St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1891-02-07
CHAPTER V.
THE DOCTOR AND THE MINISTER

In thes course of some three weeks DR..
Miller returned. He was a mere string of
bones when he left, but now he was only
a shade of that.
My father was very glad to let his prac
tice slip into the hands of DR.. Miller, but
Mrs. Tides would not give up her nurse.
She seemed to improve at times, but her
constitution was so racked by Years of dis
ease that she could only be mt nded, not
cured.
The minister and doctor became frequent
visitors at her bedside, and as the differ
ence in their occupations, so was the diff
ference in their medicine.
The doctor YVES worldly man, who
lived for this world, or rather, what he
could get out of it.
And as they day by day watched beside
the suffering woman, one with his Bible,
the other with his pill box, they found
several points of dispute. At first DR..
Miller refused to enter into any dispute :
but Mr.. Clark was determined to compel
him to affirm or deny, and Mrs. Tides, as
she recovered, became interested in his
conversion.
Oren Tides was an earnest apostle of our
Lords, but he never spoke to DR.. Miller
on the subject, as his naturally firm, reti
cent spirit led him to consider himself just
about right And when his mind was set
tied there was little room left for discus
sion on his part. When strong minds de-
eide upon a question whether right or
wrong, they generally stand firm.
Oren Tides and DR.. Miller had each
decided that question for himself, and
discussion only annoyed.
When the subject was mentioned one
day in very pointed manner, DR.. Miller
gave clear cut decision. 1t was SO bitter
that Oren Tides Immediately left the room.
When he returned his mother called him
to answer charge for his mad wrath.
'sMy son, as Christian, do you not hold
| Yourself up to the world as an example of
charity and justice? You must learn to
bear much and with great patience and
forgiveness"
He looked very earnest for moment, as
| though he felt competent to manage his
| own actions. But he was too much the
gentleman and loved his mother too dearly
not to answer her.
'Mother, if man of good common sense
can live as long as DR.. Miller has and hold
the opinions that he does, l do not care to
worry my spirit, and destroy my peace of
mind with fruitless and wordy argu-
| menus. ana L CHI uot uear uiu dho uSlu
my tongue"
"But my son, is this the spirit of Christ
that bids you or is 1t that other splrltT'
| He looked at her moment as though
wishing that she too would not oppose
| him.
Mother, I do not wish to worry you
any farther, please don't talk about that. ~
There was something about this sentence
| that 1orpso6 ito m0anirP N the mot haY' e
heart.
81 see," she said to herself, "He is a
boy no longer, but a man who loves his
opinion and his will"
She drew him down and kissed him in 8
motherly way.
And as the two faces lay so near together
they looked SO happy that l stepped back
behind the curtains that hung across the
door way, and sat down by Rose, who was
busily engaged ON bit of fancy work.
felt that my presence was not very desira
BILE, as Rose did not speak, or look uI
from her work. So I put ON my jacket
and cap and started for a short walk, wher
ring of the bell greeted me just as I was
going to pass out. 1t was DR.. Miller. HI
happened to be passing, and called AGAR
ssto see the patient" though half be.
lieved at the time it was to see Rose
Oren was at his mothers bed side, anc
spoke as friendly as though no cloud hat
passed over his sky. Mrs. Tides assured
him, she was much better, and lowed he
recovery to so many that she did not know
whom to thank" and smiled, saying
"When l am sick again shall have yol
all, for l do not know which is the RICH
one" but she answered glancing pleasant.
at Rose, 81 shall always take what sh
prescribes.
! "Indeed," said DR.. Miller, with pecu