Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-12-09
lily FIRST PATIENT.

ddu hopes OF IN enblTc lAlS-blihc.
Over tho glass door OF my neat little
apartC.cut tho white door. plate with
watch it is customary TO announce
the slce OF a praclicing physician
haa shown for a week or the same
lecgth Of time my little receipt on and
consultation room had waited with
its dark curtains aud straight backed
chairs for the patients who were 10
come 10 seek the advice and help OF
Dr.. Man Erhardt j was again in
spirit with my cousin Marie, who GER
JainlT would mako the prettiest oil doc
tors wives that one could imagine.
l loved my fair cousin. AS n boy. i
had shown her every little chivalrous
service whicn in either house or gar
sen is demanded of the stronger
scmrade AS a junior in school l
had. inscribed my first poem 10 her;
aud as senior | had badly injured
my voice. which was just
then turning to baritone. by sing
ing necessarily Of the 'faXen haired
girl" When | returned home after
passing the first examination. the
first thing of all that the student no.
tioed wars that 1.-The laXen. haired
girl had come to love him "a COM
pletely as he loved her, but neither
said anything on that subject My
university period passed by. All
that time | worked earnestly and
whenever had undergone the tedious
struggle OF examinations victorious
ly Marie's dear eyes seemed TO ex-
press her lively interest in the sue
cessfnl accomplishment OF al my en-
deavoYa And when cousin Marie,
greeting me upon my return. said
softly. Herr lr. Erhardt " | looked
seep inio her dear eyes and said still
mere softly. ''l'rau DR.. Erhardt 4"
Then saw brlgh, blush como over
her face as she turned hastily toward
The window seat With my thoughts
absorbed in all these things sat on
tho afternoon of dreary Novem Der
day ia my consultation room. and at
first failed to notice a faint r NJ at
my bell. Then ] arose to open the
door myself as / had sent my errand
boy 10 market
/ confess that during tho few steps
which were necessary TO bring me TO
The door flood OF strange thoughts
came ever me- A caller was seeking
my help. Very likely it was a patient
Of high birth and | should ceIsalDly
receive rich reward and fame. and
Il was already married TO my dear
Marie.
Iopened the door. In the half
a., Il, 81 H. lat1 do cfnn1 "a
poorly clad woman before me. Out
Of her haggard and charcoal black
sned face looked pair OF great dark
Dyes bcseechingly at me.
Doctor said the woman in n
trembling voice doctor. be merci-
tul. o please. My little Marie is so
sick"
Tho name atoned for the woman's
unpromising appearance, which coin
.ided badly with my latest dreams
WHO are you? Who sent you to
me?' asked.
No one, the woman answered
quickly and in low voice. 20 doc
tor do come! have been carrying
coal all day from the wagon into a
house near by. live over there in
the court yard. My child has been
Hck since yesterday. | found her so
much worse that came TO you at
snce."
Across the street we took our course
Into the great courtyard lying behind
arrow OF houses. Then she led me up
Eve flights of stairs each one darker
md sleeper than the last and finally
Ihreugh a badly-ftting door into a
hule room with slanting ceiling aud
very little windows On "A miserable
bat neatly arranged bed lay a child
D. perhaps fourteen months Her
Hmbs were fever heated. and her eyes
were wandering and Inexpensive
The woman bent down to the bed
,ide. she does not know me! She
ises not know me-" she moaned.
The child coughed; it was Group.
BUS cough OF the worst sort. | tore a
leaf from my book and wrote my frs,
prescription rs pracicing physician.
''Ts the nearest apothecary T."
said.
The woman looked at me embar.
raised.
IAN take IL 10 the one 10 tho y o.
sigstrasse" she said
Ma no" ! cried, 1T requires the
greatest OF haste; why will you not 90
10 the apothecary in this street,"
The woman redeemed perceptibly.
In spite OF the charcoal dust finally
che siammercd The apothecary in
the konigstrasse knows me; | carry
coal there and he will perhaps
have no money"
A heavy tear dropped on the paper
In her hand.
These, people, who can pay nc
physician and no druggist said /.
sngrIly. but inaudibly. | took GU
some money. and said aloud There.
take that aud 60 quickly"
The woman kissed the hand of her
child. and then. before | could stoI
her she kissed mine a so. and FASTENED
away. looked around the room fol
seat A rickety chair. red chest
an old table some miserable dishe,
on a poor cold oven. which occupied