Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-05-08
The Country Doctor.

In, Abraham sRags1, es-ss4 W l4as-4 -lFnew
about Ben Eceles, y forget which, there
is the finest tribute to the country doctor
that have seen in any language. But
how is it that the theme never awakened
the muse of Goldsmith or Shenstone, OF
/ the pencil of genre artist of the first or
der The rusty, long tailed overcoat tuck
ed well under the legs, the tall napless hat
drawn down over the eyes, the ears pro-
tected by comfort or fiery red with cold
the beard white with snow or sleet, the
compressed lips, the yellow leggings tied
with green list, the thick yarn socks, knit
ted by some grateful hand, covering the
boots, the gray saddle blanket peeping out
from under the sheep-skin covered saddle,
long using, the faithful horse plodding
through frozen mire, OF FLASHING through
the puddles and brooks-here are the ele-
ments for a dark winters day-but better
still these same figures of horse and rider
dimly deserted through the thick dark
ness of the winters night, when the fierce
icy gusts are pouring through the noun
tain passes, bending the naked trees by the
road side and almost beating down the
gray-haired rider, who must trust to his
sure-footed steed, for who can seen the way
on such night in the midst of such a
storm ? And then the entrance Of the doc
tor with mud-plashed leggings into the
sick chamber lighted up by the log fire,
the sick woman in the old fashioned bed
with valence and teaster turning her hol-
low eyes to him with an ineffable look Of
gladness and of hope. l
What must be the thoughts of the good
old doctor as he passes on through the
tempest and the horror of thick darkness,
often unattended and alone, oftner still
knowing that he can never be paid even
pittance for all he is Drawing and endu-
ring Memories of his student life come
to him and Of his early triumphs and fail
ures in practice, of his first married days,
of his own sick child left at home, and of
the cozy scene Of the chamber where his
wife awaits his uncertain coming. De-
spite the rushing blast and the roaring
mountain torrent he is fording there com es
to him the wall of infants he has ushered
into this world of pain, the last long sus-
piration and the wide CHASTITY yawn of the
dying, the shrieks of bereaved women, and
the suppressed vehement sob of stricken
men-these come to him as he courage
ously stems wind and freezing rain toreach
his patient. In the cold gray dawn, his
mission ended and the sufferer relieved, he
sallies forth. The winds are still, the wide
expanse of snow unbroken yet by hoof or
foot stretches over the miles no longer
long that lie between him and his home
AS he beats onward the first smoke rises
from the peaceful homesteads, and he hur-
ries along to get his bright welcome and
wife's kiss, to snatch a breakfast and again
to mount his horse and plod his daily round
through snow and slush. And this is life
to the country doctor and his fellows.
Brave hearts, noble gentlemen, abenefac-
tors seldom fully requited! In my summer
trips away from the city I never pass one
of you without an inward bowling of the
head in reverence and the uttering of a
silent henediction upon you. Ye are the
salt of the earth, and your reward is ass
sused in the bright hereafter. From "A
Piece About Doctors,'' By Moses Adams IN
The Piedmont Niryinian. 81. aau a9.l
q j 74.tE as . - "a, a