The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-02-25
The Wrong Pig by the Ear.

~ VlllhBt vi IlohSyhuiSV "h" W. IVA
~ years he had been the sole physician
in the district where he resided. No
one cared to enter the list against him
in that locality, for the simple inhabi-
tants fully believed that there was not
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 dosed and bullied the inhabi-
tants in his rough and kindly fashion
to his hearts content.
The doctor lived in "a great rambling
house half way down the village street,
with wide expanse of lawn in front,
and his little brick office in one corner
next to the sidewalk. 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 with
out student, to whom he taught the
healing art in the back office. Thus 1t
was that Charlie Horton came to Hon
eyhurst to study medicine with the doc
tor, and, as bis predecessor had done
before him, occupied the back office and
the northwest chamber. He came from
town somewhat distant, and was un-
known to the town folks, and, like
every stranger who came among them,
was made the subjec cf great critical
examination, as he walked up the broad
aisle of the village church the Sunday
evening after his arrival.
"Well, doctor, how are you p'' said
Farmer Smith, as he leanad over the
gate of his cornfield the next morning
as the doctor came driving by.
"Ah, Smith, how do you dol" re-
piled he, as he drew rein ON the gray
mare and stopped. "How's your
folks 2"
"Toler, bile, thank zee; wife's a little
ailin' this mornin'. See you've got a
new young man; seed him yesterday
at church, eh 7" said the farmer, laugh
ing.
Yes, 1 think so," replied the doc
tor
"Think ye hahn got the wrong pig
by the ear, eh, doctor :"
"Well, don't know" replied the vii
lage Esculapious; 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 justice, he was "ful of
wise saws and modern instances" and
had proverb or apt quotation upon
every occasion. With him, If man
made a mistake it was "getting the
wrong pig by the ear" OF course this
popularity was well known throughout
all the country about where he practiced,
and hence the quotation of Farmer
Smith.
Time passed on and Charles Horton
became fully domesticated in the doc
tors household. He was fine young
fellow, somewhat over confident, per-
haps, and needed the rein little. This
the doctor was not slow to put on, and
he mingled his instructions in the heal
lug art with admonitions about "get-
ting the wrong pig by the ear" until
Charles was heartily tired of the home
proverb. But he was good fellow,
nevertheless, and a great favorite.
Two years passed away, and Charles
studies with the old doctor were draw
ing TO close, when suddenly the idea
popped into his head that he would go
to Paris and finish his medical educa-
tion with a course through the CONT
mental hospitals. DIR. Johns pooh
poohed the idea, and thought it utterly
useless.
Why, boy" said he, "what do you
want to go galivanting off to Francep ?
What bee have you got in your bonnet
now? Can't you be satisfied with
home learning, but must go and tack
on some new-fangled tom-foOlery, that
will knock all your sensible knowledge
out of your head Go to Paris? Nom
sensel Don't get the wrong pig by the
carp
But Charlie was not to be talked out
of his new idea. He was bound to 20 to
Paris to study and see the world, and so
one day he packed his trunks, bade his
friends goodbye, and, mounting the
stage-coach, was wheeled out of the viii
lage world.
But before going, the old doctor call
ed him into his Office, and, shutting the
door, thus began:
"Now Charlie, you are off to foreign
parts, and hope you will enjoy your
self. Stick to your books and get what