The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-11-12
THE WRONG PIG.

THE WRONG PIG.
Old DIR. Johns lived in 4 small village
of H%oncyhurst, and for forty years hi
had been the sole physician in the dis
trict in which he resided, No ont
cared to enter the lists against him ii
that locality, for the simple inhabitants
fully believed there was not such another
master of the healing art in the whole
world, and so he drove his red wheeled
gig over the lanes and byways of the
country side without q rival. and dareC
and bullied the inhabitants in his rough
and kindly fashion to his hearts con
tent.
The doctor lived in 4 great rambling
house, half way down the village street.
with a 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 a housekeeper. But
as the doctors family was small and he
loved society, he was hardly ever with
out 4 student, to whom he taught the
healing art in the back Office. Thus it
was Charlie Horton came to Honey
hurst to study medicine with the doc
tor, and, as his predecessor had done be-
fore him, occupied tile back office and
the northwes. chamber. He came from
town somewhat distant, and was un-
known to the town folks, and, like every
stranger that came among them, was
made the subject of much critical ex-
animation, as he walked up the broad
aisle of the village church the Sunday
evening after his arrival.
"Well doctor, how are you" said
Farmer Smith. as he leaned over the gate
of his cornield, next morning, a the
doctor came driving by.
"Ah, Smith, how do you do" replied
he, as he drew rein on the gray mare
and stopped. Flows your folksP"
"Toler'ble, thank'ee; wife's a little
ailin' this mornin'. See you've got a
new young NAM: seed him yesterday at
church. Coin to make a doctor out O.
Eyes, I think so," replied the doctor.
"Think ye amt got the wrong pig by
the ear, eh, doctor:?" said the farmer,
laughing. =
"Well. don't know" replied the vii
lage Esculapius; cant tell yet"
Now, ''getting the wrong pig by the
ear" was one of the doctors great ex-
p%ressions, in fact his favorite one. Like
Shakespeare justice, he was "full of wise
saws and modern instances" and had a
proverb or apt quotation upon every oc-
cassion With him. ifa man make q mis-.
take, 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 a fine young
fellow, somewhat over-confident, per-
haps, and needed the rein a little. This
the doctor was not slow to put on. and
he mingled his instruction in the heal
ing art with admonitiors about "getting
the wrong pig by the ear" until Charles
was heartily tired ofthe homely proverb.
But he was a good fellow, nevertheless,
and a great favorite.
Then years passed away, and Charles
studies with the old doctor were draw
ing to a close, when suddenly the idea
popped into his head that he would 70
to Paris and finish his medical educao
ton with a curse through the Conti-
mental hospitals. DR.. Johns pooh
poohed the idea and thought it utterly
useless.
"Why boy" said he, "what do YOU
want to be ~gallivanting off to France
fol9 What bee have you got in your
bonnet now? Can't you be satisfied
with home learning. but must 20 and
tack on some ~new-fangled foreign tom.
foolery that will knock all your sensible
knowledge out OF your head? Go to
Paris? NONSENSE! Don't get the o
pig by the earl"
But Charlie was not to be talked out
of his new idea. He was bound to 10
to Paris to study and see the world, and
SO n day he packed his trunks, babe
his friends goodbye. and. mounting
the s~tage-coach, was wheeled out of the
village world.
But before going the old doctor called
him into his Office, and, shutting the
door. thus began:
Now. Charlie, you are off to for.
eign parts, and [ hope you will enjoy
yourself. Stick to your books and get
what knowledge you can out of those
fellows over there, although I don't
suppose they know so much more than
other people. But, nevertheless, YOU
may learn q few things. I don't SUD-
pose you'll be apt to 90 acting, as YOU
have been too we'll brought up Tor that
and now I've got something here that
want you to take with you. It's a recipe
that it has taken me q good many years
to find out. You will find it of great
value, in your practice. 1t will cost you
S5."
And the doctor with a grave face,
held out a huge yellow envelope sealed
with red wax and tied with o blue
ribbon.
Charlie was rather tired of his lonr-
winded harangue, for although he liked
the doctor, he considered him something
of an old fogy. But the offer Of his
recipe excited his curiosity. What was
it? So he paid the Is and became the
happy possessoro of the huge envelope and
its mysterious contents
1thO So'N SdiO VI u, OlldTlle, M
don't open it until you are out of the
country"
A day or two after, when at his hotel
at Folkstone waiting for the steamer,
he betliought himself OF the mystic re-
cipe. and fastening to his room he
locked the doora and opened his valise.
Thereit was, safe and sound, in all its
glory of yellow envelop. red seal an
blue ribbon. Charlie tooki it out; turned
it over. 1t was very solemn and ponder
GUS; a perfect panacea for Ill the evils
that flesh is heir to. He turned it over
and over, and finally united the ribbon.
and, breaking the seal, drew out a sheet
of foolscap carefully folded. Taking it
to the window he read as follows:
"Don't get the wrong pig by the ear.
"DR. MATTHEW JeHNs.".