Daily globe., 1879-03-16
The Wrong Pig.

Old DR.. Johns l ived in the little villag
Of Honeyhurst, and for forty years he ha'
been the sole physician in the distrlc
where he resided. No one cared to ente
the lists against him in that locality, TO
the simple inhabitants fully believed tha
there was no such another master of tn,
healing art in the known world, and sc
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.
The doctor lived in a great rambling
house halfway down the village street,
with wide eXpanse of lawn in front, and
his little brick office in one corner next
to the side walk. His wife had died
many years ago, so his household was
conducted by housekeeper. But as the
doctors family was small and he loved
society, he was hardly ever without a
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.
"Well, doctor, how arc vou?" said
Farmer Smith, as he leaned over the gate
OF his cornfield 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?"
"Toler'ble, thank'ee; wife's a little
allln' this mornin'. See you've got new
young man; seed him yesterday at
church. Coin to make doctor out O.
him, eh!'.
eyes, I 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 a man
made a mistake, it was "getting 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 a very fine
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 the
healing art with admonitions about ''get-
ting the wrong pig by the ear,' until
Charles was heartily tired Of the homely
proverb. But he was good fellow
nevertheless. and great favorite.
Two years passed away, and Charles
studies with the old doctor were drawing
to close, when suddenly the idea pop:
ped into his head that he would 90 to
Paris and finish his medical education
with course through the Continental
hospitals. DR.. Johns pooh pooheG the
idea, and thought it utterly useless.
"Why, boy" said he, ''what do you
want to 60 s;alivanting off to France for!
What bee have have you got in your bon
net now? Can't you be satisfied with
home learning, but must go and tack on
some new-fangled foreign tomfoolery
that will knock all your sensible knowl-
edge ont of your head? Go to Paris!
Nonsense! Don't get the wrong pig by
the ear"
But Charlie was not to be talked out
of his new idea. He was bound to 90 tc
Paris to study and see the world, and sc
one day he packed his trunks, bade his
friends good by, and, mounting the stage
coach, was wheeled out of the village
world.
But before going, the old doctor calle6
him into his Office, and, shutting the door
thus began:
SHOW, Charlie, you are off to foreign
parts, and hope you will enjoy yourself
Stick to your books and get what knowl
edge you can out of those fellows owe.
there, although don't suppose they know
so much more than other people. But
nevertheless, you may learn a few things
don't suppose you'll be apt to go to act
ing, as you have been too well brough
up for that; and now I've got something
here that 1 want you to take with you
It's recipe that has taken me goo(
many years to find out. You will find i
of great value in your practice. 1t viii
cost you five pounds"
And the doctor, with very grave face
held out huge yellow envelope sealed
with red wax and tied with blue ribbon
Charlie was rather tired of this long
winded harrangue, for, although he likec
the doctor, he considered him something
of an old togy. But the offer of this recipe
excited his curiosity. What was it? Sc
he paid tie five pounds, and became the
possessor OF the huge envelope and it,
mysterious contents.
"Take good care of it, Charlie, anc
don't open it until you are out of the
country"
A day or two after, when at his hote
at FGlkestone waiting for the steamer, he
bethonght himself of the mystic recipe
and fastening to his room he locked thu
door and opened his valise.
There it was, safe and sound, in all its