Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-07-04
STORY OF DIR. HOFF

About forty years ago, before the
Great Western railway, now the Grand
Trunk, was completed, while worlsmen
wore busy turning the sods, delving and
sling the virgin soil to receive the iron
rais and their upholding sleepers, where
on tbe noisy steam monsters which We're
~ snpersede the slow going stage,
coaches we're to wend their smoky way,
t,,ore lived on the confines of a steep and
picturesque gorge nyrr which surveyors
,,ans designed the railway to pass, a Ger.
ton individual whom we will call DR.
Hoff
II was a beautiful spot, the home of
this medico of long ago. Perched up on
the hillside, surrounded by forest trees
cave where the hand of man had made a
clearing: backed by moss covered bowld
orc relics of day when II noble lake
which might be seen from an eminence
baa surped and tossed its uneasy, foam
aecked breast far beyond its present
boundaries in stormy weather, or slept
in PAINTED azure restfulness under sum
mer suns The home of DR.. Hoff was
indeed spot calculated to draw forth
mans best feelings to a great Creator.
Far below, at the foot of the tree lined
gorge. a brook trinkled and murmured
over its stony bed in the dense shade OF
the forest kings, here and there break
ing from their leafy shadows to revel in
the sunlight which forced its way where
some great monarch had fallen either
through OH axe u the fury of the storm
for the ak of the woodman had not then
violated that exquisite corner of crea
ton.
There in the bosky shade the brook
rippled along, trout and minnow sport
ing unmolested. Wild birds quenched
their thirst and bathed in its shady
DEPTHS, while the timid deer stole through
the forest to drink of its cool waters.
Peace and silence reigned in the beauti-
full gorge, on the edge of which dwelt
the object of this simple sketch; peace
among Gods creatures; silence, save fol
the song of birds, the harmony Of the
breezes through the forest trees. But
peace and harmony do not seem to have
reigned in the home of the dweller on
the verge of that gorge, so beautiful, sc
idealized by nature.
1t was stormy spirit which had taken
up abode in the dwelling on the summit
Dr. Hoff was passionate and quarrel
some. People shook their heads and
spoke with pity of the sharer of his lot
the delicate young bride he had brought
from far over the sea to bear the loneli
ness and hardship of life in new
country She was fair to see, this young
English lady of gentle birth and rearing
i'll fitted to rough it in company with the
passionate, high tempered man in whose
hands she had placed her life. To b.
sure the settlers in the vicinity were gla(
to obtain DR.. Hoffs professional advice
and attendance. Doctors were not "a
frequently met with in those days as il
the present ones. In sparsely settled
country districts doctor was a rea
godsend: his life was no sinecure either
There We're long distances to go owe
unbroken, rough roads Fees were yer,
small, often hard to collect; professional
services were very frequently paid il
kind, not in money
These facts frequently angered DR.
Hof and raised up his passionate TEN
per.
II he worked he wanted his fees, tina
was quite natural He did not wal
with patience, like so many of his pro
fessional contemporaries learned to wait
until harvest-it might be more than on
harvest-was in; until Tom Jones col
was sold or John Smiths steers were
yoke of oxen-until the brindle COW
calf was heifer of profitable age to sell
No, he fretted and fumed, threatene'
Tom Jones and cursed John Smith, dc
handing payment for his services IN n
moderate language, making himself dis
liked and mistrusted, although a neces
sity throughout the surrounding cour
try,
Only one child had come to cheer tn
lonely lot of the doctors wife; only one
and it had not come to stay. The deal
est spot on earth in the great wide neN
country to the lonely little English VIII
OF DR.. Hoff was the quiet corner in tn
clearing where her darling slept Ther
she took her loneliness, her griefs, he
troubles to the grave of her baby, who's
tiny face had rested on her breast, who's
helplessness had appealed to her low
and care. Many night, driven fror
the house by the furious, jealous tempe
OF one who should have been kindes
the poor girl, for she was but CIR
passed long, lonely hours by her child
grave exposed to the dew of the starr
nights, the rain of the stormy ones, an IL
nocent victim of passions unrestrained
Now certain hardworking farmel
In whose family sickness had seemed
nun riot for long period, lay heayll
under the ban of debt and the doctor
displeasure
In vain the man-we will call MI
Sllas Beaverton he is said to have bee
an Industrious hard working maj
though acknowledgement the do
Tor to pay at least part of the accour
owing. Time went on, but no none
was forthcoming. In vain the doct'
TUNED and fused, ragged and demands
his dues; then he threatened, wildly, pa
Sonately, in the presence of others.
The doctor was known to requil
money badly. Every one knew ever
ones business in the neighborhoodi
was common talk that payments on cel
tam mortgages were due on certal
uate, the doctor being one of the person
CHIEFLY concerned
There came a day-a peaceful, clou'
less summer day-at the close of who
ollas Beaver Announced his intention