National Republican., 1877-04-22
MY FIRST PATIENT.

you were only twenty-eix thon, John Preston.
never look back TO the year following my |
twenty.sisth birthday without an involuntary |
prayer that may never have such another yodr's |
trouble and despair TO 20 through. |
Blk years ago to-day took temporary leave |
ofmy dear mother, and made my real start in |
life. A I seated myself in tho comfortable nrst-
GLASS carriaEe-my mothers arrangemsntL"Flrst
impressions, my dear boy,"she had said, ..aro
svsrythins'-and with my paper open en- my
knee, len tho unendins hustle and noise Of the
modern Babylon behind, my mind dwelt in antci.
patton on the new life before me, and my news
proved Of this start Of mine in iif.f shouldI
desire TO make a name and standing 10 my pro:
fcssion BY It's meansf What kind Of people should
dutes' and would n any % q The s. said peopis copds.
seend 20 admit the strugeiing youn Doctor into
TheSs and q Thousand and ono other copicctures
mind s occupied during nS .ns hour and
nation, Cioteshsm, a picturesque. and cld.worid
village nesting on the banks ban Q! Fsthcr Thames;
II Of London S hoiiday.mskers. ''" ''' A''' '''n
Six months bcfore / should have started with
sos S,sSt On my and
mi: county pr.etios, might enable me the sooner
prseaces during thelr occssionai holidays, as 1
while engaged in the last OF these Undertakings
thati had found cause for my pIe,snt regret at
fathers prsctics upon his retlremsnt, called on
me one M morning, null OF his Intended trip Into
Il should 5. OF this day week if could only
%:.s Ssa %or sNs 81
ssss eSaS ac 1S L G5 sSapSs Sssy DO
mind putting OF her visit to Hastings for that
"oh, l oeyidnt let you do that, you knowr
unless you 90 now know you won't bo able to
"YoS arc tyumfpp' exclaimed Fisd, giving
my hand .',s, n!shsy iQuesro "L't me know for
:s:s sss ri: FROM &: s:s, Sns SSI
piMSSl NY Satle, a, substitute we're not v.r, heavy,
sssrs: pr0RVrUn Of rred: patients so,;Ss Msi:
on: nOrsin ssi.d 'f s,l. nSS sSss yss ssffs fe
.Is.s: sss:' Iss :;a.s We ss,. .ns Ss.s
.rriy.l found the iousshoid IN . state Of anxious
drsn under the care OF their govesness, Miss Ber.
a1a ~ s
me, upon opening the door. ..-..
rss Who % sss came forward % ii g meet @ me. Shall
draw word.picturef From my own memory Il
u pSa ?. q o
son form, after hi, such very small part Of her
as s.n yds.es. S L hsss .%ss psn1s rHs
ss sssass.s s:ss SSr s1s. oss sn
isshss-but that is not in the mniature-ths
mouth Is gontiensss and nrmness combined-raro
ssf sss osSsS SsE s'p,a person
obeJed simply because q was pleasure to sosy
@.sssn % the % fermss; delicate @ % but
eyebrow; complete the face, which, framed in
aRsnsy.G R % open my ess. 70 feast On its scntent:
Must I confess my weakness, or have not al
Ssa .ssss ss.s Gss tSSS ssas ok.
SS husasd sadGwy hal. sa net ns, fsSg r., s ss,n
sddrs;;lns her I inSoiant.riiy cropped ny vsies
10 emulatlon Of her own son tones, or why, ia
sion, no matter how trivial the SUBJECT under dis
Each day found me Fastening to my anIi0u.
Mrs.. Mason returnsd al the end md i x i:n days and
the unwsaTIoa attention 1T moi Of their Kind nurse,
awoke 70 the discovery that loved deeply and
sas sS 81, Ms ns' g Sss s
true man seldom feels but onoe In his life.
as S M too qS am Il; h;
excuse & isI my daily ~. % S:lyi,!: sSu:is
lived on the. hope Of rrturs meeting. ol
Hsns. Week shsS .Ss IshsS SIHs Hs.s
TO her mystinoation, that might not miss ono
Ss sssns a. our my had S.q
ask her ifshe could care for me enough to wait
sss would % ooa.oas 70 Brighten tho ,Sr world
70! and me for the give me an S sesot
question Fred Al 70 Mrs. Masons movements, as
san Ing wouId.bs air Of noneAaIsnes.
"Oh, they srs IN town again ~ he said. "Bu
that urotty In with tbon'-thi
:Ssssi e.: 's' on :: S.s
never follow her." TI'' -
Ifsl, Y. srsacherou' blood leaving my fao
"ws: Miss Bssss.n one q the partIs, con
G.: ssa. s.:f s:s sss .::
"a l;.a had yeSs inSS5 s;s the hour:
sssSins. Ws:is and month. drsrs:d ,hsi
hopofsssiy on the improbablIity OF ever meeting
my darling again. somstias, in nj ds,Pair
Rs ass ts:ss sS: s " X s.s %
:S S.$ y';s s;ss sspn a: :ss .sss
possible, TO bind . Beautiful and seoomplishe'
sa r yssa IN nSs S.s
should endure anything than claim such saer
noe st the hands Of the womsn loved.
Tnen TINS Oiokcsnhm praotico was oHeSou M
on meat Adyautsgsous torms by one OF m!
fAther's old friends. More to please my mothe
than from any interest felt In the future,
accepted II, and was, now on my way to com
menco legitimately my professional career. M
prsdsesssor ct Ulokesham, Doctor Black, rs
manned . week with me.
~ must introduce you TO your patients and SON
ths fs,r ltsls Rssui,a,sis, for nnSw,sdEs
ny boy, ~ any diploma In the world" .r,.
Ths evening on which he LETT ne Is still fres
In my memory. As / WRITE the scent. OF wood
violets, coming through my open window, take
me back to the walk TO the station wben bi
the kindly old man farewell. At last, then,
was "ths dootor;' and during my walk home
experienced much tho same sensation as on tn
occasion OF my first visit to church aione--An eve
wheiminE sense Of the Importance OF tho oool
sion, mingled with o strong desire that nobod
should share with me the knowlsdgs Of the no,
city Of my position. H' ..,7
Events crowd on my memory a look back
the first morning after Dr. Blacks leAve-tAkinj
was sitting over ny solitary breakfast, wondel
lag what the day would bring forth to take n
out Of myself, when o respectable servant-ma
came quickly up the wall, haste visible in ever
movement, snow for my hrst patient" said
myself, ~ he Was shown in. "1E~ ..H
"PieAse, sir, MT. Talbot says will ysu step y
At once. His niece, Mrs. Freeman. 70 very ba
with her heart-a swoon, think they called IT,
~ will be thcre ss soon as you.u said, lool
Ing around for my hat. (which is MIR. Talbot'si