Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-10

! crS. DuG tutro were GuOSo precious
promises!
''They will be fulfilled yet, in the
Lords own time and place." he said,
cheerfully. "He probably means that
I shall 60 away from here to soRe-
thing better than I have dared hope
| for"
So he made ready to 60. The home
of his childhood was dear to him, and
he was fond of familiar faces, even if
they were not always kindly. He
had always felt timid about going
among total strangers. But his poor
little trunk was packed, and he had
gone around saying good>by to the
| few friends who cared to say good>by
| to him. He intended going on Tues
day.
| On Monday aftern DON little tow
headed boy met him on the street.
"Say, you, Doctor George" he said,
"my ma wants you to come up to our
house and see if there's anything the
matter Of our Tommy; cause if there
is ma wants to send for Doctor
Graves"
The insulting message made the
blood fairly tingle in the young doc
tors veins. But the next moment he
laughed.
ooh! well, it don't matter" he said !;
cpl 60. It will help me to say truth
! fully that I've mad some practice"
Tommy was the very urchin who
had sung the hateful doggerel before
DR.. Georges Office.
The young physician examined the
boy carefully; then he said:
"Well, Tommy, my boy. it will
take something more than grease on
your heels and tar on your nose to
make you well; you have the small
pOx.
'I doa't believe it." said Tommy S
mother, sharply: ST don't believe you
know small pox from the measles.
I'll send for DR.. Graves right off.
every well, madame" said DIR.
George, politely bowling himself out.
But late that evening Toms mother
came crying to DR.. George.
CDR. Graves wouldn't come" she
said; she was going to, but when he
heard that it looked like smallpox
with Tommy he said he wasn't well,
and Just sent some medicine that ain't
done him a bstof good. If you would
come up, sir!'
It was the first time he had been adj
dressed as 'sir" for many day.
"Of course I will CO." he said.
That was the beginning of Doctor
| Georges practice in Sharon. Within
ten days there were fourteen cases Of
smallpox. The annals of the little
town contain a record of how it was
scourged by that fearful disease. Be-
fore the end came there was one or
more cases in nearly every house.
The means taken to prevent the spread
of the disease had proved Intellectual.
At Last the town was quarantined.
| When DR.. Graves was sent for a
second time it was discovered that he
had suddenly been called away ION
business. He stayed away oil win
ter.
DR.. George went back to his empty
Office after seeing Tommy second
time. He unpacked his little trunk,
lighted candle, and began to read a
certain medical work. He read until
midnight, until 1, 2, 8 o'clock, until
the dawn of day, that found him on
his Bonded knees, prayful, and even
fearful. He felt that there had been
| given him work to do-that change
was coming in his life. He opened
his well-worn Bible and read:
ST will not fail thee nor forsake
| thee" and again he read: ''Be strong,
and again I say, be strong"
! And he was strong
His strength was as the strength of ten,
| Because his heart was pure.
He became a tower of strength to
those stricken people. He was doctor,
nurse, consoler-more than he thought
| he ever should be to suffering crea-
lures.
His success with Tommy was assur-
| ed within few days, and others came
eagerly after him. His skill in baH
ing the disease was wonderful. Had
he not the heavenly help9 There
were few deaths, and many people
came forth, their fair and blooming
cheeks unmarked by the dreadful dis
ease.
Mrs. Colonel Giddings' beautiful
| daughter was stricken down while
making preparations to fly from the
| town.
Mrs. Giddings' own carriage came
for cold Joe Hixon's son." His con-
taminated presence was in her splen~
did parlors and in her daughters
dainty room. His skill and careful
watching brought her beautiful
daughter forth with all OF her glrlish
loneliness unframed.
He had hardly time TO eat or sleep
for many days. His very presence
gave hope and courage to the suffer-
ing. He escaped the contagion, but
when his last case was dismissed he
was utterly exhausted, and quietly
left the village for a week or two of
rest. When he returned his heart
sank within him. In the window Of
one OF the handsomest ofice>rooms ia
the town he saw the word physician"
in great letters of gold. Handsome
curtains were before the windows.