The Monitor., 1891-09-25
STORY OF DIR. HOFF

on the noisy steam monsters Whlcn vera
TO supersede the slow going stage
coaches were to wend their smoky way,
there lived on the confines of a steep and
picturesque gorge over which surveyors
plans designed the railway to pass, a cer-
tain individual whom we will call Dr.
Hoff
1t was a 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 a
clearing; backed by moss covered bowld-
ers, relics of day when a noble lake,
which might be seen from an eninenee,
had surged and tossed its uneasy, foam
hecked breast far beyond its 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, a brook trinkled and lnurmured
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 its way where.
some great monarch had fallen either
through old age or the fury Of the storm,
for the ak of the woodman had not then
violated that exquisite corner of crea-
ton.
There in the bosky shade the brook
rippled along, trout and minnow sport.
ing unmolested. Wild birds quenched
their thirst and bathed in its shady
depths, while the timid deer stole through
the forest to drink of its cool waters.
Peace and silence reigned in the beauti-
full gorge, on the edge of which dwelt
the object Of this simple sketch; peace
among Gods creatures; silence, save fol
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.
1t 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 of life in new
country She was fair to see, this young
English lady of gentle birth and rearing,
i'll 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 were glad
to obtain DR.. Hoff's professional advice
and attendance. Doctors We're not as
frequently met with in those days as in
the present ones. In sparsely settled
country districts a doctor was real
godsend his life was no sinecure either.
There were long distances to go over
unbroken, rough roads. Fees We're very
small, often hard to collect; professional
services We're very frequently paid in
kind, not il money.
These facts frequently angered Dr.
Hoff and raised up his passionate tenn
per.
Ii 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
iletl 90 lIIt uIlill IOlIl OOLCS 6OlL
was sold or John Smiths steers were a
yoke of oxen-until the brindle cows
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 a neces-
sity 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.. Hoff 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 a night, driven from
the house by the furious, jealous temper
Of one who should have been kindest,
the poor girl, for she was but girl,
passed long, lonely hours by her child's
grave exposed to the dew of the starry
nights, the rain Of the stormy ones, AMI in
nocent victim Of passions unrestrained.
Now certain hardworking farmer,
in whose family sickness had seemed to
run riot for a long period, lay heavily
under the ban of debt and the doctors
displeasure.
In vain the man--we viii call him
Silas Beaverton lie is said to have been
an industrious hard working man,
though nfortunate-promised the doc
tor to pay at least part of the account
was forthcoming In vain the doctor
fumed and fused, ragged and demanded
his dues; then he threatened, wildly, pas
sionately, in the presence Of others.
The doctor was kaown to require
money badly Every one knew every
ones business in the neighborhood; it
was common talk that payments on GER
tain mortgages were due on certain
date. the doctor being one of the persona
chiefly concerned.
There came day-a peaceful, cioud.
less summer day-at the close of which
Bilas 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
the coy homestead that overlooked the
gorge just as the setting sun cast its
ruby and golden rays over the spot 81
beautifed and idealized by nature glori.
flying that already exquisite corner Of
Y