Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-08-29
STORY OF DR.. HOFF

Trunk. was completed. whilc workmen
were busy turning the sods, delving and
piling the virgin soil 10 receive the iron
rails and their unfolding slcepers, where.
on the noisy steam monsters which were
toetuparsede 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, q Ger.
tain individual whom we will call Dr.
Hoff.
II was n beautiful spot, tho homo Of
this medico Of long ngo. Pcrched up on
tho hillside. surrounded by forest trees,
save where tho hand Of man had made q
clearing, backed by moss covered bowld.
ora, relics Of y day when u noble lake,
which might be seen from Rn eininence.
had eurgcd and tossed its uneasy, foam
fecked breast far beyond its present
boundaries IN stormy weather, OF slept
IA painted aznrc restfulness under sum.
mcr suns The homo Of DR.. Hof was
indeed spot calculated 10 draw forth
mans best feelings TO great Creator.
Far below. at the foot Of the tree lined
gorge, brook tunklcd and murmured
over H. stony bed In the dense shade OF
the forest kings, here aud there break.
ing from their lcafy shadows 20 rcvel In
the sunlight which forced it, way whore,
some great monarch had fallen either
through old age or the fury Of the storm,
Tor the AK Of the woolnan had not then
violated that exquisite corner Of crea.
ton.
There In the bosly shade the brook
rippled along, trout and mlunow sport
ing unmoles;ed. wild birds quonched
thfr Thirst aud hathcd In It's shady
depths. while the timid deer stole through
the forest TO drink u ia cool waters.
Peace and silence rcigued In the beauti.
ful gorge. on tho edge Of which dwelt
the object Of this simple sketch, peace
among Gods creatures; silence. save for
tho song Of birds, the harmony OF tho
bFccEea through the 10 II trees. But
peace nnd harmony do not seem to have
rcigncd In the homo Of the dwcllor on
the verge Of that gorge. 20 beautiful. 70
idealirod by nature.
II was a stormy spirit which had taken
up abode IN the dwelling on the summit.
DR.. Hoa was passionate and quarrel
some People 6hook their heads and
tpoke with pity of the sharor Of bis lot,
the delicate young bride he had brought
from far over the sea 10 bear the lOncli.
meas and hardship OF n life In now
country. she was fair TO sec. this young
English lady Of gentlcb birth aud rearing.
~ fitted TO rough II Ia company with tho
Passionate. high tempered man In whose
hands she had placed her life. 10 be
sure the scttlersin the vicinity were glad
TO obtain DIR. Hoff's professional advice
and attendance. Doctors were not as
frequently met with In those days as In
tho present ones. In sparsely settled
country districts n doctor was roal
godsendi his life WIS no sinoourc either
There were long distances 20 70 over
uubrokcn, rough roads Fees were very
small, often nard TO COLLECTS profc sonnl
services were very frequently paid in
kind, not In money.
Thee facts frequently angcrod DR..
Ho9 and raised up his passionate tenn
per.
II he worked he wanted hts fees, that
was quito natural Ho did not wait
with patience, like 10 many OF his pro-
fossional contemporaries learned 10 wait,
until haTyest-it might be- moro than ono
hAryost-was I'M until Tom Jones colt
was sold or John Smiths steers were a
yoke OF oxen-until tho brindle cows
calf was n hcifor Of profitable ago TO sell.
No. no fretted aud fumed, threatened
Tom Jones and cursed John Smith, de-
manding payment for his services In NO
moderate language. making himself dis
liked aud misirusted, although a neces
Hi,y throughout tho surrounding coun'
try.
Only one child had come TO cheer tho
lonely lot Of the doctors wife; only one
and II had not come TO stay. Tho dear
est spot on earth In tho great wide new
country 10 the lonely little English wifi,
Of DR., llod was the quiet corner In tx
clearing whore her darling slept. Their
abe took her loneliness, her Riefs, ho
troubles to the grave OF her baby, who's
tiny face had rested on her breast. who's
holplesmess had appealed 10 her love
aud care, Many u night, driven from
the house by the furious, Jealous temper
Of one who should have been kindest
the poor girl, for she was but a girl
passod long. lonely hours by her child
grave exposed 10 the dew Of the starr
nights, the rain Of the stormy ones, an
noccnt victim Of passions unrcstrained
Now q certain hardworking farmer
in whose family sickness had seemed &
run riot for long period. lay heayil
under the ban OF debt aud tho doctor
displeaaure.
In vain tho man-we will call hin
Silas Beaverton he Is said TO hnyO bee
an industrious hard working mar
though acknowledgement the dos
tor to pay Mt least part Of the accom-
owing. Time went ON, hut no Houo
was forthcoming In vain the doctC
fumcd and fused, raged and demando
his dues, then be threatened, wildly, pa
tionately, In the presence Of others.
The doctor was known TO requii
money badly Every aue knew ever
ones business IN the neighborhood;
was common talk that payments on Gel
tain mortgages were due on a certal
date, tho doctor being ono OF the perso'
chiefly concerned.
There came u day--a peaceful, olou
less summer dRy--at the close OF viii,
silas Beaver announced his intention
visiting the doctor and paying small
avery smnll-sum on account
80 Beaver went his way up the hill
the coy homestead that overlooked d
gorge just as the setting sun cast