Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-09-12
DOCTOR GEORGE.


very high standing and George had worked
hard and faithfully for four long years fol
that diploma. That ne deserved it. made
it valuable possession.
He had with ii good deal of capital ii
the shape Of courage, enthusiasm, faith in
himself and the world He was honest
manly and patient, and could begin life al
the right end of the ladder.
He was so poor that he had to walk part
way back from the college to his old home
the village of Sharon.
The first man ne met at the end of his
tlresome journey was old Enoch Lampson.
man who had known George from the
day of his birth
How de do, George how de do? Home
again, Ell 2 was the old mans greeting.
Yes, sir" replied George; home to
stay this time
so yer full-hedged pill-maker. an
ready to go into partnership with old Billy.
our graveyard sexton, hey ?" asked the old
man with poor wit
did not.
Ye don't calc'late on settlin' down here
in Sharon, do YEP" continued old Enoch.
= Yes, sir, do
Wall, now, l dono-I dono bout that,
George"
Why shouldn't l begin here?n asked
the young man; - hear that old DR.. Ed
mondS has died lately, and that no one has
yet come to take his place. Why should |
not do so? / am young"
That's hit, George. that's hit" inter
rupted old Enoch; yer too young; that's
jist whar the shoe pinches. Leastwise,
that's one place whar hit pinches. 'Nuther
thing is that-that-n
The old man scratched mis- head in evil
den confusion. He looked keenly at the
young man whose face began to flush.
Wall" resumed the old man, you
know as wellas anybody, George iist what
yer fam ly connections is; you know that
know 1t so well that YOU need not take
the trouble to enlighten me any further on
the subject, replied the young man very
quickly; Il know to my sorrow that my
father was common drunkard, and that
am generally known as old Joe Hixson's
son. / know that my eldest brother fol-
lowed my fathers footsteps, and was killed
IN drunken brawl in this town. Nv
other brother has gone to the bad, too.
Butl know, and you know, Mr.. Lampson
that my mother was as good woman as
ever lived through years of shame and suf-
iering, 10 die at last of broken heart"
old man; II knowed your mother when
she was purity Mary jackson, fore it was
ever her misfortune to know your roper
pate father, an she was, as you say, as good
q woman as ever drawed breath but bits
yer fathers name you've got, an the name
o Hixson don stand very high in these
parts. But I'll say fer you, George, that
haint word to say agin you pussonally
an individooly. l am free ter say an be-
Iieye that yer of mind to do what's right.
an that yer want to raise yer name far
boye the ojeeum that's now on hit"
So do want that" was the young mans
earnestly..reply, and its strange ifthe Christ
ian people of this town refuse to give me
help and encouragement. Ny own record
mere Is clear; | am not ashamed to have it
read. OF course, | am young, and most
people are little afraid of young physi-
clans; but all physicians were young once,
and must have a beginning, you know
Now have studied faithfully, carefully,
even prayerfully, for four long years. |
have spent every dollar l had educating
myself. No one knows of the deprivations
L have had TO suffer for this and he held
up his diploma as he spoke. Il have
earned IT, he went on; sit is my own by
right of four years of hard study. OF course
know of the opposition l will probably
meet with in the beginning. am young !;
know more of theory than of practice, so
far. But there are several reasons why /
want to locate here in my boyhoods home
L am bound to win in the end-you will
see that | do"
Wall, George, hain't thing ag'in yer
myself | wish yer well as far as Pm con-
cerned. Yer gritty; remember that yer
had that streak in yer when yer was little
youngster. But | jist made up my mind
that I'd tell yer fair an square what the
chances wuz fur an ag'in yer here"
am greatly obliged, I'm sure" said
George but / was prepared for all you
have told me. | feel that shall succeed
in the end. Commit thy way unto the
Lord. Trust also in Him, and He shall
bring it TO pass There is the foundation
OF my faith and courage, Mr. Lampson. l
have often proved the truth of that most
helpful and most blessed promise. 1t gives
me courage and confidence now. l know
it will not fail me-"
But there were many days and weeks
and months after that when poor Georges
courage and confidence almost failed him
Old Enoch had truthfully said: Doctor
George will have hard row 10 Dig
He had, indeed. The name of Hixson
was in bad repute in and around Sharon.
The people 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, but it did not
seem natural to call him Doctor" Hix-
son. And he was so prond of that hard
earned title
Those who used it at all called him
Doctor George" that took away half the
dignity for him, and was Familiarity he
resented. in secret, 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 ridi-
culed him and his new title.
Could anything be more exasperating
than 70 have crowd of ill-bred urchins as
sembie in front of his poor, shabby little
Office, while one of their number sung out ::
Doctor doctor, kin you tell
Mhat Will make sick man well?
Grease his heels and tar his nose
And that will do, suppose"
The doctors Office was such a shabby lit
tie affair, and he was quite too poor to
make II better. 1t had no carpet. no pict
ures, nothing but cheap desk. a chair or
two, and the few old but valuable books
which comprised the doctors library.
Appearances go good WAYS toward q
physicians success or failure, no matter
how greatly we may affect to underrate
them.
He should be well dressed. A shabby
man can never assume very dignified APP
pearance His office should be neat and in
wiling. 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
chance. But there were the people send.
ing ten miles to X, neighboring town,
for Dr.. Graves, who could ride over in his
carriage and count their pulse-beats by a
magnificent gold watch. His clothes were
of the best and tailor-made, and he had
graduated. from the same college from
which rsGeorge's diploma had come.
His father had left him q moderate for
tune, and he could begin his career in q
manner becoming physician.