The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-07-30

any but poor pictures, which would not
sell. 1t was an even thing with him
whether he became starving artist or
remained a starving physician. he
was earning no money as either, nor
was he likely to, in the city. Why
not try the country! Its
inhabitants were honest. and
supplemented, he had somewhere read,
and what, with the heat Of the sun, and
other novel pecuiarities, they we're, he
thought, more liable to sickness than
the denizens of crowded city. Ger
tainly the children we're, for were they
not perpetually eating green fruit! Yes.
he would try the country, if, after look
ing into the practice that was to be dis
posed of, he could see living in it. He
called upon the disposing practitioner,
who was but little older than himself
an affable, good-natured young fell
low, though rather verdant, ne thought.
The verdant one was willing to ''vam-
Dose the rancho as he remarked, ''for,
between ourselves, there is q
lady in California who is at
tached to me, though you
wouldn't think it, perhaps ''But
about your practice q II won't sag
ANYTHING about it. But tomorrow, if
you like, say tomorrow forenoon, I'll
harness up, AMI you can see for your
self. 1t is not sickly now, l must tell
you, but it's going to be soon, especial
~ among children and old folks. Men
like you and l might live forever here,
only they have no such men. Plenty
of money though. My horse remem-
bcrs the house of every patient in the
neighborhood, and stops Of himself at
their doors. You can jot down the
number as we jog along, and decide
whether you'll buy me out or no. And
now we adjourn to the tavern (are you
stopping there 9 and have something
cool. I'm thirsty, and want to smoke.
Musn't smoke in my office you know.
Here's cigar, you can smoke. Try
it, They adjourned to the tavern,
had something cool, smoked, and came
to an agreement regarding the sum to
be paid for the practice, past, present,
and future-especially the future!
The next forenoon the pair drove
through the town, or rather the coun-
try doctor did, and was considerable
time about it, so often did the noble
animal that drew the buggy stop.
"Why, Doctor, nearly every person in
town must have been under your
hands, remarked our delighted cit,
keeping a mental tally of the stoppages.
"Yes-suppose so-one time or another.
Get upr' 1t was constant "get up!'
to the horse, who appeared to remem-
Der his masters practice better than
his master did.
1t was purchased at once for good
round sum in cash, and that very after
noon the retired practioneer proceeded
to the station, accompanied by two or
three acquaintance who were enjoying
something hugely. 'Best thing out y
said one. "Beats all, replied another;
''eh, Doc - "Tol lol,'' he answered
coolly. The train stopped, took him
on, and that affable, good-natured, YER
dant young person, who was going to
California, where he had a tender at
tachment!
Days passed, and no patients. More
days passed, and still no patients
What did it mean! Mean l--it meant
that there was no practice there! The
country NJ. D. had borrowed the horse
of the milkman! That's all
''Only this, and nothing more
[''Etchings - Scribners for August.