Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-12-27
HIS FIRST CASE.
A DOCTORS STORY.

1t frOZe, and it continued to freeze
There was lacework on the panes of the
most exquisite beauty, and icicles of crys-
tai dependent from the caves of nv
house. The trees were so covered with
fairy frostwOrk that when the sun shone
the eyes were dazzled, while the mind
was-nO, ought to have been, filled with
wonder.
[ say Ought to have been, for mine was
not. In fact, was too ill-tempered at
that time, and the mere it frozc 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
prcttiest and hcaIthiest place that was
ever situated twenty miles from a town
and railway station, and called myself an
idiot for buying practice in so out-of-
the-Way spot, and thinking that I, a
young doctor, would be sure to get on.
But had not ''gOt N, =" for had been
there year, and 50 far had found that
my practice really was to practise patti
ence, for no one would give me a chance
IN medicine. Not but that there were
plenty OF people about; the trouble was
that either they would not be i'll, or,
when they were i'll, they would 90 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
10 last me, with economy, for another
year; but was sick and tired of the ter
rlble lnaction, and Of being pitied, or
laughed at, or treated with contempt, as
the new doctor.
In such a frame Of mind I ought to
have sensibly set to work to heal myself
by prescribing exercise and fresh air,
and forced myself to 90 out, instead of
sitting indoors studying, and fearing to
leave home in case that Iong-expected
patient should come, as come he would,
L 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
a pair of glistenirg skates dependent
from the wrist
'.Of skatngw I said aloud, and
thrill of pleasure shot through me-
Well, why not? [ had q 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 [ 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 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 bal1ff has given them
leave. Hurrah. I'll be boy again for
a day, and skate as used to skate. It'll
do me good, and"
A second thought struck me, and I
threw myself in my chair with my fore
head all in lines, for 1 caught glimpse
of it in the glass.
''Master yourself, for so sure as you go
skating somebody will come and want
you. Stop at home and study up, ready
for the patient who will come. Your
surgery's weak yet.
"Of course it is" [ roared angrilv,
as if in answer to somebody who had
spoken. $50 would yours be if you had
no practice"
| jumped up and went to the window
again, for a party of young men were
going by, talking and laughing, and all
carrying the skates but one, who had a
gun.
AS [ reached the window 1 shrank
back, and felt the blood tingle in my
checks, for one tall young fellow, whom
[ recognized as gentleman farmers son,
looked at my house and said something
to his companions, at which they all
laughed.
''Ah mel" 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-vho's that
they're talking to in the chaise? Oh, Old
Morton, the veterinary surgeon. Pity ]
was not brought up a vet! Plenty OF
horses, COWS, pigs and sheep want doc
toring, but no people"
The skaters went on, and I took down