The Mineral argus., 1884-05-01
GETTING 4 COUNTRY PRACTICE.

it, he modestly hoped hat it would no
draw a great many calls while he wa
awag from home, and wondered if h
had not better take it down and leav
it until he returned with his bride. H,
had Just passed, not yet tried practis
ing. and was sanguine in his ideas upor
the subject. He finally decided to lie
1t remain as it would serve for an adver.
.:isement while he was away; and leav-
'ng word with his one servant woman
that he would be at home on the eigh-
teenth of the month, he departed on
his short journey. The marriage came
off, quietly aud inexpensively, at the
house OF the brides uncle. Annie had
lived with this uncle ever since she was
a little orphan child Of three years.
Now, having been fitted out respect
ably, 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
many kind wishes and prayers for her
happiness.
DIR. Minter's sole tangible possessions
we're a horse and chaise, a few articles
of furniture, a pretty good stock of med
cines and surgical instruments, and a
loving little wife, whom he well nigh
dolized. He had taken a tiny house,
N the pretty town of Pineville, and had
boldly displayed a brass plate, although
It was directly opposite to that of DR..
Jaeger, who supported his with many
gears experience, a generous sprinkling
ST gray hairs, and pomposity of man
aers. The unpretending little house,
by the new doctor, consisted of
Jour rooms and a surgery.
Annie's skillful hands soon trans
formed their abode into a little Para
Use. Bright flowers flashed from every
AVAILABLE nook; hanging-baskets were
fashioned of MOSES and creepers; cur
Iains of snowy muslin were suspended
the windows; glasses and shells,
illed with buds and blossoms, were lib
rally distributed around the rooms; and
nnumerable little inexpensive things,
which only a woman's hand can form
He'd up the voids, giving an air of re-
inement, and purity, and comfort to the
Whole. But people cannot subsist up
N pretty nick-nacks; even a plain way
# living requires money for its support;
nd II friends became painfully con-
cious of this unpleasant fact as the ro-
nance of their lives was not invaded by
he patients.
Annie would sit in her front room.
nd watch the patients flock to the
of her opposite neighbor, and
Tonder why people would persist in
ushing bhndly on to their ruin, as she
cit certain they were doing in thus
hus passing by her husband. Of
curse, she reasoned, a talented young
nan just fresh from the hospitals, must
better posted than n who had
'een rusticating for so many years in a
town. She had heard that a
wife had much influence in establishing
practice; and she resolved that if her
husband lacked business, it should not
70 owing to any dereliction of duty on
Ter part. She gathered all the chill
lren of the neighborhood about her.
nd amused them by the hour with
she dressed dolls for the little
iris, and played horse with the bows.
She received calls with the utmost
liability, returned them promptly.
was sociable with most stupid and
iresome, as well as with the most elig-
Die inhabitants oil the town. Pineville
'as a place of considerable gaiety; and
Corners, on principle, responded to
IL their invitations to parties and tea
rinkings. They threw open their
mall house in return, and entertained
~leasantly and freely, putting them
elves on a diet of potatoes and salt for
avs afterwards to make mp for the ex-
ra outlay, People visited them, liked
and made much of them, but in a ]
business way ignored them. Her best
rlends seemed to forget in time of ill
less, that Annie had a husband, and ]
'erslstently sent ortheir old physician.
When our friends came in contact with I
IL. Jaggar, the latter ALWAYS shook J
iands IN a pompous manner, smiled !
NTH an AR OF satisfaction, which seemed l
o say, You are not il the least in
ny. way, and are quite welcome to re- ]
laln here If you wish" and blandly in ]
ulred how they liked ''our little town"
When others inquired his opinion ofthe S
doctor, he would stroke his own t
rey beard ~affectionately, and reply. l
Oh, a clever boy enough! A yery
boy, needs experience" This i
lyle of eulogy was not exactly calcu- c
ated to throw patient=ia the way of the