, 1890-11-05
SLEEPING Oh LIE GO.

Why the Lot Of a Country Doctor Is MOI
Exactly "a Eed of DRnndIis.
Yes said the doctor, whipping uE
his horse-it was a sprinter-until tho
light buggy bounded over the stones oil
the country road like a freight train on
the sleepers- 1t was night. and the
lantern swinging underneath only made
the darkness ahead seem more Opaque
than yer. Yes, the life OF "A country
doctor is what you might call a picnic
in 6 minor. 1t Is a cake with more
spice than plums. for It has moro vari.
ETY. to the square incl than any other
pursuit that it has ever been my for.
tune to encounter.
Il have been riding about this coun.
try for twenty-five years, and have
what you might call n pretty extensive
practice. Iattend about everything in
the two counties, from chilblaIns to
childbirth. | am the medical foster
father Of the present generation any
where within twenty miles of my home.
| have closed the eyes and, l trust,
eased the pains OF some thousands Of
good people. Many Of my constituency
do not know my name. | am simply
The Doctor TO them. Bad debtsl
Well, | don't know. never did keep
books. But If had got n dollar for
every professional visit that l have
mnde l would be about eight times
richer than | am.
~ am or the go eighteen hours out
Of the twenty-four and seven days in
the week. The rest Of my time | have
for rest and recreation. But n doctor
does not need the sleep Of other peoplel
always keep five horses in the stable
and change of several times a day. |
am n bard driver. When n horse goes
lame or breaks down | put him out to
pasture. II the breakdown is a bad
one | sell the animal and buy a fresh
one, Sometimes | drop asleep aitting
bolt upright in my buggy, while my
horse brings me TO the stable of his
own accord.
Il try to keep awake, because it is not
safe to sleep that way, but there are
times when | would sleep II was
riding straight into the teeth of hostile
artillery. simply cannot keep awake.
Considering that there are three busy
coal railroads and n canal within n fur
long of my house the luxury of sleep
ing on the go is extremely hazardous,
yet l have ridden for miles on the tow
path with the canal not six inches from
my buggy wheels on one side and the
Lehigh river not six inches on the
other. | have done it Mt night, t.
Never had a tumble1 Oh. yes, I.Laye
Some pretty bad ones. But / am not
dead yet. AS you see, ana on the whole
l have had reparkebly good luck.
That lantern between the wheels
has saved me many n journey. People
sec 1t coming. know that it means tho
doctor, and run out to intercept me.
1t isn't every one who can swing a
lantern that way II you were to try
TO do without learning the secret of it
the lantern would go out before you
had gone ten rods.
Some day shall get old and use
less and sell out my practice and retire.
But ! fear ! will have to be very old
and extremely good for nothing. Or
else, perhaps, | shall pitch u on my
head some night and get my quietus
that way. Then there will be n SPLEEN
did chance for some young doctor.
But until one or the other contin-
gency arises the young doctors have
got to whistle for patients in my BALI
wick, ! tell you. | love my business.
1t is wife and child TO me. And ] pro-
pose to remain monarch of all | survey
as long as my eyes al see the horses
flank and my good right hand can hold
tho reins. There's a strong bit OF
pride about me If | am only n country
doctor. and am going to do the doc
toring of this countryside If l have to
do it for nothing, because when do 1t
know it is being done Just right. -
New York Herald.