The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-04-01
HIS FIRST PATIENT.
The Canine Charge That Made
the Doctors Reputation.

II is thirty years since | put Eny
shingle up. } had very little money.
so had Matilda; we were dcSpcr lteiy in
love with each other-so much 50 that
we really could not afford TO wait; 50
Matilda and | got married. lay in wait
for patients behind my office deor.
Like a hungry tiger lfguratiycly
speakingJI cried aloud: "Duclly, ducl,y
darling, come and he killed" Lut
they did not come. The ducks
mean the patients merely said:
"Quacll." ,iguratively speaking agaiul.
and passed me by. They cvidcItly
looked on ny shinglc as 4 danger sig
nal. But ] soon got q large practice
among thc poor, and those who could
not or would not pay. They appointed
me their body physician. | need hard
" add that it was purely honorary
post.
Now. there was a rich old maiden
lady who lived opposite rs; she was an
eccentric but charitable old woman,
and her name was Glumper-C!arissa
Glumper. There was no chance of
woman like that coming to me for ad-
vice. DIR. Dulle was her medical at
tendant. lie seemed to be every body's
medical attendant that was worth at
tending. Ny blood used TO boil With
in me with indignation whenever !
was his mud bespattered carriage and
pair tearing about the neigh borhood.
One afternoon, I saw DIR. Dulles
coachman pull up at Miss Glumper's
door, and Matilda watched him through
the blind.
Jack" she said, excitedly, hes
only stopped five minutes; l timed him;
and, oh, jack when he came out he
was as red as a turkey cock. Perhaps
he's apoplectic," added Matilda, with
wistful sigh ''Oh, jack" cried my
wife, after an interval of a few mo-
ments, there's the footman going
post-haste for the medicine" and then
she suddenly clutched my wrist, her
face grew ashy pale, and she hissed, IN
a hoarse whisper: ''Oh, Jack! he's com
ing here. Quick quick.' cried Ma
tilda-
In an instant she had carefully regu-
lated my crava1. There was a tremend-
Gus ring at the door. OF course, as i'll
luck would have it, Mary, our servant,
was out, SO, my heart beating wildly.
I opened the door myself, and tried 10
look as unconcerned as possible.
You're to come across to the missus
dI OICCs SsLltA l41t pam GN AAAt44ASiAs III
a patronizing tone.
at my watch.
ITS a matter of life and death" said
the man, with a vulgar grin, which 1
could not understand.
Il will attend TO il Immediately" l
said.
| had been smoking, so l took some
tincture of cloves. Matilda sprinkled
my hair and whiskers with eau-de-
cologne. l thrust my instrument case
into one pocket and my emergency case
into the other, and then j tried to walk
across the street in a dignified manner,
ana. of course, failed miserably. The
footman, who was awaiting my ar
rival was still grinning maliciously;
he ushered me at once into the drawing
room. where, by the fire. sat an old
lady in black, sobbing bitterly. 1t was
Miss Glumper-the great Miss Glumper
herself
Are you the young man of the name
of Pestle?" she said.
Il am DIR. Pestle, madam" / re-
piled, in my haughtiest manner.
Quite SO, quite SO; / am sure / beg
your pardon, DIR. Pestle," said the old
lady. still sobbing copiously. ''Dr
Pestle," she said, very solemnly. are
you a man of the world?'
A mystery-evidently a mystery.
Madam began, 81 have never d.
vulged professional secret"
1--WE are wasting precious time, Dr.
Pestle," said the old Lady, interrupt
ing me: 81 believe her to be sinking
fast. She's all I have in the world,
doctor. You won't mind seeing her,
will you, as u favor?''
Madam, / began, ''as matter of
common humanity"
'She isn't human" she said.
The old lady was in deep grief, and
she carefully lifted a shawl which COW
cred something that lay upon the sofa
On the cushion was tat pug dog,
painting convulsively.
'Dr Pestle," cried the old lady,
''only save my darling's life, and
there's nothing l won't do for you, Is
there hope2" she added, in voice of
agony.
"while there's life there's hope,
madam" said, oracularly-
| whipped out my emergency case
and l attempted to administer Il rem
edy TO my unfortunate patient Ihe
beast tried to bite me at once
That's good sign, madam, l said
"a capital sign. She'll require care
great care" added, the greatest pos
sible care: but we must do what we
can for her If, mauam,' ! went on