Sharp County record., 1879-11-06
HOe.handle Medicine.

On a bright, pleasant summer morn
inc, 4 young man, with a silk muller
around his throat and a woe-begone
look in his pale face, piled the big
knocker upon the Doctors dwelling. A
lady answered the summons and in
formed the applicant that the Doctor
was in his garden at work. To the gar
den the young man went, where he
found the man of medicine engaged in
hoeing his sweet corn.
"Well, sir, and what is the matter?'
the Doctor asked, when the applicant
had stated that he had come for medical
advice and assistance.
"Well, Doctor" with lugubriouS
face and a whining, moaning tone, 81
feel poorly all through. My head has
spells of aching; my appetite is poor;
my food docs not Setwell, and | am very
weak. Really, need help"
"YeS, | see. Let me look at your
tongue. All! yes. Now-your pulse. y
The pulse was felt, and after due de-
liberation, said the Doctor:
"Look you, young man, you do GER
tainly need help. Now, see; | must at
tend an important case at ten O'Clock,
and | must have this corn hoed before |
90. So, while | am gone to make up a
prescription for you, do you take my
hoe and 90 on with my work here. You
know how to use hoe?"
"Yes, sir. My father was farmer;
but | haven't worked on farm since he
died"
"And you haven't worked much any
where else, | take it," the Doctor threw
in, pleasantly,
"No, sir; am not obliged to-
every well. III warrant you the
work here won't hurt you, so 90 on with
it until | come back
With that the Doctor trudged off, and
the young man went at the work of hoe
inc. He hoed to the end of the row, and
there removed the light muf1ler from his
neck. Then he went at it again. Half
way down the second row he stopped
and looked up, but no Doctor was in
sight At the end of that row, as the
absent one had not yet appeared, he
pulled off his coat.
The third row he hOed more slowly,
stopping several times before the end
was reached but he finished it, and,
after a good rest, attacked the fourth
row. There was but one more row af-
ter this, and the fancy seized him to have
it done before the old fellow got back.
1t would be a surprise to him. The
thought quickened his pulses, and gave
him renewed vigor. He had just cQm-
pleted the last hill of the last row when
the Doctor came back.
"Well, my young friend, how are you
feeling now?"
The patient really had to consider.
He had been looking to see what the
physician had brought with him of med
icine; but he had brought nothing. His
hands were empty. "The work hasn't
hurt you, has it?'
"Oh, no, sir" his face glowing with
the exercise.
81 thought not. Let me feel your
pulse again" He held the young mans
wrist for a brief space, and then
"It has worked to charm. Now,
sir, do you 90 home, and repeat this
dose twice a day, every morning and
afternoon; do it faithfully, and be hon
est with your diet, don't use tobacco,
and if that doesn't work cure, come
and let me know. My fee, sir, is one
dollar"
"One-dollar?n gasped the astonished
youth.
"That Is all I charge when patients
call at my door"
"But, sir, in mercy's name what
is it for? Where is your prescription?
What have l taken Of yours?"
"My prescription, my dear young
friend, | gave you before left you here
with my hoe; the medicine you have
been taking in my place-a health-giving
potion which should have enjoyed had
| not given it up to you. And now,
dear sir, | will tell you frankly, you are
rusting out, literally tumbling to pieces
for want of exercise of both body and
mind. That is all, sir. You can follow
my prescription and be cured, or you
can take your own way"
The young man paid the dollar and
went his way. Not then could he be
cheerful; but afterwards, when he had
allowed reason fair play, and had come
to prove the hfe-saving and the new
life-g giving virtues of the Doctors pre-
scription, he came and thanked him.