The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-03-19
The Wrong Pig.

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Old DR.. Johns lived in the little village
of Honeyhurst, and for forty years he had
been the sole physician in the district
where he resided. No one cared to enter
the lists against him in that locality, for
the simple inhabitants fully believed that
there was no such another master of the
healing art in the known world, and so
he drove his red wheeled gig over the
lanes and byways of the country side
without rival, and dared and bullied the
inhabitants in his rough and kindly fash
ion to his hearts content. 's -
The doctor lived in great rambling
house halfway down the village street,
with a wide expanse of lawn in front, and
his little brick Office in one corner next
to the side walk. His wife had died
MANY wears ago, so his household was
conducted by a housekeeper. But as the
doctors family was small and he loved
society, he was hardly ever without
student, to whom he taught the healing
art IN the back office. Thus it was that
Charlie Horton came to Honeyhurst to
study medicine with the doctor, and, as
his predecessor had done before him, oc
cupied the back office and the northwest
chamber. He came from town some
what distant, and was unknown to the
town folks, and, like every stranger who
came among them, was made the subject
of much critical examination, as he
walked up the broad aisle of the village
church the Sunday evening after his ar
rival.
swell, doctor, how are you?' said
Farmer Smith, as he leaned over the gate
of his cornfeld next morning as the doc
tor came driving bv.
"Ah, Smith, how do you do?" replied
he, as he drew rein on the gray mare and
stopped. "How's your folks?'
''Tolerble, thank'ee; wife's a little
ailln' this mornin'. See you've got new
young man; seed him yesterday at
church. Coin to make doctor out O.
him, eh!'
':Yes, think so," replied the doctor.
@Think ye amt got the wrong pig by
the ear, eh. doctor2" said the farmer.
laughing.
"Well, don't Know replied the village
Esculapius; "can't tell yet"
Now ''getting the wrong pig by the
ear" was one of the doctors great ex
pressions, in fact his favored one. Like
Shakespeare's justice, he was full Of
wise saws and modern instances" and
had prov:rb or apt quotation upon
every occasion. With him, if man
made a mistake, it was "gettlng the
wrong pig by the ear" Of course this
popularity was we'll known throughout
all the country about where he practiced
and hence the quotation of Farmer Smith
Time passed on and Charles Horton
become fully domesticated in the doc
tors household. He was very fin
young fellow, somewhat over confident
perhaps, and needed the rein little
This the doctor was not slow to put on
and he mingled bis instructions in III
healing art with admonitions about "get
ting the wrong pig by the ear unit
Charles was heartily tired OF the homel
proverb. But he was a good fellow
nevertheless. and great favorite.
Two years passed away, and Charlie
studies with the old doctor we're DRAWN
to close, when suddenly the idea POI
ped into his head that he would 60
Paris and finish his medical educatlc
with course through the Continent
hospitals. DR.. Johns pooh poohed tt
idea, and thought it utterly useless.
"Why, boy" said he, ''what do "
want to 60 galivanting off to France TO
What bee have have you got in your DO
net now2 Can't you be satisfied wi
home learning, but must go and tack (
some new-fangled foreign tomfoole1
that will knock all your sensible know
edge out of your head? Go to Pari
Nonsense! Don't get the wrong pig
the carp
But Charlie was not to be talked Q
of his new idea. He was bound to go
Paris to study and see the world, and
one dav be packed his trunks, babe
friends good by, and, mounting the sta
coach, was wheeled out of the villa
world.
But before going, the old doctor CAL
him into his Office, and, shutting the do
thus began:
"Now, Charlie, you are off to fore
parts, and hope you will enjoy yours
Stick to your books and get what kno
edge you can out of those fellows Q
there, although don't suppose they kr
so much more than other people. !
nevertheless, you may learn a few thil
dOnt suppose YOU De apt 10 60 10
ing, as you have been too well brou
up for that; and now I've got someth
here that I want you to take with 3,
It's recipe that has taken me g
many years to find out. You will fin
of great value in your practice. It
cost you five pounds" ...
And the doctor, with very grave
held out huge yellow envelope Sc
with red wax and tied with a blue rib
Charlie was rather tired of this l
winded harrangue, for, although he !
the doctor, he considered him sonnet
of an old togy. But the offer of this re
excited his curiosity. What was it2
he paid the five pounds, ana became
possessor Of the huge envelope ant
mysterious contents.
''Take good care of it, Charlie,
don't open it until you are out OF
country"