Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-10-07
DOCTOR GEORGE.
BY j. L. HARBOUR.

l L Auo uipiOuld WAS lIOtn d uculCdl COH0SO
very high standing, and George had work
ed hard and faithfully for four long years
for that diploma. That he deserved It,
made it a valuable possession.
He had with it good deal of capital IN
the shape of courage, enthusiasm. faith IN
himself and the world. He was honest,
manly and patient, and could begin life at
the right end of the ladder.
He was so poor that he had to walk part
of the way from the college to his old home,
the village of Sharon.
The first man he met at the end of his
tiresome journey was old Enoch Lampson,.
who had known George from the day OF
his birth.
'sHow de do, George, how de dc? Homo
again, chr" was the old mans greeting.
eyes, sir," replied George, ''home to stay
this time"
$50 yer full fedged pill-maker, an
ready to go into partnership with our old
Billy, our graveyard sexton, hey?" asked
the old man, with poor wit.
George felt disposed to resent this, but
he did not.
eye don't calc'late on settlin' down
here in Sharon, do YEP" continued old
Enoch
eyes, sir, do.''
"Wal, now, dunno, I dunno, bout
that, George"
"Why shouldn't begin here?" asked
the young man. 81 hear that old Doctor
Edmunds 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, Eyer too young. That's
jist whar the shoe pinches. Least-wise
that's one place whar it pinches. 'Nur-
ther thing is that-that-"
The old mnn scratched his head in evil
dent confusion. He looked keenly at the
young man, whose face began to flush.
"Wal," resumed the old man, 'syou
know well as anybody, George, jist what
yer family connection; is you know
that
II know it SO well that you need not
| take the trouble to enlighten me further on
the subject" replied the young man hot
ly.
81 know to my sorrow that my father
was a common drunkard, and that I am
generally known as 'old Joe Hixson's son.
l know that my eldest brother followed in
my fathers footsteps, and was killed in a
drunken brawl in 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 woman as
ever lived through years of shame and of
suffering to die in the end Of broken
heart.''
'tThat's even SO, George" admitted the
old man. / knowed your mother when she
was purity Mary jackson, fore it was ever
her misfortune to know yer reperbate ia
ther an she 'wuz, as you say, as good a
woman as ever drawed breath: but hit
yer fathers name you've got, an the mans
O. Hixson don't STAN very high in these
parts. But I'll say fer you, George, that
amt word to say agin you pussonally an
individooly. Pm free ter say an b'leeve
that yer mind to do what is right, an that
you want ter raise yer name 'bove the
ojeeum that's now on hit.'
| 81 do want that" was the young mans
earnest reply" and it's strange if the chris
tian people of this town refuse to give me
help and encouragement. My own record
here is clear and I'm not ashamed tf& have
it read. Of course l am young, ant lost
people are little afraid of young physi-
clans, but all physicians were young once,
and / must have beginning, you know.
'tNow have studied faithfully, carefully
even prayerfully, for four long years. have
spent every dollar had in educating my
self No one knows of the deprivations l
have had to suffer for this He held up
his diploma as he spoke.
| II have earned it, he went on. cit is
my own by right of four years of hard
study. Of course know of the opposition
will probably meet with in the begin
ming. l am young, know more of theory
than practice SO far. But there are several
reasons why want to locate here in my
boyhood home. I am bound to win in the
end, you will see that do"
| sCWo1 loorra T hoiu3t thsnp oo;u Won
myself. I wish you we'll fur as Pm con-
cerned. Yer gritty, remember that you
had that streak in you when you was a
little youngster. But I jist made up my
mind that I'd tell you fair and squar what
the chances wuz for an agin you here"
81 am greatly obliged, I'm sure" said
George, but was prepared for all yo1 have
told. I feel that shall succeed in the end.
| Commit thy way unto the Lord. Trust
also in him, and he shall bring it to passp
There is the foundation of my faith and
courage, Mr.. Lampson. have often
proved the truth of that most helpful and
blessed promise. 1t gives me courage and
confidence now. 1t will not fail me-"
But there were days and weeks and
months after that when poor Georges cour-
age and confidence almost failed him.
| Old Enoch had truthfully said that s'Doc-
tor George would have hard row to hoe."
He had indeed. The name of Hixson was
indeed in bad repute in and around Sharon.
The people were prejulced against the poor
young fellow, although they could not but
admit that his own character was above re-
proach. They had known him from his
baby days up, and it did not "seem natur-
aP' to call him Doctor Hixson. And be
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 familiarity he
resented in secret, although he dared
not to 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 the children
ridiculed him and his new title.
Could anything be more exasperating
than to have crowd of ill-bred urchins as
semble in front of his poor, shabby little
office, while one of their number sang
out
Doctor, Doctor, kin you tell
What will make sick man we'll?
Grease his heels and tar his nose.
And that " ill do. suppose"
The doctors Office was such shabby
| little affair, and he was quite too poor to
Iudk0 IL UtIUcTs LII udU uO CdTp0t, uO PlO-
lures, nothing but a cheap desk, chair or
two, and the few old but valuable books
which composed the doctors library. Ap-
pearances 60 good ways toward physi-
clans success or failure, no matter how
greatly we affect to underate them.
He should be well-dressed. A shabby
man can never assume very dignlfed ap-
pearance. His Office should be neat and
inviting in its appearance. 1t argues i'll
for the amount of mans practice if his
Office is as shabby and poor as Doctor
Georges was.
If the young fellow could only have had
chance. But there were the people send
ing ten miles to K, a neighboring town,
for DR.. Graves, who could ride over in a
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 self-same college from
which young Doctor Georges diploma had
come.
His father had left him a moderate for
tune, and he could begin his career in a
| hooor,inn q phvoiciuu And fhan