The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-03-03

sung the hateful doggerel before Doc
tor 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 smallpox"
az don't believe it," said Tommy's
mother, sharply. ~ don't believe you
know smallpox from The measles I'll
send for DR.. Graves right OH. ;"
Very well, madam" said Doctor
George, politely bowling himself out
But late that evening Toms mother
came, crying, to Doctor George.
=" DR.. Graves wouldn' t come" she said.
" He 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 amt done him
a bit of good. If you would come up,
sir"
1t was the first time he had been adj
dressed as sir - for many day.
" OF course l 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 record of how it was
scourged by that fearful disease. Be-
fore the end came there were 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 Doctor Graves was sent for a
second time it was discovered that he
had been called away con business"
He stayed away all winter.
Doctor George went back to his
empty office after seeing Tommy sec
ond time. He unpacked his little trunk.
lighted candle and began to read a
certain medical work. He read until
midnight, until one, two, three O'Clock,
until the dawn of day; that found him
on his Bonded knees, prayerful, and
even fearful. He felt that there had
been given him work to do; that a
change was coming in his life. He
opened his well-worn little Bible and
read:
" will not fail thee nor forsake:'
and again he read: d" Be strong, and
again 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 creatures.
His success with Tommy was assured
within q few DAYS. and others came
eagerly after him. His skill in battling
the disease was wonderful. Had he not
the heavenly help? There were few
deaths, and many people came forth,
their fair and blooming cheeks I'M
marked by the dread disease.
Mrs. Colonel Giddings' beautiful
ing preparations to fly from the town.
Mrs. Giddings' own carriage came
for " old Joe HiXson'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 daugh-
ter forth, with all her girlish loneliness
unframed
He had hardly time to eat or sleep
for many days. His very presence
gave hope and courage to the suffering.
He escaped the contagion, but when
his last case was dismissed he was ut
terly exhausted, and quietly left the
village for week or two of rest.
When he returned his heart sank
within him. In the window of one of
the handsomest office rooms in the
town he saw the word Physician u
in great letters of gold.
Handsome curtains were before the
windows. Everything indicated that
the newcomer had been a successful
man. He hardly dared to read the
name on the door. When he did, he
read:
CDR. GEORGE II. HIXsoN."
go long in an see how you like
it," said old Enoch Lampson, who
stood grinning on the pavement.
The amazed young doctor opened the
door and went into beautiful office. A
handsome carpet and rugs covered the
floor, walnut and mahogany chairs,
with velvet and plush cushions, were in
corners, a mahogany table and secre-
tary stood in the room, pictures and or
naments were on the walls, books filled
walnut bookcase with silken curtain
Back of this pretty room was one for a
private office, fitted up in the hand
soonest style.
I-I-don't understand it," said
Doctor George.
Don't, hey?" queried old Enoch.
"Wall, hits little s'prise fixed up fel
you by Mrs. Colonel Giddings an the
rest of us. Bout the hull town he'd a
finger in hit. Hits all yer own, an all
paid fer. reckon you hain't lost
nothin' by trustin' in the Lord. He
gin'rally brings his promises to pass,
you know. ~. L. Barbour.