Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-22
DOCTOR GEORGE.

Vaiue george Hixson had on his twenty second
birthday, was handsome diploma of parch
ment tied up with blue ribbon. The diploms
was from a medical college of very high stand
Ing, and George had worked hard and faith
fuily for four long years for that diploma
That he deserved it, made it a valuable pos
session.
He had with 1t good deal of capital in the
shape OF courage, enthusiasm faith in himself
and tt world. He was honest, manly and
patient, and could begin life at the right end o
the ladder.
Sharon.
some journey was old Enoch Lampson, a man
who had known George from the day OF hi:
How de do, George how de do? Home again
eh?' was the old mans greeting.
"Yes, sir, replied George; "home to stay this
$50 yer a full-hedged pfll-maker, an ready
to gointo partnership with Old Billy, our grave
yard sexton, hey?" asked the old man, with
George felt disposed to resent this; but he did
aye don't calc'late on settlin, down here in
sharon, do ye? continued old Enoch.
"wai. now, I dono-I dono bout that
"why shouldn't I begin here?" asked the
young man. ~ hear that old DIR. Edmonds has
died lately. and that no one has yet come to
That's hit. George! that's hitr' interrupted
shoe pinches Leaswise af that's one place wharf
hit plnches. 'Nuther thing is that3that-
The Old man scratched his head in evident
confusion He looked keenly at the young man,
whose face began to flush.
"Wal," resumed the old man, ''you know as
well as anybody, George, jisS wat yer family
connections is; you know that
IL know it so well that you need not take the
trouble To enlighten me any further on the sub
al . nm Toll
know 10 my sorrow that my father was COM
Inon drunkard and that am generally known
as old Joe Hixson's son.. know that my eldest
brother followed in my fathers footsteps and
was killed in a drunken brawl i'm this town. My
other brother has gone to the bad. too. But
know, and You know, too, Mr.. Lampson, that
my mother was as good n woman as ever lived
through years of shame and suffering, To die at
last OF a broken heart"
That's even SO, George" admitted the old
man; Is knOwed your mother when she was
purity Mary Jackson, fore it was ever her mis-
was, you say, good woman as ever
drawd breath; but hits yer fathers name
very high in these parts But I'll say fer you.
George, that / hain't q word To say agin you
Pnssonally an individooly; am free ter say an
blieye that yer OF a mind ter do what's right,
an that you want to raise yer name far 'boye
the oleeum that's now on hit"
- do want that" was the young mans earn
est reply, and it's strange if the Christian peo-
pie OF this town refuse to give me help and en-
couragement My own record here is clear;
am not ashamed to have ii read. OF course,
am young, and most people are a little afraid
of young physicians: but all physicians were
know ''S""'"'' -"
Now. I have studied faithfully, carefully,
even prayerfully, for four long years. l have
spent every dollar had, educating myself. No
one knows of the deprivations have had to
suffer for this and he held up his diploma
be spoke.
Il have enrned it." he went on: sit is nv own
by right OF four years of hard study. OF course
j know of the opposition will probably meet
II
more of theory than of practice, so far. But
there are several reasons why want TO locate
here in my bOyhOOd's home. i am bound to
win in the end-yOu will see that do"
wall, George, hain't a thing ag'in you my
self wish You we'll as fur as I'm concerned
Yer gritty; remember that you had that streak
in You when you was little youngster. But
list made up my mind that I'd tell you fair an
here
Il am greatly obliged, I'm sure" said George,
"but was prepared for all you have told me.
i FEEL that shall succeed in the end. Commit
thy way unto the Lord. Trust also in Him, and
he shall bring ii to pass There is the founda-
tiOn of my faith and courage, Mr.. LampsOn.
have often proved the truth of that most
helpful and most blessed promise. 1t gives me
courage and confidence now. / know it will
But there were many days and weeks and
months after that when poor Georges courage
and confidence almost failed him.
Old EnOch had truthfuly said:
doctor George will have hard row to dig"
He had, indeed The name of Hixson was In
were prejudiced against the poor young fellow,
although they could not but admit that his own
character was above reproach. They had
known him from his baby days up, and it did
not ''seem natural to call him Doctor
Hixson.- And he was so proud of that hard
Those who used IT at all called him doctor
George that took away half tine dignity for
him, and was a familiarity he resented, in Sc
cret, although he dared not do so openly
Others called him doc" and that was simply
CALLING To the high-strung young man. He was
daily hurt by covert or open sneers. Even
children ridiculed him and his new title.
Could anything be more exasperatilg than
front OF his poor, shabby little Office, while one
Of their number sung out:
Doctor. doctor, kin yon tell
Grease his heels and tar his nose,
And that Will do, suppose"
The Doctors office was such shabby little
affair, and he was quite too poor to make il
better. 1t had no carpet no pictures, nothing
but q cheap desk, chair or two, and the few
Doctors library.
Appearances go good ways toward a physi-
clans success or failure, no matter how greatly
We may affect 10 underrate them.
He should be Well dressed. shabby man
can never assume very dignifed appearance.
His Office should be neat and inviting. 1t
augurs i'll for the amount of a mans practice
If his office is as shabby as poor Doctor Georges
was.
If the young fellow could only have had a
chance But there were the people sending ten
miles To r.. neighboring town, for DIR.
VINO cOulU rlde over In his carriage and
count their pulse beats by magnificent gold
watch His clothes were of the best and tailor
made, and he had graduated FROM the same
college from which DR.. Georges diploma had
come.
His father had left him a moderate fortune
and he could begin his career In a manner be-
coming physician
And then George had to sit in his dreary
ONCE, In his frayed and patched garments
waiting for the patients that would not come
while DIR. Graves went driving by day AFTER
day.
Every few days the disturbed and detected
young Doctor heard ruInors OF rival coming
10 Sharon, and the village paper openly pub
Eshed in its columns that
AN experienced and competent physician
Will do well TO locate in Sharon"
After that, Doctor George thought he would
really hare 10 seek a new field OF labor and i'm
deepest dependency he feared that he had per-
haps relied too much on the promise that had
SO long encouraged and consoled him.
But he read another promise solemn and
sweet, 10 his troubled heart:
Il viii not fail thee. nor fOrsake thee"
1T Will all come right in the end he said.
but the end seemed SO lar away
He would be only ''oid Joe Hixson's SON., IN
these people all the days OF his lite There was
no end 10 that shame and sorrow The sins of 2
drunken and depraved father were visited unon
the head OF a son who was deserving of the
world honor and esteem. He had risen above
them into the beauty and glory OF a pure and
noble manhood.
Through shame and sorrow disbursement
and poverty, he had struggled up To a hiohe,
and a better life, and yet the good people OF
sharon daily made him look back ward TO the
Lfe he had left. And no friendly hand was