Connecticut western news., 1891-10-29
STORY OF DR. HOPE,

STORY OF DR. HOPE E... ].
 About forty years ago, before the Great Western railway, now the Grand Trunk. was completed. while workmen were busy turning the sods, delving and piling the virgin soil to receive the iron rails and their upholding sleepers, where on the noisy steam monsters which were to supersede the slow going stage coaches were to wend their smoky way, there lived on the confines of steep and picturesque gorge over which surveyors plans designed the railway to pass, cer- tain individual whom we will call Dr. Hoff
 It was 8 beautiful spot, the home of this medico of long ago. Perched up on the hillside, surrounded by forest trees, save where the hand of man had made 8 clearing: backed by moss covered bowld- CTS, relics of day when a noble lake. which might be seen from an eminence. had surged and tossed it's uneasy, foam aecked breast far beyond it's present boundaries in stormy weather, or slept in painted azure restfulness under sum- mer suns The home of Dr. Hoff was indeed spot calculated to draw forth mans best feelings to great Creator Far below, at the foot of the tree lined gorge, brook trinkled and murmured over its stony bed in the dense shade of the forest kings, here and there break ing from their leafy shadows to revel in the sunlight which forced it's way where some great monarch had fallen either through old age or the fury of the storm. for the ax of the woodman had not then tion
 There in the bosky shade the brook rippled along, trout and minnow sport ing unmolested. Wild birds quenched their thirst and bathed in it's shady depths, while the timid deer stole through the forest to drink of it's cool waters Peace and silence reigned in the beauti- fuI gorge. on the edge of which dwelt the object of this simple sketch; peace among Gods creatures: silence. save for the song of birds, the harmony of the breezes through the forest trees. But peace and harmony do not seem to have reigned in the home of the dweller on the verge of that gorge. so beautiful. so idealized by nature
 It was stormy spirit which had taken up abode in the dwelling on the summit. Dr. Hoff was passionate and quarrel some. People shook their heads and spoke with pity of the sharer of his lot. the delicate young bride he had brought from far over the sea to bear the loneli- ness and hardship sf life in new country. She was fair to see, this young English lady of gentle birth and rearing. Ill fitted to rough it in company with the passionate. high tempered man in whose hands she had placed her life To be sure the settlers in the vicinity Vkre glad to obtain Dr. Hof's professional advice and attendance. Doctors were not as frequently met with in those days as in the present ones. In sparsely settled country districts doctor was 8 real godsend; his life was no sinecure either There were long distances to go over unbroken, rough roads. Fees were very small. often hard to collect; professional services were very frequently paid in kind, not in money
 These facts frequently angered Dr. Hoff and raised up his passionate tenn per.
 If he worked he wanted his fees, that was quite natural He did not wait with patience, like so many of his pro fessional contemporaries learned to wait. until harvest-it might be more than one harvest-was in; until Tom Jones' colt was sold or John Smiths steers were 8 yoke of oxen-untl the brindle cow's calf was heifer of profitable age to sell No, he fretted and fumed. threatened Tom Jones and cursed John Smith, de manding payment for his services in no moderate language, making himself dis liked and mistrusted, although 8 neces- Gty throughout the surrounding coun- try.
 Only one child had come to cheer the lonely lot of the doctors wife; only one. and it had not come to stay. The dear est spot on earth in the great wide new country to the lonely little English wife of Dr. Hof was the quiet corner in the clearing where her darling slept. There she took her loneliness, her griefs, her troubles to the grave of her baby, whose tiny face had rested on her breast, whose helplessness had appealed to her love and care. Many night, driven from the house by the furious, jealous temper of one who should have been kndest, the poor girl, for she was but a girl. passed long, lonely hours by her child's grave exposed to the dew of the starry nights, the rain of the stormy ones, an in- nocent victim of passions unrestrained. Now 8 certain hardworking farmer, in whose family sickness had seemed to run riot for long period, lay heavily under the ban of debt and the doctors displeasure. In vain the man-we will can him Silas Beaverton he is said to have been an industrious hard working man, though promised the doc. tor to pay at least a part of the account owing. Time went on, but no money was forthcoming. In vain the docto, fumed and fused, ragged and demanded his dues; then he threatened, wildly, pas sionately, in the presence of others. The doctor was known to require money badly. Every one knew every mes business in the neighborhood; it vas common talk that payments on cer- ain mortgages were due on certain late. the doctor being one of the persons ;hiefly concerned
 There came . day-a peaceful, cloud ees summer day-at the close of which Silas Beaver announced his intention of visiting the doctor and paying small very small-sum on account
 So Beaver went his way up the hill to :he cozy homestead that overlooked the | yorge just as the setting sun cast its