The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-12-12
HIS FIRST CASE.
A DOCTORS STORY.


house. TIT. trees were so covered with
fairy frostwork that when the sun shone
the eyes were dazzlcd, while the mind
was-no, ought to have been, filed with
wonder.
! say ought to have been, for mine was
not. In fact, was too ill-tempered at
that time, and the mere itfroze the worse
my temper grew. | walked up and
down my little. surgery to keep myself
warm, and abused everything and every
body, myself worst of all.
abused Long Pogis for being the
prettiest and healthiest place that was
ever situated twenty miles from town
and railway station, and called myself an
IDIOT for buying practice in so out of
the-way spot, and thinking that l, a
Young doctor, would be sure to get on.
But had not "got on, for had been
there year, and so far had found that
my practice really was to practise patti
snce, for no one would give me chance
in medicine, Not but that there were
plenty of people about the trouble was
that either they would not be ill, or,
when they were ill, they would go to old
Doctor Robson at funston, twenty miles
away, when they might have come to me
and been cured for half the money.
was not what is commonly called
''hard up, for had enough money left
to last me, with economy, for another
year; but was sick and tired of the ter
rible inaction, and of being pitied, or
laughed at, or treated with contempt, as
the new doctor.
In such a frame of mind | ought to
have sensibly set to work to heal myself
by prescribing exercise and fresh air,
and forced myself to go out, instead of
sitting indoors studying, and fearing to
leave home in case that long expected
patient should come, as come he would,
| was sure, directly went out.
| walked to the fire and poked it that
frosty day, and then l walked to the
window, rubbed away little of the
ferny ice pattern, and looked out.
Two ruddy-faced young fellows and
three merry-looking girls, evidently
their sisters, were walking sharply by,
with the frozen snow creaking and
crunching under their feet as each swung
pair of glistening skates dependent
from the wrist.
"Of skating" l said aloud, and a
thrill of pleasure shot through me.
Well, why not! had splendid pair
of nearly new skates, which had been
ground and oiled before they were put
away two seasons before. The ice was
perfectly safe, the sun shone, the sky
was blue. In imagination l began to
glow and feel the blood throbbing in
my veins as heard the hollow, metallic
ring of the black ice, and saw the puffs
Of white dust fly at every stroke of my
steel blades as l sped along.
They're going up to the big sheet of
water on the way to the hall. Lord John
is in town, and the ballff has given them
leave. Hurrah! I'll be boy again for
day, and skate as l used to skate. It'll
do me good, and
A second thought struck me, and |
threw myself in my chair with my fore
head all in lines, for l caught glimpse
f it in the glass.
Self-denial, John RUSSELL" l said.
Master Yourself, for so sure as you go
ating somebody will come and want
~. Stop at home and study up, ready
the patient who will come. Your
s.rgery's weak yet.
"Of course it Isl" | roared, angrilv,
as IN answer to somebody who had
spoken. $50 would yours be if you had
no practical"
l jumped up and went to the window
again, for party of young men were
going by, talking and laughing, and all
carrying the skates but one, who had
gun.
As | reached the window / shrank
back, and felt the blood tinglc in my
cheeks, for one tall young fellow, whom
recognized as gentleman farmers son,
looked at my house and said something
10 his companions, at which they all
laughed.
''Ah men' | said to myself. "They
are plying the poor doctor, when, per-
haps, that fellow with the gun will shoot
himself, or half dozen of them will 90
in and be half drowned, or-who's that
they're talking to in the chaise? Oh, Old
Morton, the veterinary surgeon. Pity
was not brought up vet! Plenty OF
horses, cows, pigs and sheep want doe
toring, but no people,"
The skaters went on, and took down
a book which, off and on, | studied al
day, going deeply into the construction
OF joints and their muscles, and ques
tloning myself how should proceed if al
any time | was called in to attend pa
tient with a sprained ankle, knee, wrist
elbow, or dislocated limb.
Just as resumed my seat afte- lurcl
the skaters came back, evidently to theil
own dinners, and just then Mrs. .Dintor
came in to clear away.
Il knowed it would lie, sir, she said
"The pump--it's frozc hard"
Restore its circulation with a keith,
pf boiling water, Mrs. Dinton, / said
land have it bandaged with hay bands.
why, sir, any one would think thai
you were country gentleman, instead o
from town. That's just what was goins
to do
] went on reading; Mrs. Dinton wen
Oh talking
"They tell me some of the young
peoples got a whole bundle of torche
from funston, and they're going to skat.
tonight by torchlight. And oh, wha
do you think, SIR Marty, the carrier
tells me that the old doctor over a
Tunston's i'll in bed with gout "
Humphl Might send for me to he'll
him !" ] muttered to myself.
and that he has got local demoi
down from London to help him"
"Ah whatl" Iroared
%"Well, sir, l thought it strange, bu
that's what Marty said.
No, no; locum tenens, Mrs. Dintou
''No, sir; he said local demon as plai
as plain, and Dick Marly's very carefu
man. You won't go skating, sir9 l di
dusty your skateses."
mo, no, Mrs. Dinton. Too busy
thanks.