Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-08-26
MY FIRST PATIENT.

Nj 1 flnSl L n llCNl l..
"# And may beg YOU TO visit us
In your private rather than in your pro
fesslonal capacity! Since my dear wife has
been falling thus sadly she has evlnced great
dread of medical men, and were she to guess
YOU other than an ordinary guest trcmble for
the consequences! The carriage will meet
YOU ut Blackburne station at whatever hour
you name. Yours yerl truly =,
ARTHUR CRAWFORD"
This is an extract from letter that
l received on the 10th day OF June,
1870. and being but young fellow of
26. | was very much elated thereby.
The great drawback to being what Is
called specialist is that the generality
of people are afraid to employ you until
YOU are we'll on in years, and conse-
quently this Mrs. Crawford. for whom
nv services had been enlisted, was my
first private patient. My specially was
madness, and firing equally of hospital
work and idling in my own rooms. l
was heartily thankful for the good luck
that had befallen me.
My host met me on threshold with
outstretched hands.
This is exceedingly kind of you,
he said, ''for know YOU have come at
Your very earliest convenience. / do
not think | ever met Il man who so
much charmed me at first sight; nay,
he more than charmed, he captivated
me. lie was about 80, and exceedingly
handsome, with fair curly hair and
bright blue ewes. When | had finished
luncheon his manner changed abruptly
as he began speaking of his young wife.
Il did not like to enter upon the
subject before you were rested. For
some months past she had been suffer-
ing from intense melancholia, and
lately she had taken deep distrust OF
those around her. more particularly of
me-" He stopped abruptly and bit his
lip. Doctor, / simply worship her, "
he went on passionately. When
MAJ ried her, i've years ago, she was
the blitbest. merriest girl in all the
shire: and now. 10 see her like this
why, il breaks my heart!" and he drop
ped into chair and buried his face in
his hands
There was an awkward pause. for in
those days was too inexperienced 10
be much of a hand at consolation. and
then stepped nearer to him and laid
my hand upon his shoulder. Come,
come" 1 said checrily. there is nc
need to dspair like this. We must
hope for the best. How does she show
her distrust of youP"
He raised his head to answer me.
by keeping the boy from Inc. for one
thing. She will hardly let me touch
him"
.'The boy? "A son of yoursP'
1.-The only child he answered.
dear little fellow of nearly four; ant
she betrays terrible fear whenever
have him with me-" Then followed {
string of various professional questions
you remember that asked you to
drop the doctor, and seem as an ordi
visitorp"
OF course agreed; and then he tolt
me he had spoken TO her of me as al
old college friend.
When | descended / found botf
Crawford and his wife waiting for me
He was talking merrily and looked thu
personification of life and good spirits
.'Ah! there you are at last! Let mt
introduce you to my wife. Beatrice
this is Mr.. John Lennox."
She had half turned when he begal
speaking, but as he said my name sh
gave a sudden gasp and confronte'
me with large, startled eyes. For on
moment she seemed half mad witt
terror. but the Lext it fled as quick,
as it came and She held out her han'
in greeting AS she did so an ugl,
scar on the smooth, white wrist caugh
my eye. IL looked to me like an I'm
skillful but intentional cut from
knife, and while. we were exchangin,
commonplaces as TO my journey, etc.
j was wondering as to whether sh
had ever attempted her own life. Sh
was in the first flush Of her woman
hood, and her glorious blue eyes an
coil of auburn hair would alone hav
sufficed to stamp her as beautiful
woman, had it not been that the curl
Gus expression of her face outweighe
every other fascination. Add to thi
the fact that her face was entirely col
orless. and the 3 hand she had give
me. i'm spite of the June sunshine. wa
sas cold as ice, and it will be seen tina
my first case promised to be full G
interest.
She poured out the tea silently. Will
her husband and went on chatting
and she did not speak again until b
proposed to ring the nursery bell.
I'VE have not seen BERTHE all da.
and 1 know you would like to sho
him off to Lennox."
'Show him off in the morning. Al
thur; | don't think we want him now
.'Oh fe! There is an unkin
mamma. I'll fetch him."
mo. no; I'll CO." She ran out
the room rs she spoke, and Crawfor
turned to me with weary-lookin
smile.
you see LennoxP / generally gi,
way; but am afraid of II growing NJ
on her, II never see the child. He
such splendid fellow" As he spok
his wife returned with the boy In he
arms.
She seated herself on low chat