The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-03-25
THE NEW DOCTOR.

THENEw DOCTOR.
Gentlemen" said Colonel Ferguson
Pride, addressing certain other promi
nent citizens of New Chicago then gath
cred in the single room of the combined
real estate, loan, insurance and collect
ion office and bachelor residence of the
speaker, 1--WE are confronted by an epoch
Heretofore, it has been our policy to
welcome immigration with open arms
so to speak, but now the time has arriv-
ed for the exercise of discretion. What
do you think, FaDshaw?"
Il reckon" returned Mr.. Hank Fan
shaw, sententiously.
"Thats so" assented Mr.. Ike Fosdick.
>'The new doctor will have to 60"
Messrs. Banning and Benson wagged
their heads in affirmation.
'Exactlyr' resumed the colonel.
"While working for the advancement of
our city whole, we must also consider
tbs best interests of its citizens in the
abstract"
''Shorelyr' said Ike Fosdick, briskly,
>'An' wen stand by Harry. The new
doctor will have to CO."
''Mebby he'll try to cut up rusty"
began Banning.
LET him cutr' broke in Fosdick.
"'We're able for him."
As the ancient adage has it, two of a
trade rarely agree. But it is rare indeed
that one of any trade or profession is
possessed of partisans so prejudiced that
they will voluntarily take it upon them
selves to purge his path of professional
rivalry. Equally unprecedented was the
determination of these five prominent
citizens of New Chicago settlement as
yet tiny almost to insignificance, but big
with hope of future greatness-to de-
liberately deprive its census roll of an
addition who might perhaps prove as
prominent as themselves and factor in
the advancement of the hamlet toward
that desideratum of all Western Settle
ments-a boom. Then, too, it was little
short of amazing that Colonel Pride-a
self-convicted legislator in embryo
should cody turn back an INFESTED
conner in whom, for all he new, might be
the material of which active partisans
are made.
Conflicting representatives of other
professions would probably have been
left to settle their difference after the
good old fashion of the Kilkenny cats,
or otherwise as they might elect. But
now that the professional bailiwick of
DR.. Harry Wakefield was trepassed up
on, the matter was not one that concern
ed the young physician alone, but his
friends as we'll. Should they stand
tamely by while ap alien interloper was
endeavoring to possess himself of the
position and practice rightfully belong
ing to Dr. Harry? They emphatically
"'reckoned" not, DR.. Harry had "stood
by New Chicago in its direst need, and
New Chicago, represented by Messrs.
Pride, Fosdick, Fanshaw, Banning, and
Benson, would 'stand by" him.
Two years before had come the time
of New Chicago's dire need. A poor
wretch, in deadly terror, of dying alone,
had drifted thither and thrown himself
on the tender mercies of the settlement.
He had kept his CHASTITY secret well.
The hamlet boosted no physician then,
and it was not till his malady manifested
its deadly nature so plainly that the tyro
could not doubt, that they knew 1T was
smallpox.
Then it was too late for precautionary
measures to avail; the seeds of the pesti-
lence had been sOwn broadcast through
the settlement. Then ensued little
season of chaos-when despair reigned,
the eve of grim battle before the pros
pect of which strong men covered for a
little while, trembling mothers clasped
close wondering children and sickened
with dread.
But inaction reigned but for a little
while, and then the strong men turned
squarely toward the issue. They volun-
tarily isolated the settlement from the
world around, and began the grim battle
with the pestilence.
Then had come to them young Harry
Wakefield, new fedged graduate from
an Eastern medical college, who, while
seeking location in the West for the
displaying of his maiden shingle, had
heard of New Chicago's extremity and
hurried thither. What he lacked in ex-
perience he made up in will. The set
Element took heart, and presently the
pestilence was conquered, but not until
it had claimed for its prey more than
one poor soul And from thenceforth
New Chicago called Harry Wakefield
blessed. and his fame soon extended all
over the adjacent country, and some
times whole days ride was necessary
to bring him to more remote patient.
There may have been in the region
physicians of more learning and skill,
but New Chicago knew them not, nor de-
sired to. Ike FOsdick was tenaciously
and pugnaciously of the opinion that
within the confines of seven states there
existed not DIR. Harry's like. Had he
not, subsequent to the smallpox plague,
brought back Fosdick from the jaws of
death by extracting a bullet from his
head, the said bullet having been one of
the results of the said Fosdick's pug
nacity? Therefore, was not the afore-
said Fosdick warranted in standing by''
DR.. Harry tc the last gasp?
And now there has come an alien in
tent upon trespassing upon DR.. Harry's
professional preserves. They knew lit
tie about the new conner, and cared less.
The rising sun of the morning upon
which the conference was held in Col
Pride's Office had shown them, nailed to
the doOr-frame of modest cottage this
sign:
NOON n N