Litchfield enquirer., 1873-02-20

tor haan't I dressed his head not thre. hours before). That won't pay,' an swered he; .you'n find there are 8 sigh too many do $ in this location for a fret country, and there are some of 'em we would | very well do without, guess (this h. hissed through his teeth, evidently hay. Eins lively recollection of some of hi
 latest transactions with member of thu
 medical staff Then he continued-fNow
 you4 not find dollars very plentiful here. away, I'll be bound admitted that !
 had not yet made that discovery. Have you been to sea ? reminded him that
 the overland route to America from Ire
 land was not as yet much used. Though vague, this answer seemed to satisfy him
 for he came to the point at once. Say now, stranger, will the surgeons berth ot this ere barque suit you? 'coz I'm Bound to sail tomorrow, and 1t is not likely that l shall set my eyes on that durned doc o1 mine again; if l due (and he whistled softly. was expressing my willingness to accept of his offer, when he added carelessly Cat the same time giving me g sharp glance e)-'You have your papers all correct, stranger, of course 2 -@-
 sI had to admit that I had not-had left them Ireland. This statement the worthy skipper received with another whistle of very different tone.
 You have passed yor examination, thoughg .....'..l. -
 Sure and have, said Iboldly. That again was th''te as gospel, for hadn't l passed last Tn my class for English com position, and didn't remember that same well, by rayson that my dad gave me such a larruping that evening, when I came and told him, that I had run rway before the rest of the examinations came on; fol what between bateing at school and bate
 ing at home, I wouldn't have had sound bone in my body to sit down upon by the end of tho week
 "sNow young man, said the skipper, reaching down two tumbIers from shelf, I thisk we can due business. Owing to the loss of your papers, you see I can't well g1ve you the surgeons berth or pay, but can take you as surgeons assistant. l sail for Colton tomorrow, and so, if you fancy the trip, I'll give $30 dollars and board you; for you see I'd like to do you a good turn, I would
 ''I didn't long hesitate. for the offer. though not much, was better than a poke in the eye with tarry stick, and in a couple of minutes walked out of the cab in the better by glass of old rye,' and a slip of paper appointing me surgeons as- sistantto the barque Flying Cloud of Bos- ton, U. S., Captain Jackson. q after wards found out that that cute old sea dog had represented me to the owners as ana xpeiienced Surgeon en route to Lima. whom he had engaged for the trip at 180 dollars, and free passage, thus clearing a bonus for himself of 15O dollars
 '.I found the Flying Cloud a roomy barque of some $50 tons, her cargo con sisted almost entirely of railway plant. &c.; and in addition to the regular crew and officers, he had on board about a dog en passengers, mostly all clerks and en,- ploySs of the Panama Railway Company. Nothing of importance occurred during the voyage except the death of one of tn e seamen. I don t know what the poor fell low died of, but did my best for him, bleeding him every morning, and putting mustard plaster on his stomach every night; but he would die in spite of all I could do, just before we reached Aspin- wal. When We got in, the skipper and I fell out, so much so that swore I would never enter his ship again. He told me to be off at once, and be thankful that he didn't hand me over to the police for an imposter; for, says he, Young man, I guess you're no doc at all, and know no more about surgery than the vet ''down east" who knew no more about horse flesh than how to ''fix" up a Colts revol- yer; and, added he, I shouldn't be doing my duty to my owners if I didn't with hold your pay, for durn me if you have earned red cent of it.
 s1 confess this made me uncommon wrathy. Still, unluckily for me, didn't fell quite safe as to my treatment of the fellow who died, and think old Jackson knew daren't say much; SO I had to 'cave in, and the skipper fingered my 30 dollars, and landed me and my bag on the wharf at Aspinwall, without dime to buy drink with. So I reckon the old man cleared 150 dollars, and got himself and crew doctored for nothing, all in return for hls generosity in giving me an assistant-surgeon's berth.'
 ''Good man, put in Goldey Hall, one of the party, approvingly, 'snow I guess if we had gold mine here away; which would run about One-tenth to the ton, and which we kinder thought advantageous to part with to one of your British joint stock companies, that friend of yours, Doc, .the skipper, Is just the man would like to make promoter or secretary, or whatever you calls the beggar who draws up the prospectus. You don't happen to know where your friend breathes now, do you, Doc?"
 No, not I; but it's ten days ago now, and he's gone under, maybe"
 'Pity that, muttered Hall, lighting a fresh cigar.
 A couple of fresh logs are pitched into the fire, which has burnt low during the Docs story. Up shoots the bright flame, throwing broad circle of light round the encampment, lighting up the grey rocks and solemn storm-worn pines, and spark ling brightly on the ripping waves of the lake, which lap softly on the white sand at our feet. Further out, beyond the feathery branches of great tree which oyerhangs the water, the silent lake lies gleaming in the cold white moonlight, the distant land shrouded by bank of white mist. Night has always charm of beau ty all its own; and where is that charm itary unnamed campi Little,. however, does Dr. OBrien think or care about the surroundings" as he pour himself what NOAuSy AaA APtly uSscKlDeS dS AuA- grown mans drink" and after having re- freshed hIs inner man, continues unreel- ing his yarn. r e4
 'sIt was a mighty lucky thing for me that none of the passengers had been i'll, or they might not have had such kind feelings towards me. As 1t was, they thought I had been very hardly used, and made up subscription for me, giving me enough to take me to Panama, where I might possibly find employment. won't tell you of the shifts l was put to for some time to keep body and soul togeth- CT. have heard say the meanest thing @ white man was ever known to do was to rob a little nigger boy (who hadn't stitch on him to steaD of q half-chewed lozenge-but I won't swear to the truth of thGt; anyhow, I know white man will do plaguey mean things, and eat plaguey mean things too Sat that when pushed to it. We'll, as I Twas saying, I contriyed to keep my joints hanging together (and that was about alb, till at length was lucky enongh to catch real hot typhus fever, and was taken to hospital. That