The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-11-04
Select STORY,
From the ArgOsy.
MY FIRST FEE
CHAPTER /.


fear | am not saying anything very
original when | mention that my father
was poor clergyman. There are hun
dreds of poor clergy; naturally their sons
can be reckoned by thousands. [ know
there were thirteen of us, and how we all
managed to find standing room in our small
North Country vicarage seems marvel to
me when | look back upon that time of
growing up. And then the struggle to
settle the professions Of eight sons! Mine
was, however, soon fixed up. My aunt's
husband, Scotchman, and an NJ. D. in
country town, said he would bring me up
to his own profession, provided [ eventual
" became his partner, and in this manner
repaid him the cost of my education.
The proposal sounded well; anyhow, it
was accepted But, ah the realization was
different. He never praised me when l
worked myself almost to death in order to
pass brilliant examinations and only grunt-
ed when at last | came to settle down with
him in desperately dull town, after having
come out first on the list at Edinburgh.
My uncle cared naught for my being
Arthur Merrifeld, NJ. D. l was to be his
white slave, and repay with hard labor,
what he had spent on me- honestly tried
my best to please him. The practice in
creased considerably, but time went on, and
still my uncle never spoke word about
money affairs. | was more than partner
as to work, but no partner at all as to pay.
And yet | felt that could make name,
also fortune, if only [ could get fair
chance And the five girls at home were
expecting grand things of me which looked
as if they might never be realized; for even
if [ persevered till my uncle died and left
me his practice, | might by that time have
become gray with age and unable to begin
to make my way.
At last | could bear it no longer, and one
day I determined to come to an under
standing with him. | am sorry to say this
ended in Irregular quarrel, and declared [
would seek my fortunes in London. My
uncle called me all sorts of names, which,
as they were the reverse of complimentary,
| will not repeat, and [ respectfully disa-
greed with him. His last words were:
II should like to know, sir, how you are
going to find a patient in London?" l did
not answer him, for [ was perfectly unable
to do so, but had courage and perseverance.
"Where there's will there's way" l
thought, and thus | left my uncle's house,
knowing we'll enough that should never
see penny of his money.
will pass over the many difficulties L
next encountered; the applause of the other
twelve as to my conduct, and the regret of
my father, who had fancied |, at least, was
off his mind, and lastly, the difficulty of
finding any one to lend me some money
wherewith to make start. | meant to
begin at once in good style; nothing venture
nothing have; and I was determined to have
one of the best practices in town.
At last part of my dream was realized.
But vet it was all very well to be the occu-
pant of respectable-looking house in a
quiet London square; to have gone to the
expense of brass plate on which was neat
ly engraved CDR Arthur Merrifeld," fur
ther to have engaged worthy middle-aged
female to answer the door, if the door-bell
had ever been rung and the master inquir-
ed for Alas! was beginning to feel de-
pressed in mind because no patient appear
ed, and no fees filed my pockets.
had told the five girls at home that my
house would soon be besieged at all hours
of the day and night. had even had a
night bell attached, which rung in deafen-
ening manner close to my ears as lay in bed;
and, best of all, l had contrived peephole
through my window-shutter in order to dis
tinguish the rank of the visitor who disturb
ed my slumbers. But up to now had
slept peacefully night after night, and |
mi ght have slept all day if had wished it,
for no patients had come to ask me to cure
them.
''And yet,' [ thought, as | paced the
floor of my consulting room, where no con-
sultation had ever taken place, "and yet
that rich young Jones promised that he
would recommend me to the first of his re-
lations that fell ILL., The constitution of
of the Jones family must be terribly good,
for I am sure the fellow meant what he
said; he is good nature itself Perhaps |
have been fool after all, and had better
have staid with my uncle, where at least my
food cost nothing!"
You must understand that my spirits had
reached far below zero to be able, even in
my most private thoughts, to wonder any
thing of the kind And, curiously enough,
it was at this very moment that my front
door bell was suddenly rung in furious
manner. very nearly rushed out to open
the door myself, only / was met by Mrs.
Davis, who had run up from below, almost
as much excited as was at this unprece-
dented event.
"Show the visitor into the consulting
room, Mrs. Davis" | whispered, "and say
you'll see if | am disengaged.
l retired into small studio next to the
consulting-room, and separated from it by
folding doors. 1t was here had my meals,
and, besides my bedroom, it was at present
the only furnished room in the house. But
hardly had closed the door when recog-
nized the loud, ,jovial tones of young Jones, .
who rather unceremoniously entered my
den.
Tom Janna vaq fha con Of a r;oh hravvor