The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1892-09-20
BY liberal expenditure and there is
nothing on this continent to equal the
Missouri Botanical gardens. BARKrs.
written ( r SUNDAY MORNING BAzoo.
My FIRST CALL.

My FIRST CALL.
1t wac just one year after l had
graduated from a medical College in
the east, and had hung a neat sign
upon which was inscribed the, to me,
magical name of Robt. E. Pepper,
NJ. D to the lower branch of a scrub
oak tree that stood three feet from the
door of the cabin in which Was
domiciled, that | received a call.
The village which was connected
with the scientific world bv this
wonderful little square of tin was
situated on the banks of q western
tributary of the Missouri river. aid
surrounded by wild untamed but sur
passiDgly beautiful scenery. had
followed thu advice. "Young man 90
west" and l hid every intention Of
growing up with the country. used
to ride out of this little village ard re-
turn by a circui'inus route, partly to
impress pom the residents that l was
enjoying rushing patronage, but
mainly that might. ss 1 rode slowly
down the principal thoroughfsre, feast
my eyes upon that wonderful sign.
But to return to my narrative.
l was much surprised, on thi.
particular cold windy night to be
summoned by man who lived about
eight miles from town, to wait upon
his wife, who he Told me in a very
low voice. was seriously Ill. He also
told me, as we rode together towards
his home, that this was The FIRST acci-
dent of the kind t. happen in his
family, mentioning by the way that
he and Miranda would be married a
year next Sunday, that Miranda's
mother lived a long way of, his
mother was dead, that old DR.. Ream
WAS "sick abed with rheumatiz" and
had told him to come tor me in the
event he could get no one else. This
latter fact did not depress me in the
least, however, for | intended, this
night. to gain foot hold in the favor
of the people, besides, | WAS SO elated
to secure 3 call that f Ii kindly to.
ward every one, bu, especially so to-
ward the old Doctor whose Illness had
proved a blessing for ne. When We
arrived At thu Samari;an's home whose
n ,me, by the wsy was Gregory, Bill
Gregory, lie alighted with the remark
Go right in the house pardner. III
take our nsgs around to the barn"
B i had after the first mile of our
ride, become so fsmiliarly acquainted
with me that he ad dressed me alter
nateiy as "Pardner and Doc.
Following Bills directions 1 was
soon seated in a large square room,
my saddle bags between my feet, and
being eyeds~ith evident contempt by
three women, two middle aged and
one old one. Miranda was lying on
a bed which was sep rated from the
sitting room and psrlor by a thin
calico curtain.
My presence of mind almost forsook
me, AMI for a moment l trembled, but
one of the young women held a red
faced child in her arms, which al that
moment set up howl that brought
the other two around its mother with
such expressions as: Poor title
sweetsie," title sugur ump." etc. l
l perceived at once that my salvation
lay in that direction, so 1 approached
the group and asked for the child, re.
marking as l did so. that Group was
more prevalent than l had ever known
i, during my practice, and citing sew
eral instances whe,h 1 had lsnatched
the victim from the jaws of death.
The mother gingerly surrendered
the infant, her friends would have en-.
tered protest had l given them time.
I loosened the collar of the young
ones dress and said to its mother that
never before had l seen go much in.
telligence depicted upon the face ofan
infant; then as the child, relieved
from the rough collar band that had
scraped its tender little neck almost
raw, opened its cross eyes and looked
ss / supposed out of the window into
the inky night, but in reality a. my
bright chain, he ceased crying. and l
made haste to open my grip and give
him a little Harmless. drug, hoping it
wouli relieve him, and proven, the
development OF the alarming symp-
tens.
The ladies began to regard me
with favor. The old whisp red, aud
iblv. to the one next to her,
did you ever?'
After inquiriDg the little ones name,
age, etc., l asked if might see Mrs.
Gregory. The young women placed
their fingers upon their lips and sho,k
their heads, but the old lady replied
that l might. and pushed aside the
curtain. Mrs. Gregory vas a robust.