The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-09
A TROUBLESOME YOKE.

He was a spare man, and, physically
an ill.conditiened man, but at first
glance scarcely q seedy man. The in
dietions of reduced circumstances in the
male of the better class are, I fancy, first
visible in the boots and shirts, the boot.
Extensively exhibiting a degree of polish
Inconsistent with their delapidated con,
dition, and the shirt showing an extent
OF ostentatious surface that is invariably
fatal to the ~threadbare w~aistcoatGE,at il
partially covers He was a pale man
and | fancied still paler from his black
clothes. B.
he LANDED me a note.
1t was from a certain physician a man
who had devoted the greater part of his
active life to the alienation of sorrow
and suffering; a man who had lived uu
to the noble vows of a noble profession
q man who locked in his honorable breast
the secrets of a hundred families, whose
lace was as kindly, whose touch was as
gentle -fnrRssSa wards Of the great public
hospitals as it was beside the fscs :
tains of the dying Narcissa /; a man who,
through long contact with suffering. had
acquired a universal tenderness and
breadth of kindly philosophy; a man
who, day and night, was at the beck and
call of anguish a mar who never asked
the creed. belief, moral or worldly stand.
Ing Of the sufferer, or even Irs ability to
pay the few coins that enabled him 1.-THE
physician) to exist and practice his call.
ing; in brief, q man who so nearly lived
up TO the example Of the Great Master
that it seems strange I am writing Of
him as q doctor of medicine and NOT Of
divinity.
The note was in pencil, characteristic
cally brief aud ran thus: 8
Here is the man / spoke of. He
ought to be good material foryou.n
For q moment / sat looking from the
note TO the man, and sounding the "dim
p~cFilous depths" of my memory for the
meaning Of this mysterious communities
tson. The good material" however.
soon relieved my embarrassment, by mt.
ting his hand on his waiscoat, coming to.
ward me, and saying, "It's Just here:
yovaaan feel it."
lteFas not necessary for me to do SO. In
3 dash ! remembered that my medical
frtsEa had told me OF a certain noor
pasient, once . soldier, who, among his
other trialsand uncertainties, was afflicted
with aneurism caused by the buckle Of his
knapsack pressing upon the arch ef tie
aorta. u was liable to burst at anyshock
Or any moment. The poor fellow woke
had indeed been too heavy.
La the presence of such a ~tremenaousl
possibility think for an instant felt any.
lous only about myself. What I sbonld
20; now dispose Of the body how ex.
pam inc circumstances Of his taking OFF; !,
evade ubiquitous reporter and tbe
'oroner's inquest; how d suspicion mipbt
'rlse that I had in some way, through !.
lsglicence. or for ONE dark purpose. mn.
g the jury, precipated the catas-
'Fophe. all flashed before me. Even the
lOse-Wlth its darkly suggestive offer
Y good material Z for me-looked dia-
'Olicallysignifcant. What might moi A.
Intelligent lawyer make Of it.
tore It up instantly, and with saver;.h
'ouFtesy begged him 70 be seated, !
lou don't care to feel it ~ he asEad 3
little ~anxiously. q
No i
Nor zee itW
sNo.n
~ s,snso' 2 sfitie sadly, a. II had re- !,
scted the only favor he could bestow :,
atonce that he had been ,,paa, i. !
.dent exhibition to the doctors aaa : !,
ne he VS., perhaps, 4 trife vain Of Thu J
sssntlo1. This perception was corrobor.
ted ainlon0ent later BY his PRODUCING !
Ply Of y medical magazine, With tic :
lark that On the sixth al i wonla !,
nd . full statement OF bis case.
Could I serve him in any way, { asked j
y appeared that I could. If ] could !
'lp him % anY light employment some !,