Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-10-30

square what the chances wuz for an
agin you here"
81 am greatly obliged, I'm sure"
said George, "but l was prepared for
all you have told. Ifeel that l 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. Ihave often proved the
truth of that most helpful and blessed
promise. 1t gives me courage and con-
fidence now. 1t will not fail me-"
But there were days and weeks and
months after that when poor Georges
courage and confidence almost failed
him.
Old Enoch had truthfully said that
"Doctor George would have hard row
10 hoe." He had indeed. The name Of
Hixson was indeed in bad repute in and
around Sharon. The people were pref
udccd 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" Hi1son. And he
was so proud of that hard-earned title.
Those who used it at all called him
doctor George;" that took away half
the dignity from him and was famil-
iarity he resented in secret, although
he dared not to do openly. Others call
ed him "Doc," and that was simply
CALLING to the high-strung young man.
He was daily hurt by covert or open
sneers. Even the children ridiculed
him and his new title.
Could anything be more eXasperaiing
than to have crowd of ill-bred urchins
assemble in front of his poor, shabby
little office, while one Of their number
sang out
doctor, Doctor, kin you tell
What will make a sick man well7
Grease his heels and tar his nose,
And that will do, suppose"
The DOCTORS office was such a shabby
little affair, and he was quite too poor
to make it better. II had no carpet, no
pictures, nothing but a cheap desk, n
chair or two, and the few old but valna-
BILE books which composed the Doctors
library. Appearances 90 good ways
toward a physicians success or failure,
no matter how greatly we effect to un-
derrate them.
He should be well-dressed. A shabby
man can never assume very dignified
appearance. His office should be neat
and inviting in its appearance. Ii ar
CUES i'll for the amount OF mans prac-
tice if his office is as shabby and poor
as Dr. Georges was.
If the young fellow could only have
had a chance. But there were the peo-
pie sending ten miles to X, n neigh
boring town, for DR.. Graves, who could
ride over in carriage, and count their
beats by magnificent gold watch.
His clothes were of the best and tailor
made, and he graduated from the self
same college from which young Doctor
Georges diploma had come.
His father had left him moderate
fortune, and he could begin his career
in a manner becoming physician.
And then George had to sit in his dreary
office in his fyayed and patched gar
ments, waiting for the patients who
would not come, while DR.. Graves went
driving by day after day.
Every few days the disturbed and de-
jected young doctor heard rumors of a
rival coming 10 Sharon, and the village
paper openly published in its columns
that ian experienced and competent
physician of respectable antecedeDts
would do well to locate in Sharon"
After that, Doctor George thought he
would really have to seek new field
of labor, and in the deepest dependency
he feared that he had relied too much
On the promise that had so long encour-
aged and consoled him.
But he read another promise solemn
and sweet to his troubled heart-''I will
not fail thee nor forsake thee"
at will all come right in the end" 4"
he said, but the end seemed far away.
He would only be old Joe Hixson's
son to these people all the days of his
life. There was no end to that shame
and sorrow. The sins Of drunken
and depraved father were visited upon
the head Of a son who was deserving Of
the worlds honor and esteem. He had
risen up above them into the beauty
and glory of noble young manhood.
Through shame and sorrow, discourage
ment and poverty, he had struggled up
to higher and a better life, and yet
the good people of Sharon daily made
him look backward to the life he had
left.
No hand was stretched forth to help
him onward.
"It is really surprising to sec the as
surance old Joe Hixson's son displays"
said Mrs. Colonel Giddings, the wealth
lest woman in Sharon, "with his ante
cedents TO set himself up for our physi-
cian."
How many ofus can look back through
the gates to antecedents I'm whom there
was no guile, and for whom we need
not blush?
During six months DR.. George had
but two patients. One was boy who
had cut his finger badly, and the other
was child with the collie. He had not,
however, wasted his time. He had