The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-05-03
A CASE OF SURGERY.

CASE OF SURGERY.
Now, this is just what / said to my
young friend Fred Page, who has settled
down to practice as doctor in country
town. when he came over to me, COM
planning and talking enviously about my
snug practice and the nice income itpro-
ducei:
"Why, look here, Fred" 1 said, al
was once worse off than you by far, for
when l started professional man on nv
own hook, was what you milk-and-
water fellows call in love- and one way
and another calculated and persuaded
myself that I could live cheaperif were
married and set up housekeeping, which
of course proved q fallacy. Well, 1 had
TO fight throug ii it all for years, while
scarcely any one would come to the new
doctor; for no one viii employ us till
we've made a name, and we can't make
name till people employ us, so we have
to get over the paradox as we can. It's
OF no use for you to say while the grass
rs growing the steed is starving. You
must not let him starve; but he must
nibble under the hedges, and chew
leaves, and gnaw his crib, and pick up
an oat here and an oat there. The grass
will grow sooner or later, and, like all
young doctors, you must wait for it, and
live by your wits, studying hard the
while. Yes, I've got on, I know" 1
said; "but, as 1 said before, 1 had nv
probation 10 go through, and have gone
to bed many a night with an aching
heart, to lay my hand on a face at my |
side and find it wet with tears. For it's
dreary work, Fred, being genteel on
next to nothing. and we two foolish
young folks made mistake in marrying
so soon, though really don't think that
we ever repented.
"You see we used to laugh at our
troubles, as we fought them down, and
was too busy to think, amongst my
patients Eho used to give me lift, as
they called it, by coming to me for ad-
vice, and then never think of paying
their bills. But young doctor-pay
or no pay-must slight no one.
And that puts me in mind of case
that had to do with. dare say you've
often seen on the different railways por-
tiers in the companies employ, minus a
limb; and l suppose you are aware that
the poor fellows lose them while engaged
in some duty about the trains, and then,
if not too much disabled, are kept on
afterward to perform some light Office.
Well, l had been given to understand
by our station-master that the general
manager of the Grand Junction was
much disgusted with the charges of our
old practitioner here-dead years ago,
poor old chap-many a squabble, too,
we had; and that if any accident hap
Pened should be called in.
swell, 1 was reading hard one even.
ing in my Office, to keep from thinking
of the unpaid bakers bill, when my wife
rushed in with sparkling eyes, and an
open letter in her hand. 'Oh, Charley,
Charley!' she cried; where's your hat?
there's man with his leg crushed at
the stationl'
"Niec thing to look pleased about, my
DEAR 1 said, taking the missive and
reading: Come directly; accident at
Harley; man fallen. and down-mail
crushed his Leg
"Why, it's two miles away
Oh, how tiresomeI and SO late and
dark said my wife.
"'Not it. said, busily hunting out
some instruments. Don't sit up. 1
shall get Phipps, the druggist, to 90 with
nae, for dare say it will be an amputa-
tion case.'
"'Pm glad, and yet sorry, DEAR she
said; but 1 shall sit up, and there shall
be some hot coffee ready, and
"An right, goodbye 1 exclaimed,
cutting short the speech and the next
minute l was out in the road looking for
the messenger, but he had disappeared.
However, soon hunted out Phipps, and
with my case under my arm, walked
with him through the bitter, dark night,
asquickly as possible, to the station.
"No, l didn't keep my carriage then ;
and I don't think I should now, if it
were not for the look of the thing. for
there's endless trouble attached to it
what with sick horses and troublesome
coachmen, and wear and tear, don't
know butwhat l would rather walk, after
all.
1t was just one O'Clock when got
back to find cheerful IRE, and the odor-
ferrous coffee waiting; ard, being tired
and vexed, was rather glad to have
my fur smoothed down in so pleasant a
way.
Hadn't you better put the instru.
ment case in the Office, dear?' said my