The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-02-23

III was Ill lOrty-elSnl lhaI, young In
my profession, | settled in Greyburn.
| had spent my full term at College
and had also given almost two years
of my time TO studying and practicing
in the hospitals of Europe; and l am
pleased to be able to state that very
shortly after settling in aforementioned
place had as much business as |
could conveniently attend to. In two
or three cases of fearfully threatening
aspect l had met with happy success !;
and a successful man people are will
ling to trust, and then, again, being
fresh from the very best surgical
school in the world the Academy of
Loois NV., in Paris--l very quickly
and emphatically made my mark upon
the public mind in the result of several
capital operations which had occasion
to perform.
had been almost year in Grey
burn, and had become so well satisfied
with the people, and they, in turn, had
given token of being SO well satisfied
with me, that had fully concluded to
regard it as my permanent abiding
place. 1t was on clear, pleasant
evening in May that | was visited by
gentleman from the neighborine
town of Foxborough. He had called
during the day, in my absence, and
left his card, with word that he should
remain in town until he could see me
The card bore the name CT "ADAN
GREGORY, ID. D. and | knew him al
once for the Principal of the Theolog
ical Seminary in the town mentioned
He was middle aged, mild-faced gen
tleman, with one of those marked or
ganizations in which no amount Of
intellectual or mental disturbance car
overcome the innate disposition tc
kindness and frankness.
Mr.. Gregory took seat in my office
and regarded me attentively before he
introduced his business. | knew very
well that he was measuring the out
ward signs of my fitness for his pur
pose. Presently his hands were suf
fered to rest easily one within tn,
other, and the haze of suspense passeC
from his face. And then he told m,
his errand,
His daughter Cordelia-his only
daughter-he feared was dying. She
had been failing for several weeks-h,
might say, for several months--thougt
only lately had he been really alaltned
He had called the best medical counse
in his town, but without avail. Phys
icians who had seen her were of tn,
opinion that her disease was consump
ton, and incurable, but not one o
them had arrived at a satisfactory
diagnosis of her case. And he haC
called upon me. Would | come anC
examine, and pass my judgment?
told him | would.
On the morrow rode over to Fox
borough, and easily found Mr., Greg
orys house. 1t was one of the pret
tiest and most sensible looking dwell
lings in the place, And / found tn,
sick girl In her chamber, dressed in
loose morning robe of violet colore,
cashmere, and reclining on lounge
She was nineteen years of age, o
medium stature, and thought at th,
time-as think now-the tairest an,
most beautiful maiden | had ever seen
| was interested, and resolved that i
help lay within my power it should b.
forthcoming She evidently read m
feelings, for she was very soon evince,
that my presence was not disagreeabl
to her. She had told her father tina
she did not care TO see another physiC
ian 4; and this had been told me, s
that | was induced to approach he
kindly and gently.
| will not trouble the reader wit
the particulars of my examination
Suffice it to say that from the patien
herself could gain nothing save tina
she was growing weaker and weake
every day and every hour. As fo
consumption, not one of the marke
symptoms We're present. Her lung
were sound and intact. | spent a
hour with her, and engaged ber in cor
stant conversation, and | found tina
she had no hope of living. She wa
as one who had made up her mind {
droop and die, As | arose, at the en-
of the hour, she said to me, with
faint smile;
"What do you think, Doctor2'
Her smile startled me- 1t SCENE
to say-"l trust you are not going t
dispute me-you will not mock me b
trying to help me-
i answered her that | was not ),
prepared to give an opinion, / wishe'
however, that she would allow me /
remove the medicines which 9th,
physicians had ordered, as was sati
fed that they were doing her no goo,
She thanked me with gushing graf
tude, But-would | leave any med
cine
For the present" ! told her, only
| little wine. Had she any object,ol