The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-04-07
M FIRST PATIENT.

M L n LEN L.
had been in my new lodgings for a
week. A week that had dragged itself
along in an endless series of days, every
one bringing to me dreams and the
hopes of an entire lifetime. Over the
glass door of my neat little apartment
the white door plate with which it is
customary to announce the office of a
pracucing physician had shown for a
week. For the same length of time my
little reception and consultation room
had awaited with its dark curtains and
STRAIGHTFORWARD chairs for the patients
who were to come to seek the advice
and help of DIR. Max Echardt. After all,
l had no cause to wonder that my room
remained empty in the first days, for the
neighborhood had first to get accustomed
to my name and to the fact that they
could find good medical advice in their
near vicinity. All this / said to myself
comfortingly at that time. When by
good fortune l should be able to heal
only one patient then the situation
would quickly change. My reputation
would increase and soon the rush of
people to my consultation room would
proclaim my success. l should soon go
out with my pretty little carriage, with a
dark brown horse driven by a respect
able coachman; then, indeed, then
At last thought which completely
overpowered me came into my mind. |
was again in spirit with my cousin Marie
who certainly would make the prettiest
of doctors wives that one could imagine.
/ loved my fair cousin. AS a boy,
showed her, every little chivalrous SER
vice which in the house or garden is de-
manded of the stronger comrade. As a
junior in school had inscribed my first
poem to her; and as senior l had badly
Injured my voice, which was just then
returning to baritone, by singing inces-
sanity of 1.-THE flaxe2-haireG girl" When
l returned home after passing my first
examination, the first thing of all that
the student noticed was that "the flax
en-haired girl' had come to love him as
completely as he loved her. Neither
said anything on the subject. Ny uni
versity period passed by. All the time l
had worked earnestly, and whenever l
had undergone the tedious struggle of
examinations VIGOROUSLY Maries dear
eyes seemed to express her lively inter
est in the successful accomplishment of
all my endeavors. And when my cousin
Marie, greeted my return said softly,
''Her Doctor Erdhardt," then l saw a
bright blush come over her face as she
turned hastily toward the window seat.
Now and then, during the next few
DAYS, had an opportunity to speak to
Marie of all the castles in Spain which
young physician could build in his empty
dwelling; but dared not inform her of
my dream in regard to the future doc
tors wife. There lay in the blue eyes of
my dearest an expression which kept
back my words, even when they almost
found utterance. l had no doubt that
Marie would eventually be my wife, but
it seemed as if lack of confidence of my
ability as physician lay in her glance.
That increased my pride and induced
me to remain silent and walt the time
when the report of my first professional
achievement would proclaim my ability
to Marie.
With my thoughts absorbed in all
these things, sat on the afternoon of a
dreary November day in my consulta-
ton room, and at first failed to notice a
faint ring at my bell. Then 1 arose to
open the door myself, as had sent my
errand boy to market.
confess that, during the few steps
which were necessary to bring me to the
door flood of strange thoughts came
over me. A caller was seeking my help.
Very likely it was patient of high birth
and | should certainly receive rich re-
ward and fame-I was already married
to my dear Marie.
opened the door. In the half dark
of the late Autumn day stood a poorly
clad woman before me. Out of her bag
gard and charcoal blackened face looked
a pair of great dark eyes beseechingly at
me.
Doctor" said the woman in trem-
bling voice, doctor, be merciful, oh,
please. My little Marie is so sick"
The name atoned for the woman's I'M
promising appearance, which conceded
badly with my latest dreams.
who are you? Who sent you to me?r
I asked.
mo one" the woman answered quick
ly and in low voice. "Oh, doctor, do
come! l have been carrying coal all day
from the wagon into house near by. /
live over there in the court yard. NV
child has been sick since yesterday. 1
found her so much worse that 1 came to
you at once"
hesitated somewhat, the disenchant-
ment was so great.
The woman wiped her face with her
blackened hand.
1t was face which already showed
many burrows caused by SORROWS and
trials.
81 should have gone for the charity
physician" she said YEARLY, "but your
servant, doctor, is child of the shoe
maker in our courtyard, and he has told
everyone that you are such good man.
Oh, do help my little girl"
decided to go with the woman. After
all, one is a man, and most of all he is
man who has learned to do his duty. SO
I went with her, after had gathered to-
gether the necessary instruments with
pomposity which astonished and half
shamed even myself.
Across the street we took our course
into a great courtyard lying behind
row of houses. Then she led me up five
flights of stairs, each one darker and
sleeper than the first, and finally through
a badly fitting door to little room with
slanting ceiling and very little windows.
On a miserable but neatly arranged bed
lay child of perhaps fourteen months.
Her limbs were fever heated and her eyes
were wandering and inexpensive.
The woman bent down to the bedside.