Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-08-07
NO. 30.
DuyIng q PRACTICE.

ale is but landscape painter" as Ten
nyson sings in "The Lord of Burleieh :"
but once he was a physician, and, If his
knowledge Of medicine was equal to his
knowledge Of art, he was a very good ply
sicisn. He was younger then than he is
now, aud be is not old, and he was areenor
-greencr than any spring foliage he ever
painted, and spring foliage, by the way, is
a speciality Of his. City born and bred, he
made short summer visit into tho coun-
try, and, while thoro heard incidentally of
a country doctor who wished to sell his
practice. He was hesitatlng, was our young
friend, about his final choice of a proIes-
sion, having failed 10 procure any but poor
patients, who could net pay, and having al
20 failed 10 paint any. bub poor pictures,
which would not sell. II was an even
thing with him whether he became a stsry-
ing artist, or romaiued a starving plysi-
clan. He was earning no money 80 either,
nor was he likely to, in the city. Why not
try the cOuntry7 .I.9 Inhabitants were
honest, and supplemented, he had some
where read, and what, with the heat of the
sun, and other novel peculisrities, they
"SaNI NV NiSbSblt hlDIb ildDit 10 bitkn65S
than The deniEers Of crowded city. Ger
tainiy the children were, for were they not
perpetuaily eating green fruit? Yes, he
would try the country, If, after looking in
to the practice that was to be disposed of,
he could see living In it. He cslied upon
the disposing practitioner, wno was but 4
little Older than himself-an afTable, good
natured young fellow, though rather TER
daut, he thought. The verdant one was
willing 10 "vamoose the ranche," as he re-
marked, "for between ourselves, there is a
lady in California whs is attached TO me,
though you wouldn't think it, perhaps"
"Dut about your practicef" II won't say
anything about 1t. But Tomorrow, If you
like, say to- morrow forenoon, I'll harness
up, and you can see for yourself. 1t ia
MT sickly now, I must tell you, but it's
goihg TO be sUon, especially among chill
dren and old folks. Men like you and I
might live forever here, only they have no
such men. Plenty of money though. My
horse remembers the bouse of every pa
tient in the neighoorhood, and stops him
self at their doors. You can jot down the
number swejog along, and decide whether
you'll buy me out or no. Aud now sup
pose we adjourn to the tavern (are you stop
ping there p and have something cool I'm
thirs'y, End want TO smoke. Mustn't
smoke Ia ny office, you know. Here's a
cigar y1c -sa smoke. Try it," They ed
journea % tavern, had something cool,
smoked, and came 10 an agreement regard
ing the sum to be paid for the practice,
F,.a.. L
futurei
The next forenoon the pair drove through
the town or rather the country doctor did,
and was a 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 deiighted cit, keep
ing mental tally of the stoppages. Eyes,
suppose so-at one time or another. Get
upr 1t was constant ''get upW to the
horse, who appeared TO remember his mas
ter's practioe better than his master did.
1t was purchasd at once for a good round
sum in cash, and thSt very afternoon the
retired practitioner proceeded to the sta
tion, accompanied by two or three acquain-
tances who were enjoying something
hugely. "Best thing out p said one. "Beats
ALL" replied another "eh, DocH" "Tol
lol," he answered coolly. The train stop
ped, took him on, and went screaming
away with its precious freight-that affa-
bic, good-natured, verdant young person,
who was going to California, where he had
| lender attachment
Days passed, and no patients More days
past and still no patients! What did it
mean? Mean Pit meant that there was
no practice there! The country NJ. D. had
borrowed tue horse Of The milkman That's
| aliI
"only this, and nothing more."-" Etch-
! ia1s;" Seri6ner's for August.