The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-10-04
GETTING A COUNTRY PRACTICE.

"Dr. Mlnter, Surgeon" Such was
the name upon brass plate on the
door, and as the young practitioner sur
veyed it, he modestly hoped that 1t
would not draw 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 yet tried practicing, and was san
guine in his views upon the subject.
He finally decided to let 1t remain as it
would serve as an advertisement while
he was away; and leaving word with
the servant woman that he would be at
home on the eighteenth of the month,
he departed on his short journey. The
marriage came off, quietly and mex
pensiyely, at the house OF the BRIDES
uncle. Annie had lived with this
nncle ever since she was little orphan
girl of three years. 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 many kind
wishes and prayers for her happiness.
DIR. Minter's sole tangible possession s
were horse and chaise, few articles
of furniture, pretty good stock of
medicines and surgical instruments,
and loving little wife whom he well
nigh idOlized. He had taken a tiny
house in the pretty town of Pineville,
and had boldly displayed a brass plate,
although it was directly oppotite to
thst Of DR.. Jaeger, who supported his
with many years experience, a gener-
GUS sprinkling of gray hairs, and POM
posity of manners. The unpretending
little house, taken by the new doctor,
consisted of four rooms and sur
gerry.
Annie's skilful hands soon trans
formed their abode into little para
disc. Bright flowers flashed from every
available nook; hanging-basket were
fashioned of MOSES and creepers; cur,
tains of snowy muslin were suspended
from the windows; glasses and shells,
filled with buds and blossoms, were
liberally distributed around the rooms;
and innumerable little inexpensive
things, which only a woman's hand
can form, filled out the voids, 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 un-
pleasant fact as the romance of their
lives was not invaded by the pa.
tients.
Annie would sit in her front room
and watch the patients flock to the
house of her neighbor opposite, and
wondering why people would persiet
In rushing blindly on to their ruin, as
she felt certain they were doing in thus
passing by her husband. OF course, she
reasoned, a talented young man just
fresh from the hospitals, must be bet
ter posted than one who has been rus
ticating for so many years in country
town. She had heard that wife had
much influence in establishing prac.
tice, and she resolved that il her hus.
band lacked business it should not be
owing to any derelction of duty on her
part. She gathered all the children
of the neighborhood about her, and
amused them by the hour with stories
she dressed dolls for the little girls,
and played horse with the boys.
She received calls with the utmost
affability, returned them promptly
and was sociable with the most stupid
and tiresome, as well as the most eligi.
BILE inhabitants of the town. Pineyille
was place of considerable gayety
and the new comers. on principle, re.
sponded, to all the invitations to parties
and tea drinkings. They threw open
their small house in return, and enter
tanned pleasantly and freely, putting
themselves on diet of potatoes and
salt for days afterward to make up fol
the extra outlay. People visited them,
but in business ignored them. HeI
best friends seemed to forget in times
of illness that Anne had husband
and persistently sent for their old ply
sician.
When our friends came in contact
with DR.. Jaeger, the latter always
shook hands in pompous manner
smiled with an air of satisfaction
which seemed to say you are not in the
east I'm my way, and are quite welcome