River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-05-19
4 CLEVER DOCTOR.

AbOut twenty years ago In6 Hon. ana
Rev. Edward Lambert, clergyman of
England, found that his health
was growing intirm. a moral and phys
zeal languOr seemed to take possession
of him; that English melancholy which
comes, no one knows why or where
fore, and he could not shake it off.
Young, rich, handsome, eloquent. sure
Of preferment in the church-what
was the matter with the Hon. and Rev.
Edward Lambert?
He did what all Englishmen do when
other remedies fail-he crossed the
channel.
He thought he would seek the rays
of the sun, that luminary, so scarce in
England. Perhaps it was the sun that
he needed.
So one fine day he sailed for France,
and soon found himself at Rouen,
where he stayed for some days, taking
every morning walk around the ca
thedral, carrying Il volume of Dante
under his arm.
One afternoon he walked up the
Mount St. Catherine, and seating HIM
self upon the grass gravely devoted
himself to the divine comedy. He had
scarcely lost himself in Dante's stately
measure when a stranger approached
and with the most perfect courtesy adj
dressed him, asking if he were an En-
glishman, and, if so, if he would per-
nit few minutes conversation.
II wish to perfect myself in your
language said the stranger, smiling,
and | always seize every opportunity
to talk to an Englishman."
"You already speak the language
fiuently," said Mr.. Lambert, politely;
sit down, Monsieur"
Resting on the turf, with a glorious
view before them, the two young men
soon found themselves talking glibly of
the news of the day, of Dante, of re-
ligion, politics, and the weather. The
Frenchman was very agreeable, well
educated and up to the times on all
points; he Immediately told MIR. Lam
bert that he was a doctor, and practic-
ing his profession at ROuen.
1t was natural that the young clergy
man should speak to him of his own
case, which he did freely, asking the
doctors advice.
The doctor became extremely inter-
ested, and, upon examining Mr.. Lam
berts tongue and pulse, gave him a
prescription.
They walked together to Rouen, and
Mr. Lambert then noticed that the doc
tor had beautiful white dog, a pointer,
which gamboled around his masters
heels.
They separated as they reached the
city, the doctor to go and see his pa
ho oil f1 h
ecary, where he got his prescription
prepared.
The next morning the Hon. and
Rev. Mr.. Lambert was better. The
doctors prescription had made him
sleep. 1t had given him strength, he
had felt an appetite for breakfast.
Months OF treatment in London at the
hands of the best physicians had not
done this for him.
He wished to thank and .remunerate
the doctor, when he remembered that
he did not know his name. Instinct
told him, however, that he might meet
him again on the Mount st. Catherine.
So with renewed hope, health, energy,
he walked again to the top of the hill.
In five minutes he was joined by the
French doctor and his dog, who came
bounding along with his pointer nose
in the grass.
The two men greeted each other
with smiles and shook hands cordially
"You have saved my life, doctor
said Mr.. Lambert, with unusual enthu
siasm
''Not at all, not at all, my deal
friend" said the doctor; II only gave
YOU a good tonic, which also made you
sleep. | found out what none of my
English brothers in medicine seem tc
have found out that you have nothing
the matter with you. Your system
needs little Jogging, that is all. Rail
road travel, my dear friend, will soon
set you up, now dare say you have
been leading very sedentary life; now
haven't you2,'
cit is true, I have"
"Take nv advice, travel, ride day
and night; take no medicine, excepting
these syrups, which | will give you;
seek adventure, lead more varied ex-
istence, and my friend, you're all
rightw
Now came the delicate question Of
money, and the Englisnman felt fol
the prOVofDlal guinea.
He rendered it to the French doctor
who laughingly pushed it away, with
a very soft well formed, white hand.
''Never-never," said he; "for SO
slight service, permit me to make
my advice return for a lesson IN
English conversation"
1t was gracefully done, and the
embarrassed Englishman put the gold
back into his pocket.
''Doctor said he in a low voice, hest,
tatingly, 81 am an Engllshman, and /
hate to be under an obligation; you
have lifted load off my heart, which
was hung there for six months; you
have made man of me. Now allow
me to be of some service to you.
leave here by rail at 1 o'clock to-mof
row morning for Paris. until then l am
at your service, and forever after
Can / do anything for you'll"
The doctor reflected a moment and
then looked at his dog.
81 don't know, indie ed; and yet [ dc
happen to think of one thing. You
might save me journey to Paris
which, with my engagements, IS JUS
now inconvenient. But 1t is asking toe
much perhaps"
"What-how-to much?" said the
clergyman.
"Well. | have number Of sick peo
pie under my charge whom | treat fol
disease of the brain. One Of these is
very rich woman who is slightly de-
ranged. 1 hoped to have cured her
Unhappily, she has determined to re
turn to Paris and 1 have no authority
to detain her. / perceive that she viii
fret until this caprice is gratified.
must go with her to place her in charge
. of her friends, and | have been putting
off from day to day, because | cannot
leave my other patients, the duty o.
= taking her home. Now, if you would
escort her it would be real service,
said the doctor.
"My dear sir, crazy young woman
at i o'clock at night, and | a clergy man
of -- of England" said Mr.. Lam
bert, forgetting his late gratitude.
"Oh, she is forty-six, my dear sir
and her mania is very quiet one. She
looks and acts like a sheep, poor wo-