St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-07-22
A DOCTORS STORY.

"YOu know nothing about intemper-
ance," said a noted physician. 81 could
write volumes that would amaze YOU
"Write one" said. .
''It would be breach of honor. A
physician, like a Roman priest, may
not betray the confessional" After a
moment he added "Our profession
takes us into homes. And lives and
hearts that seem all bright and happy
are often dark and miserable from sick
ness of the SOUL"
"There must be some scenes that it
would be proper for you to tell me-" L
urged "please think of some."
81 was called to the wife of a dis
tingnished gentleman. Her husband
sat 10y her bed tanning her, and love-
ly bouquet of flowers was on the stand
by her side. Two little girls were
playing quietly in the room. 1t was Il
charming picture of love and devotion.
"'My wife fell down stairs said her
husband, 'and fear has hurt herself
seriously
81 examined her shoulder. 1t was
swollen and almost black, and one rib
was broken.
"'HOw do you find hers? asked her
husband anxiously.
"T will ask the question if you
please. How did you so injure your
selfP
"I fell on the stairway
al hesitated. | was not in a paddy
shanty, but in the house of a we'll
known and unstained man. [ re-eX-
amined her side.
"'When did she fall 7? l asked.
60 Ct a Of niUht he said after a SER
ond's pause and a glance at her.
"My resolve was taken.
"'Please show me the place on the
stairs where she struck said to the
husband, rising and going out. He
followed me.
"I was not with her when she fell,
he said.
"'The injury was not from a fall,
and it was not done last night. Never
try to deceive a DOCTOR
"'She begged me not to tell you the
truth
"'Then get another physician I
said.
"T will tell you the whole truth.
Night before last l had been out to
dinner
"'I saw your brilliant speech in the
paper. Was it wine inspired 2
"'Partly. Most afterdinner speech
es are to a degree. | came home ex-
cited by the fine dinner, wit, wisdom
and wine of the evening, and went not
to bed, but to the closet and drank
heavily. My wife heard me and came
down, hoping to coax me upstairs, as
she had done many times. But she
was too late. My reason and man
hood were gone, and l pounded her,
and left her. She tried to follow me
but fell on the stairs. After time she
crawled, she says, upstairs, and went
into the nursery and slept with the
little girls. / slept late and woke with
a fierce headache, and went out at once,
thinking no breakfast and the outdoor
air would clear my brain for my morn
ing engagements. | pledge you my
honor | had forgotten | struck my wife.
When came back last night | found
her suffering, but she would not per-
nit IL physician should be sent for,
lest it should disgrace me. | think
she really tried to believe she hurt
herself, more or less, when she FELL
And with an honest culver of the chin,
he added, "'She is an angel, and wine
is devil
"'What are wine-bibbers 2
"'Own children of their father. Is
my wife seriously hurtP
"'I cannot tell yet. fear she is
"MOre absolute, untiring devotion
no man ever gave a wife than he gave
her while she lived and suffered. When
her noble, true, loving heart ceased to
thrOb he was incOnsOlable. His love
and devotion were the theme of every
lip, and the Providence that so afflict-
ed him was called Strange III a tone
of semi-censure On her tomb is cut
the beloved wife = He has gone to
her now, in that land of no license"
"NO one but myself ever knew the
truth" u National Temperance AdvO-
cate.