The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-09-19
THE STORY-TELLER.
"DOCTOR /" JOHN.v

"A Doctors life is a strange one =
muttered DIR. John Hessman, as ht
jumped into his carriage, taking the
reins from the hands of the grinninp
Ethiopian who, for the last twenty
minutes, had been cherishing the fond
,delusion that he was to accompany his
master on his round Of professional in
quiry.
mot this time, Ebony" said the dec
tor, with good natured shrug of his
broad shoulders. you can come to-
morrow" noting the look of disappoint-
ment in the boys face. DR.. John was
more tender of his servants than some
men are of their wives.
"Oh, never mind, Massa, never
mind !" replied Ebony, like the average
human, quite forgetful of annoyance
when the subject of consideration was
distastsful. II knows what It's. I Just
knows what 'tis," added Ebony, as he
watched the carriage out of sight
He's got one of his spells, and wants
to talk to hisself; 1 hnow him of old.
II twas anybody but DR.. John, should
just say. Ebony, that man has got
softening Of the skull; but no such
nonsense can be laid to him"
DR.. John did want to be alone, or as
much alone as a man could be in the
streets of a crowded city, and he did
want to talk to himself. Most men
who are in the habit of communing
with their own souls, do it in audible
language; so in this respect, whatever
he might be in others, DR.. John did not
differ from his brethren. A mans own
opinion is not uufrequently his best and
safest companion. 1t will keep its
owners secrets, and when the compan-
ionship is frequent, will in all cases
properly guide and admonish. Self
communism in its highest form is the
avenue which leads directly to the
heart of God.
"Yes," continued the doctor, Eyes,
sir" sometimes DIR. John was very re-
spectful to himself.) "A doctors life is
no joke. Easy, my beauty, easyl Now,
John, look at that horse. You are only
just little more of an animal than he
is. It's fun for him to travel when
there's another horse close by that he
can outrun. Exactly the case with
you, John. If it hadn't been for anoth-
er horse in the shape OF doctor you
were determined to get little the start
of, where would you have been to-day
That's the point. Worthy ambition, eh ?
to pass poor devil on the road of life !!
Upon my word, believe should be a
better man il I had wife. Irather like
women; but it is little hard to under
stand how fellow manages with a wo-
man tied to him morning noon and
night. That's what takes me. Then, 1
am not sure that anybody'd have me
that was anyways suitable. OF course, I
should want intelligence, and intellectu-
ality, too, by George and I never could
endure plain woman, or a woman with
a loud voice, or-Yes, sir, that ques-
tion is in order" continued the doctor,
stroking his long, silky, black beard.
"That is what'1 call driving the nail in.
What have you got, John Hessman, to
give in exchange for those royal treasures
of mind and body2 A good name-yes !;
an exceptionable position, unimpeacha-
BILE integrity-yes, sir. These are some
thing !" and here our M. d., reined up
before an elegant brown stone mansion,
where one of his best (pecuniarily speak
ing) and most fashionable patients re-
sided. Here DR.. John was employed by
the year and although the position was
no sinecure, on account OF the amount OF
patience required to battle with the
nervous fancies of the principal invalid
of the establishment, still DR.. John, to
use his own telling vernacular, consider
ed it "an exceedingly soft thing and
soft it was in more senses than one.
DR.. John walked right up into the
invalid's chamber.
"Oh, good morning. doctor. A little
late aren't you2 Seems to me have been