Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-07-25
A MEDICAL STUDENTS STORY.

II compreheuds some bringer of that Joy,
Or In the night, imagining some fear,
How easy Is bush supposed bear.
Shakespeare; Midsummer NightS Dream.
1t was Christmas Eve, bright, keen,
frosty-such a night as causes the we'll
fed Citizen to muffle himself and hurry
home with ruddy face and spangled
whiskers, fully prepared to enjoy the
good things of this life, and, while
nursing himself in the genial warmth
of home, to think with complacent pity
of the houseless, shivering poer, thank
full that he is not as other men are.
What, after all, would comfort and
pleasure be were it not for Il knowledge
and recognition of their antithesesP
But l had no home, except you call
the back-garret 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.
l was nineteen years of age and a
medical student attending one of the
great London hospitals. Five years
before my father, who had been re-
ported rich, died suddenly by his own
hand, leaving his affairs in an inextri-
cably involved and embarrassed condi-
ton. After things were made as
straight as possible the creditors gen.
erously set apart EGO year as some
provision for my elder brother and my
self, the only and motherless heirs of
the dead man. One of them, besides,
offered Charley, who was six years my
senior, and had been for two years in
our fathers banSing-house, situation
in India, which would open up the ca
reer for him for which his ambition and
talents fitted him. We were all in all
to each other, Charley and |, but he
was fitted rather for the world of men,
l for that of books and thoughts. He
longed to be great capitalist and finan-
cier--to control the destinies of States
and inaugurate gigantic enterprises. l
wanted to be psychologist and physi-
cist-to penetrate into the mysteries
and marvels of nature and learn her
secrets. Even in those early days
Charley used to laugh at me when he
found me poring over some book be-
yond my comprehension; but he would,
all the same, help me in my difficulties
and even study little himself to make
abstruse things plain to me.
He cared for and protected and pet
ted me, and loved him very dearly in
return.
Now if he went away, what should
doP We had been both brought up in
luxury, and although / did not fully
appreciate the extent of our reverses, ]
knew it was necessary for both of us to
choose some definite walk in life and
qualify for it.
"Don't cry, old fellow said Char
ley, with grave face, when clung to
him and besought him not to leave me.
must go, but l will soon return.
You must be brave, Alan, and 90 to
school for two or three years vet; then
If you still wish to be doctor, why you
can go to whatever college is best suit
ed to you. have settled all the money
on you because 1 will have my salary.
and we could not both live here on Eco
year. But work hard, old boy, and
when | come back Wen enjoy life to-
gether. 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 knew that nv
brave brother was resolved, and tried
10 reconcile myself to his departure.
After he had fairly gone | was yery
lonely and wretched; but, remembering
his advice, and anxious to succeed on
my own account, continued nv stud
les 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 boarding and school fees amount
ed to double the sum at my command,
he was oontented with it, and treated
me IN all things as his other pupils-if
possible, indeed, more kindly.
when l was ready to matriculate |
selected London as the best field for
study, and accordingly took leave of
my old teacher, who gave me much
good advice and a E10 note, making
me promise to write him constantly. A
week after left school he died of heart
disease, and then had in all England
no friend or counselor.
During my school life Charley con-
stantly wrote long letters to me, giving
an account of himself and his pursuits,
ana encouraging me to persevere and
nope, and after arrived in London re-
celYed three letters from him. lived,
as have said, in garret. L wanted all
my money for books and instruments,
and fees, and could have spent treble
what l had on them, so | chose the
cheapest lodgings could find and lived
from hand to mouth. never was of a
morbid or ascetic temperament, al
though was studious, but | injured
my physical health and sanity by ex-
cessive study, insufficient food and alb
stinence from social intercourse with
my fellow students. Besides, Charleys
letters unaccountably stopped, and
this worried me very much. One day,
however, a stranger came to visit me
at the hospital. He was handsome
man OF about thirty, but did not like
his face. 1t was not open or brave like
Charleys. He said his name was Tenn
pie and that he had Just arrived from
india, where he had seen my brother,
from whom he bore message. He
dearly hoped | was working hard and
thought he might possibly get home in
TWO years time, but just now he was
gong ON long business journey and |
must not expect any letters from him
for some months. That was all.
Mr.. Temple asked me to dine with
him that evening and after dinner he
became more confidential. He re-
quested me not to repeat what he would
now tell me, and after my promising
this, he said he was sorry to say that
my brother was in a bad way. He had
fallen in love, it seemed, with beauti-
ful woman who did not care for him.
He followed her everywhere and
neglected his business duties in his in
fatuation, so that he would probably
lose his situation. Mr.. Temple told
me this with grave face, but / could
not help thinking he rather enjoyed it;
althOuOh Onaa as ha anoEa of sba 'Io1.s