his
face. He fled, and returned no more.
And so | got rid of the cussed hum.
bug before he killed off my whole dis
} trict "-Porte Crayon in Harper'S Magazine
for Man