The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-05-29
DOCTOR FOSTERS FEE.
&c We'll 9n

DOCTOR FOSTERS FEE.
"Weli?"
DIR. Fosters sister was not given to
explicitly g; the significant "well saved
breath, and answered the purpose of
dozen questions.
The doctor showed his appreciation
by prompt response, but abbreviated
in the same degree.
"Spasms."
Miss Foster gazed at her brother with
n comprehensive scrutiny, and, with the
wisdom for which women are remark
able, she silently awaited the volubility
consequent upon this course.
She brought him his slippers-not
one of the hundred and fifty pairs an
nually sent him by the grateful young
lady patients and widows whose lives he
had saved so frequently during the
year, but pair presented by herself
his dressing gown, also her own loving
work then she resumed her seat oppO-
site him at the table and looked at him
from under her half-clOsed eyelids. She
detected something unusual in his man.
mr., and she knew the less curiosity she
exhibited the sooner would his anxiety
to unbosom himself be gratifed.
What desirable physicians wife
you would make, he said, after pause.
"Why ?"
You never ask questions %
A peculiar smile passed over her face.
but she made no answer.
Another long silence then he said.
impatiently, knocking the ashes from
Lis cigar:
" Horrible night out 20
Z" 1t is, indeed. hope you will not be
called out again. What disagreeabIe
profession yours is, not emitting the
danger surrounding it."
With all its dangers and unpleas-
antness it has a charm for me above
every other. Saving a soul is grand,
but saving life, using natures secrets
10 conquer her enemy, is a power so
beautiful, that the petty inconvenience
only enhance the fascination"
"Fine theory for a young enthusiast,
but for a man who has prRctiaed as long
as You have, l should think the glory
were pretty well worn off. You didn't
seem to bring any of it back with you
from yOur last visit. :"
Oh yOu pTac ical female while
admire the rainbow, you measure the
depth OF the mud. You women always
are IN extremes. 1t is happy thing we
CpuSlluLeu-W0.
who buffet so many disappointments, or
life's treadmill ,gould be run by blue
set of misanthropes."
Miss Foster did not appear hurt at
his views. She knew how he had labored
and suffered 10 gain the foethold that
led him to his present prosperity.
and how, not this position alone. but
the real ideal of his profession had
given him courage to struggle-and con-
quer!
SO she quietly reached over the table.
and taking his hand in her two, pressed
them lovingly. saying. ct understand
you we'll, dear, but cannot control the
anxiety for your welfare and safety
when you go amongst such inhuman
people as you have Just come from"
q confess L did clutch my cane with
n firmer grasp, as I neared the neigh
borhOOd. It was q villainous location.
but il you will think a moment, You
can recall few, if any, instances of at
tack or threatened danger to one of us"
"They surely seem to hold you sa-
cred, or possibly they know you leave
your valuables at home"
In nine cases out of ten, the doctor
who accepts a call from such n quarter
has no valuables to lose, =" answered her
brother.
"Ah you see, my brother, prosper
ity has wiped out all ideas of your Ia
bOrious glory" quickly answered Miss
Foster.
"There you are again." laughed the |
doctor, "ready to accept without ques-
tion, the disagreeable, and condemn the |
whole as a matter of course. 1 wish
somebody Just about nalf good enough for !
you would gobble you up fundamentally |
and teach you the good there is in u.s." |
"Thank you, said Miss Foster, drily. |
"COme, sis, now don't be sarcastic, |
and I'll tell you, or rather, want your
advice"
If there is one thing more than an |
other that pleases and flatters a woman,
1t is to have the "mighty man" come |
down from his exalted estate, in the |
realms of masculine conceit, and call |
her into counsel
Z" You know / am always ready to adj
wise you" replied Miss Foster, with
pleasing dignity.
" As was hurrying along this even
ing to get to the child for whom l was
called, was turning over in my mind
whether it won d not be a charity to
let such miserable Offsprings of vice and
crime die"
" What hldeOus thought.
"Oh, did not slacken my pace in tn
the least, during the undecided state of
mind. was merely revolving the idea
for future consideration.
g Is this the subject that requires my
advice ?"
&" Do be patient; I'll get to that by
and by. As I was saying, expected to
find the child in a state of strangula-
ton, bv the frantic endeavors of two or
three dozen tender-hearted neighbors,
as is generally the case with that class
of people, each closing around the poor
thing to prevent a breath of air reaching
the sufferer; one holding it by the feet,
head downward, another beating 1t on
the back, another throwing hot water
on its head, while still another applies
cold water to its feet, the rest vieipg
with each other who should get their
finger down its throat the farthest to
the much-desired stom-
achic reaction, so Indispensable to their
own well-beiug after certain spiritual
Poor little creature Proclaimed the
sister.
Those children invariably survive,
however, unhappily for the state of So
cietv aud themselves, if they ever real
lie their condition on this earth. was
prepared to scatter such a mob when l
entered the wretched tenament, follow
ing my directions. / Knocked at the
door, rather surprised mt the silence
within. 1t was opened by young wO-
mal."
The doctor stopped short here, and !