Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-06-27
GETTING 4 COUNTRY PRACTICE.

Ut. MIulCI, cui SCOhI SN'
name upon brass plate on the door, and
as the young practitioner surveyed 1t, he
modcstly hoped that it would not draw n
great many calls while he was away from
home, and wondered if he had not better
take it down and leave it until he returned
with his bride. He had just ''passed," not
vet tried practicing, and was sanguine IN
his ideas upon the subject. lie finally de-
cided to let it remain as it would serve as
an advertisement while he was away; and
leaving word with the servant woman that
he would be ut homo on the eighteenth Oh
the month, he departed OH his short jour
ney. The marriage came off, quietly and
inexponSively, at the house of the brides
uncle. Annie had lived with this uncle
ever since she was little orphan girl OF
three wears. Now, having been fitted out
respectfully, in the way OF clothing, which
with his large family and limited means,
was. all her uncle could afford. TO DO, she
left with Charlie for his new home, with
mauy kind wishes and prayers for her
happiness. .o.s. .... ....t....
DR.. Mintcr's sole tangible possessions
were horse and chaise, q few articles of
furniture, pretty good stock of medicines
aud surgical instruments, and loving lit
tie wife, whom he we'll nigh idOlizcd. lie
had taken a tiny house, in the pretty town
of Pincvillc, and had boldly displayed
brass plate, although it was directly oppo-
site TO that Of DR.. Jaeger, who supported
lis with many years experience, gen
crous sprinkling of gray hairs, and pom
posity of manners. The unpretending
little house taken by the new doctor, con-
sisted Of four rooms and surgery.
Annie's skillful hands soor transformed
their abode into little paradise. Bright
flowers flashed from every available nook;
hanging baskets were fashioned of moses
and creepers; curtains Of snowy muslin
were suspended from the windows; glasses
and shells, filled with buds and blossoms,
were literally distributed around the
rooms; and innumerable little inexpcn-
siye things, which only wonan's hand
can form, filed up the yoidS, giving an
air Of refinement, and purity, and comfort
to the whole. But people cannot subsist
upon pretty nick-nacks; even plain way
OF living requires money for its support;
and our friends became painfully conscious
Of this unpleasant fact as the romance OF
their lives was not invaded by the pa
tents,
Annio would sit IN her front room and
watch the patients flock to the house OF
her opposite nclghbor, and wonder why
people would persist in rushing blindl-
on to their ruin, IA she felt certain they
were doing III thus passing by her hus-
band. or course, she reasoned, II talented
young man just fresh from tho hospitals,
must sc better posted than one who had
been rusticatiug for so many years in
country town she had heard that a wife
had much influence in establishing prac-
tice; and She resolved that if her husband
lacked business, it should not be owing to
any derellction of duty Oh her part. She
gathered all the children of the neighbor-
hood about her, and amused them by tho
hour with stories, she dressed dolls for the
little girla, and played horse with the
boys.
She received calls with the utmost affa-
bility, returned them promptly, and was
III IL NIL
some, rs well as with the most eligible In
habitants of the town. Pineville was
place OF considerable gayety and the new
comers, OH principle, responded to all
their invitations TO parties and tca-drink-
ings. They threw open their small house
in return, and entertained pleasantly and
freely, putting themselves OH diet Of po-
tatoes and salt for days afterward 10 make
up for the extra outlay. People visited
them, liked them, and made much of them,
but In business way ignored them. Her
best friends seemed to forget in time Of
illness that Anniehad husband, and per-
sistently sent for their old physician,
When our friends came in contact with
DR.. jaeger, the latter always shook hands
in Il pompou5 manner, smiled with an air
of satisfaction, which seemed to say, "You
are not in the least in my way, and are
quite welcome to remain here you wish,"
and blandly inquired how they liked our
little town. When others inquired his
opinion OF the new doctor, he would
stroke his own grey beard afectionately,
and reply, "Oh, clever boy enough! a
very clever boy, needs experience" This
style of culogy was not exactly calculated
to throw patients in the way of the new
candidate, who penniless and half discour-
aged, was awaiting visits.
It is true, that owing to the fact that DR..
Jaeger was sometimes away, and was too
tired TO ride when wanted, our friend
found some few opportunities for airing
his medical knowledge; but the generality
OF his patients were either very poor, or
no pay at all, as his opponent showed re-
markable energy for being at hand for
people of Importance. Humanity, how
ever, cannot always be ubiquitous; and
the time came when DR.. Jaeger was want
ell for some Of his wealthiest patients, and
lie was away from home. The case was
urgent and Dr.. Minter WAS called in. 1t
wls "a case Of fever, wliel, the older p!Iy-
sician liad been attending, and he had
pronounced hispaiient fully cOnyalcsceat.
A relapse, however, accompanied with
unexpected symptoms, had alarmed her
+ friends, and they had speedily gathered
around her from far and near.
When DIR. Minier first entered the sick