The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-06-08
Miscellaneous.
DR.. FAIRMAN.

Youths Companion.
AS. Dr. Fairmau was crossing the network
of tracks beyond the Central station his at
tenton was arrested by the tall athletic fig
ure OLA young man engaged in unloading
some freight cars. lie was two or three auC
twenty, perhaps, with heavy jaws, suspi
clously red face, and closely cropped yellow
hair
DIR. Falrman experienced Slight feeling
of envy, as the young fellow hoisted the
heavy boxes from the car to the dray with
little apparent effort every motion of his
body belraying, TO the experienced eye of the
surgeon, its suppleness and vigor. lie pass
ed on with a half sigh, for his intense spirit
had fashioned itself refined and delicate
body, never quite ready to respond to the
intelligence within, and for II moment hc
coveted the perfect physical equipment OF The
young laborer
His carriage waited for him in Il side street,
and he had just entered it when his name
was shouted from til" direction of the rail.
way station, and II man came running To-
ward him
Hello, doctor" he cried Come back
There's man crushed out here
lie sprang from the carriage and hastily
rctruccd his steps Some instinct warned
nun llIul lIit victim WIS lli young itl ltlt.
1t WAS even 50. The man had slipped and
fallen backward from the Car, II heavy box
had crushed MIN, and he lay bleeding pro-
iusrly and unconscious.
nder DR.. Fairmuns supervision, he was
removed to his cottage home, where for
weeks lie lowered between life and death,
cared tor assiduously by the mos; distinguish
ed surgeon in the city. Day uft'r day, and
often in the night, the doctors carriage
stood ut the humble door, while he battle /
with death for the life within.
After weeks Of agony and months OF weak
ness, Sam Barker Crept slowly back to health
and strength. Before the accident he had
been Il disslpated rOwdy, earning fair wages,
but always out OF funds before pay day.
There was not much Of him but Drawn and
bone, and kind Of dogged hone sly which
gained for him the reputation of being
square" among his boon companions.
Goodness is contagious, and DR.. Fairmuu
was filled with moral, sanativc power. While
he healed the wounds Of the body, he probud
the soul otthis man, il haply he might touch
some responsive chord.
His intuitions were SO keen that he was
rarely at fault even with complex natures
with subtle delicacy, as fine as the touch OF
his hand was light, he struck the one sound
fibre i'll Sans nature So gently, SO truly, that
the work ofmOral restoration was done be
fore the patient was aware of begnning
Sam shall tell how Dr. Farman made man
of him.
"The first thing sensed after the accident
was DR.. Fairman, and lust caught his face
for minute. You didn't know him? There
never was face like his, so gentle and still,
like deep lake. Dark blue eyes that look.
ed through you didn't stab, you kuow-iust
Sa~. He never talked much, but somehow
only to see him was company No use To
try to tell what he did for me, over and
above what he was bound to do rs Il doctor.
Twas just ere1yhing!
when begun to mend, | worried about
the expense and | asked him how long
should have to lay by.
"A year, Sam, he said.
"'But | can't | said. i haven't cost
father II cent before, since was fifteen Do
try aud hurry me up, doctor!
You see | thought he could do anything
he wanted to. He gave me one of his long
keen looks, and said, had you no money
when you were injured"
"'Not II cent said |.
80 A big, strong fellow like you must have
earned good wages. What did you do with
your money!
"'Spent it, says, like other fellows
Had you any dcbtsY
"'No, sir said, squarcly. 4 don't spend
money till earn it,
He sat quite still awhile, thinking. Then
he soid, Sam, you must make up your mind
TO be idle q year, if You are to be of any use
in the world atterward AS an honest man.
you should have saved something for this dis
.rt. Dat ,,.t,,
business is to let nature make n sound man of
you again
The year was fully up before earned II
cent. Then got II place as swtchman, and
went around to DR.. Fairman's Office for his
bill.
"How well remember that office! Two
large rooms in the old Cass mansion nice
chairs and sofas and carpets; books, books,
cases full all along the walls, and pictures and
busts. But that pale man was worth all the
rest.
"'Sit down, SAM he said and tell me
about yourself.'
$50 told about my place and the wages
and asked for his bill.
81 shall charge you three hundred dollars,
Sam. Or course you cannot pay at once, but
you can spare ten dollars II month, can't
your
Easy says |. But it will be over two
years before you get your pay at that rate.
I'll better it and pay twice ten
"He thought minute and shook his head
No, ten is enough. Bring ii to me on the
first day of the month at this hour. | want
to keep an eye on you for awhile TO see that
you don't Overwork.'
"Hc shook hands with me rs he did every
month for two years and a half.
Rain or shine never missed the hour. lie
would make me sit down and tell how | got
along and what | was doing out of work
hours, although he was such great doctor
that every minute WAS worth mint of
money. lie looked so pleased when | told
him l was learning bookkeeping, that | took
to reading evenings, more to have il to tell
him than because | cared about it, 1t was Il
great thing to see him smile; he didn't very
often, and never heard him laugh.
"When begun work, wanted to drink
awfully,-I felt so weak and shiilless, but |
was afraid should get drunk and spend my
money and cheat the doctor. If could have
paid in lump and been free, should have
gone to the bowwows. Hundreds of times
wanted to go off with the boys and have a
lark, but dursent, and got in the way of
skipping most things hats bad. I'd Just say
to myself: ITS all right, DOCTOR and could
shun any kind of deviltry
"Well, the last month came and l went to
the office clean down-hearted. 1t Just broke
my heart to cut loose from the doctor. |
really thought the ground must be glad be-
cause his shadow fell on it,