The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1879-08-21
A MEDICAL STUDENTS STORY

A MEDlCAIAS IASTIIDENTS STORY
such tricks hath strong Imagination
nat II ne would but apprchcnd some JOY,
1t comprchends so.nc brighter of that Joy,
Or in the night, aginng some fear,
How easy is Il bush supposed bear.
-!Shakesutare: Mi1summe. Nighrs Drra,n
It was Christmas Eve, bright, keen,
trosty-such night as causes the we'll
fed citizen to mutfle himself and hurry
home with ruddy face and spanglcd
whiskers, fully prepared to en- JOY the
good things OF this life, and, while nurs
ing himself in the genial warmth of
home, to think with complacent pity Of
the houseless, shivering poor, thankful
that he is not as other men are.
What, after ALL would comfort and
pleasure be were it not for u knowledge
and recognition Of their antithcscs2
But had no home, except you call
the back garrct of my dismal lodging
house such. had no kindly thoughts
Of the world induced by warmth and
GOOD cheer, actual or prospective, for
was friendless and needy.
was nineteen years of age and a med
!caI student attending one of the great
London hospitals. Five years before my
father, WHO had been reported rich, died
suddenly by his own hand, leaving his
affairs in an lIcXtricably involved and
embarrassed condition. After things
we're made as straight as possible the
creditors generously set apart $50 aycar
as some provision for any elder brother
and myself, the only and motherless heirs
Of the dead man. One of them, besides,
nff n,la hn c,x
senior, and had been for two years in
our fathers clearinghouse, Il situation
in India. which would open up the ca
rccr for him for which his ambition and
talents fitted him. We were all in all to
each other, Charlie and l, but he was
fitted rather for the world of men. for
that of books and thoughts. He longed
to be great capitalist and financier-to
control the destinies of States and inaugu-
rate gigantic enterprises. wanted to be
Psychologist and physiclst-to penetrate
into the mysteries and marvels ct nature
and learn her secrets. Even in those
early days Charley used to laugh at me
when he found me pouring over some
book beyond my comprehension; but he
would, all the same, help me in my diff
cultics and even study little himself to
make abstruse things plain to me.
He cared for and protected and pctted
me, and loved him very dearly in re-
turn. .E 81
NOW II lie went away what, should l
do? We had both been brought up in
luxury, and although l did not fully ap-
preciate the extent Of our revcrscs, knew
1t was necessary for both Of us to choose
some definite walk in life and qualify for
it. ggo,Cz ..-sces E49. 1-0-'.-
'Dont cry, old fellow said Charley,
with grave face, when I clung to him
and bcsought him not to leave me. II
must go, but will soon return. You
must be brave, Alan, and go to school for
two or three years yet; then if you still
wish to be a doctor, why you can go to
whatever college is best suited to you. |
have settled all the money on you because
will have my salary and We could not
both live here on $50 year. But work
= hard, old boy, and when I come back
= we II enjoy life together. Now don't cry
so, Alan; hate to leave you, but must,
and you are making it so hard"
AS he spoke he turned away his head
to hide his tears, but l knew that my
brave brother was resolved, and | tried to
reconcile myself to his departure.
v After he had fairly gone l was very
lonely and wretchcd; but, remembering
his advice, and anxious to succeed on my
own account, I continued my studies,
and worked hard at school for two years
and half. The principal had been an
old friend Of our fathers and understood
my aims and, although the yearly board
and school fees amounted to double the
sum at my command, he was contented
with it. and treated me in all things as
his other pupils-if possible, indeed
more kindly. .----,-.---.-..-s-.--
When was ready to matriculate, ]
selected London as the best field fo1
study, and accordingly took leave of my
3 old teacher, who gave me much good adj
vice and q G1O note, making me promise
to write him constantly. A week attel
loft school he died Of heart disease
and then had in all England no friend
or counselor. e
During my school life Charley con
stantly wrote long letters to me, giving
an account of himself and his pursuits
and encouraging me toFpersevere ane
hope, and after arrived in London l re-
ceived three letters from him. I lived
as have said, in a sgarret. / wanted al
my money for boo and instruments
and fees, and could have spent treble
whati had on them, so chose thu
cheapest lodgings could find and live
from hand to mouth. / never was of
morbid or ascetic temperament, al
though l was studious, but ! injured my
physical health and sanity by excess
i've study, insufficient food, and alb
stinence from social intercourse with my
fellow students. Besides, Charley's let
ters nnaccountably stopped, and thi
worried me very much One day, how
ever, stranger came to visit me at thu
hospital. He WAS q handsome man o
about thirty, but did not like his face
1t was not open or brave like Charley
He said his name was Temple and tha
he had just arrived from India, where h
had seen my brother, from whom he Dor
/ anessage. He dariy hoped I was work
ing hard and thought he might possibly
get home in two years time, hut jus
.REfEAsl Et4C = CA1