The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1891-09-03
STORY OF DR. HOFF

About forty years ago. before tn.
Great Western railway, now the Grand
Trunk, was completed, while workmsn
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
10 supersede the slow going stage
coaches were 10 wend their smoky way,
there lived on the confines OF steep and
picturesque gorge over which surveyors
plans designed the railway to pass, q Ger
tain individual whom we will call DIR.
Ho6.
Il was . 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 q
clearing; backed by moss covered bowld-
ers, relics Of q day when q noble lake,
which might be seen from an eminence,
had surged and tossed its uneasy, foam
6ecked 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 q spot calculated TO draw forth
mans best feelings to q great Creator.
Far below. at the foot Of the tree lined
gorge, q brook trinkled and murIuured
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 az Of the woOdman had not then
violated that exquisite corner Of crea-
ton.
There in the bOsEy shade the brook
rippled along, trout and minnow sport
ing unmolested Wild birds qnenched
their thirst and bathed In its shady
depths, while the timid deer stole through
the forest 10 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 for
the song Of birds, the harmony Of the
breeses through the forest trees But
peace and harmony do not seem 10 have
reigned in the home Of the dweIler on
the verge Of that gorge, 20 beautiful, &C
idealised by nature.
Il was Q stormy spirit which had taken
mp abode In the dwelling on the summit
Dr.. Hoh was passionate and quarrel
some. People shook their heads and
spoke with pity Of the sharer Of his lot,
the delicate young bride he hsd brought
from far over the sea to bear the loneh-
mes and hardship Of . life in . new
country. She was fair TO zee, this young
English lady Of gentle birth and rearing,
III fitted 70 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
10 obtain DR.. Hoffs professional advice
and attendance. Doctors were not -
frequently met with in thoss days a. in
the present oneA In sparsely settled
country districts q doctor was q real
godsend; his life was no sinecurs eithes.
There were long distances 10 70 over
unbrosen, rough rOadS FEES were very
small, often hard 10 collect; professional
services were very frequently paid In
hind. not In money.
These facts frequently angered Dr..
Hod 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 % many Of his pro-
fessionAl contemporaries Learned to wait
until harvest-it might be more than one
harysst-was In; until Tom Jones colt
WA sold or John Smiths steers were q
yoke Of oxeu-until the brindle cows
calf was . heifer Of profitable age 10 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 Q neces-
sity throughout the surrounding coun-
Try.
oaly one child had come to cheer the
lonsly lot Of the doctors wife; only one,
and it had not come 30 stay. The dear
ct spot on earth in the great wide new
country 30 the lonely little English wife
Of Dr.. Hof was the quiet corner in the
clearing where her darling slept There
che took her LONELINESS, her Eriefs, ker
troubles 10 the grave Of her baby, whose
tiny lace had rested On her breast, whose
helplessness had appealed 10 her love
and care Many . night, triven from
the house BY the furious, Jealous temper
a one who should have been kindesk
TIE poor girl, for shs was but Q girl,
passsd long. lonely hOun BY her child's |
grave exposed 10 the dew q the Starry
nights. the rain Of the stormy ones. IN IN
nocent victim Of passions unrestrAined !
Now . certain hardwOrking farmer,
IN whoss family sickness had seemed 10 |
run not for . long period, lay heavily |
Under TIE ban Of debt and The doctors |
l6i4laesurA
Children Or for |