The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-15
Temperance.
A Romance Of the Granite State---A
Strange Narrative.
BY REV. j. 3. ooeswELL, A. NJ.

THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE.
Professional life has its attractions.
Some think of becoming lawyers and
rising to high eminence in that profess
sion. They hear lawyers plead at the
bar; and they hear them at political
gatherings, during political campaigns.
These draw the attention of young as
pirants for fame. The high positions
which some have attained in becoming
governors, senators, representatives in
congress, etc,-all these things fire the
ardor of young men to enter the profess
sion of law. They feel that they must
be lawyers if they would enter the Tenn
pie of Fame. William had discussed
these matters with his classmates. He
was well appraised of the fact that the
study of law was one of the surest roads
to distinction and honor among his fell
low men. William thought of the study
and practice of medicine. To be good
physician, he thought, was to be useful
in society. Hence, after mature delib-
NIdtlOls lC CllOSC tliC lhColNdi plOlCc-
sion. After his preparatory studies
were completed, there was presented to
him an opportunity of going into part
nership with an old and experienced
doctor, living in the town of II. The
old physician had obtained a consider
able amount of money, and felt that, as
age was creeping upon him, he must
soon give up business.
William Forest suited him from the
first. The months and years in
which they were associated found the
old doctor we'll satisfied with his young
associate. Five years passed away,
when suddenly DR.. Schools was called
to pass on to that bourne whence no
traveller returns. Then William had
the whole range of practice in that re-
gion. In the practice of the healing
art, DIR. Forest was successful. And,
where he went. When he put on the
adornments of the Christian, he never
intended to put them off. He never
did, so far as people generally could OBJ
serve him.
There were some rare scenes in his
practice. On certain occasion he was
called to visit Mr.. Jacob Henshaw. He
soon found that his ailments were of
serious nature. Death seemed not far
off. He proceeded to do all that ply
stefan and surgeon could do, under the
circumstances. After that he began to
talk with his patient about the supports
of religion amid trials and perils of this
life. Mr.. Henshaw had never attended
to the interests of his own soul. He
became interested in the remarks of
DR.. Forest. When the doctor arose to
go, Mr.. Henshaw called to him, asking
him if he would not offer prayer. He
added, "Do remember me in your
prayer" DR.. Forest was not unused to
PRAYER. He knelt down and offered
unto God fervent prayer, with many
thanksgivings init. He prayed earnestly
that God would reveal his power in
healing Mr.. Henshaw's body. But he
dwelt on the thought that God was es-
pecially willing, as well as able, to heal
his soul of the malady of sin. He
prayed that God would speedily accom-
plish this, making him new man in
Christ Jesus. He arose, took his pa
tent by the hand and spoke words of
cheer to him. Those words were long
remembered by the patient; and that
prayer reached the ear of the Gracious
Father in heaven. The patient began
to grow better in few days, and in two
weeks he was out among his towns
men. But what change had been
wrought in this mans life! The poet
says, "Wonders of grace to God be-
long" Gods transforming grace was
seen in Mr.. Henshaw in a remarkable
manner And this man dated his first
religious convictions and determine
tons to lead a Christian life from the
day that DIR. Forest visited him.
The Bible says: "The poor we have
always with you, and when we will, we
may do them good" That Scripture
was thought of and recognized as a
duty by DR.. Forest. In the towns
where he went as physician, he found
considerable number of poor people.
Some of these rum had made poor and
miserable. Others had become poor
from lack of application to the bust.
ness that they could do. They lacked
energy. They were as thriftless as they
were spiritless in labor. Hence they
were poor, and the general fact had tc
be accepted. Some of the families had
much sickness. Fevers, diphtheria and
other diseases were often found in these
families. They were accustomed tC
drink from wells that had been contami
mated by impure surface water. Theil
wells were often near the sink-spout
or where vile drainage could easily filtel
through the loose gravel, and carry
fevers and death into the water tina
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