Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-07-27
The Doctors Little Story.

allow do you manage to always carry |
such pleasant, hope.inspiring face and to
keep such a CHEEKY ring in your voice, doc
tor ?" asked Mrs. Gardiner of her family |
physician. alt isn't professional trick OF |
yours, for know you are the same in your |
own household as you are among patients.
Dr. Newton had hustled in that morning, |
as usual, scattering sunbeams through the
small house, from the nursery, where he set
the twins, Harry and Hattie off for sleigh
ride, with the clothes-basket for pony, to
the kitchen, where he went himself for
glass and spoon, and left Kate, who had
been in one of her tartaric-acid moods all
the morning, effervescing with laughter in
way to show that he had administered Just
the right Alternative.
"Partly constitutional, madam" said the
DOCTOR as he proceeded to carefully prepare a
solution, "and partly because l long ago
learned from experience that cheerful de-
meanor and kind words pay. | don't be-
lieve that smile was ever lost in Gods
great plan and administration of human af-
fairs, any more than believe that a flower
ever bloomed or that a song-bird was ever
created in vain.
"When | was lad, was sent to the
Russell Military School, New Haven, Con-
necticut. / was homesick enough at first,
and don't know what would have become OF
me had it not been for the matron, a gentle,
| grandmotherly woman who was never In
| a hurry, never flurried, never out OF sorts.
Quite often | used to run into her cozy
office where she was busy about her duties,
for little chat with her.
| al soon found that her husband had died
when she was a young woman, leaving her
with an infant son whom she carefully
reared, and whom she thoroughly educated,
earning the money with her own hands. just
as he h ad attained to mans estate and was
able and preparing TO make home for her,
he, too, was removed from her by death. |
could not help questioning Gods goodness,
and so expressed myself to her, when she
told me how she had been left to rough it
in the cold world, but she always replied
very gently that it was all for the best, could
we only understand it. She would say that
she thought her tenderness for her own son
made her more watchful Of and considerate
toward all the mothers sons in that grea'
school, / felt very tender toward her aftel
that, and among other little exhibitions o
respect and love, never failed to bid he
) goodnight and good-morning every day
even if had no opportunity for any pro
longed chat with her.
months before my father, with the help o
, our congressman, got me appointed to Yves
Point, and came for me to 60 home to pre-
pare for my new curriculum of study. | raj
, into the matron's Office to bid her an affec
tionate good-by, and was good deal touches
, after she had given me fearful God bles
, , you J to hear her say in trembling voice
,, al heartily thank you for every Cheerful
"Good night and "Good morning" yo
! have given me, for am lonely sometimes
al duly entered the academy at Yves
J Point, and, graduating about the time tn
war of the rebellion broke out, had not tn
T chance to be carpet lieutenant gres
while, but was Immediately sent to the from
al was wounded in our first skirmisl
, and as lay, sad, sick and unspeakably Ut
u comfortable and detected, grumbling owe
the hard Providence that had laid me u
wounded in that miserable shanty without
friend to care for me, heard familia
voice say,
"What, my boy, still questioning God
goodness That will never do for, you Sc,
at the very outset of your chosen career,
has sent you an old friend, and has give
: her an opportunity to pay you for all thos
turning my bandaged head, | saw the dea
- oiu ucai hic, WIN
. some warm water, and large soft towel
:, her hands. Il have come to make you Ii
" tie more comfortable she said.
"And she did indeed" continued d
9 Newton, brushing away a tear. "Neve
!, did soldier boy receive better care bodi
:. and spiritually from any one of those dea
y noble ladies who were sent out under tn
; auspices of the war department as nurse
. She brought me back to life aud healt
u u and while she was doing that, she led IN
u u very gently and by very inviting paths, I
. supplement my code of good morals
} which my friends would say, perhaps, | ha
: always commercially followed.-by the al
y ceptance of loving, helpful Saviour, thu
= engaging both my mind and heart in I'll
y, manly, rea ionable service of the great Csl
tain of our salvation.
> cat this eventful period Of my life | all
= became impressed with the beauty and US
) fulness of the ministry of healing, and I
" solved to take up the study of medicin
SO, you see, my whole life-work was shap'
by following a kindly boyish impulse
speak a cheerful word to lonely, depends
& woman. But, good morning. Profit by n
p little story, all of you, and believe tn
as smiles, accompanied by cheerful words, a
ID part of Gods sunshine, every ray
le which unerringly reaches its own mark al
le lastingly does its own appointed work.
1. The AdUdHce.