Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-08-19
NO. 1870.
DR.. JOHN.


had come to the conclusion that he would
be doctor, too, when he got to be man:
for Johnny loved his father very much;
and thought the things his father did were
Just the right things to do.
But Johnny was tired of waiting to be
man. lie had waited so long-a whole
week in fact; for it was week before
the morning of which | am writing that
Johnny had come to the conclusion, and
had climbed upon his fathers knee and
told him his plan.
lie didn't see as he was any nearer be-
ing man for all this time, and JOHNNY
was discouraged. He went trudoing
along to his fathers office, all bundled up
in his tippet, his warm mittens and his lit
tie fur cap, but he wasn't happy par
tlcle; although he was dragging pretty,
red sled after him, and had twenty-five
cents in his pocket, jacket-knife, and
lots OF other things. He was so tired of
beng called Johnny" and eating pea
nuts, and waiting round to be man
He wanted to be DIR. John at once, and
wear boots that would stamp and squeak
on the sidewalk, and have folks come and
ring the bell for him in the middle of the
night, and race their horses all into a
white foam around the mouth to carry him
somewhere.
Johnny went into his fathers office and
sat down to warm his fingers. His father
was out, but Morris, the boy, was in the
back room.
II can play am doctor, anyhow"
said Johnny, after he had looked into the
fire awhile, and his face frightened as he
unwound his tippet and threw it and his
cap and mittens on the floor. He pushed
his fathers black morocco-cushioned chair
to the table, and climbed into ii, crossing
one leg over the other, and taking great
newspaper, glanced over it in a wise, doc
tor-like way.
Pretty soon there were light steps at the
door, and the door was opened very still,
and little girl about Johnny's size came
in. She was shivering with the cold, and
there were tears on her face, and one lit
tie bare red hand was holding up the
other arm. She stopped at the door and
looked around till she met Johnny's eyes
over the top of the paper.
81 want the DOCTOR" she said, half cry
ing.
Johnny put down the paper and looked
at her. She was such trembling little
thing he wasn't afraid of her a particle, so
he coughed and said
Eyes, mama. Be you sick ?''
Yes, my wrist is sprained awfully,
and my mother said to have him put some-
thing on it. Is he to home p''
"No, he amt" said Johnny. ''But |
am and that'll be just as good. | am DR..
John.''
"Oh - said the little girl, and she look
ed hard at the new young doctor,
''How did you sprain it?" inquired
Johnny, coming to business.
so | waS a.Slitnrr down b;11-.oY, ,,,v
feet, you know, cause hain't got no sled
and there was girl, she came right
against me with peaked sled and fell me
over and-O dear me p and the little girl
whimpercd and rubbed her wrist.
DR.. John kicked against the chair. "Is
it sprained right in two ?" he asked.
mo, it amt" said the little girl.
eff it was 'twould have to be sewed to-
gether. suppose but but if it amt, l
don't most know what. Lemme see it,"
The little girl edged to the table in
bashful way, and pushing up her. apron
sleeve, showed little red, chapped wrist.
DR.. John looked from the wrist to the floor
and from the floor, to the wrist and
back to the floor, and wondered what to
say.
Il suppose it aches inside" he remark
ed at last.
Yes" said the little girl; in where the
bones be-"
"Of course;' and DR.. John looked at
her as if she had said wise thing. Then
he wondered what to do next. AT last a
bright idea came.
II guess Il new sled would begood.n
The little girl looked up with bright
eyes.
" Cause if you had one they couldn't
bunt you over when you were sliding
down hill, and if they did you could bunt
them back into them"
YES" said the little girl, forgetting all
about her aching wrist. 'And-Oh my
is nice on Wilson's Hill"
won't your mother buy you a sled pn
inquired Dr. John.
The girls lip quivered, and she looked
down.
''She hasn't got any money"
DR.. Johns eyes went to his sled bv the
side of the stove. The little girls ewes
followed his. and rested upon it too.
so. well, here's one p he said, Jumping
down from his chair. "I'm getting pret.
ty big, and shant want it any more" and
he dragged the sled up to her.
The little girls face shone under the
stains OF tears as she took the handle.
She tugged in her pocket, and bringing up
a iive-cent piece, handed to DR.. John.
What's that?" he inquired.
That's the pay-ma said so-for dur
ing my wrist"
30, yes" and DR.. John dropped the
coin into his pocket, and the little girl
went off dragging the sled with no signs
of aches or sprains about her.
That afternoon when DIR. John had gone
home, the same little girl came to the
Office, bringing back the sled. The real
doctor was in this time, and the little girl
cried. and said her mother would not let
her keep the sled. The real doctor got
the whole story, and then he laughed, and
sent the little girl home again with the
sled and some medicine for her wrist, and
a note to her mother saying that he want
ed his boy always to stick to his bargain.
When he went home that night he took
Dr. John, in his red flannel nightgown, on
his knee and told him he was a nice doc
tor, for his medicine wasn't bad to take.
DR.. John hugged up to his father, and said