The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-30
CASTLES IN THE AIR.
AMARVELOUS CURE

O,d Guichemerre was sad that day.
Sealed alone before the fire, be was warm
iug his trembling hands, gancing every
moment tov ard the little avenue that lei 10
MS house.
No one" he murmured sadly. shaking
his head.
For fifty years Gujchemerre had been the
health officer Of the village Of Saint-Le0n.
Although not very learned. he was an
honest man. and had treated his patients
successfully. and being the only doctor in
The neighbOrhood the village people had
venerated GuicaemerTe. But now he had
fallen upon evil days. First a druggist had
established himself in Saint-LeOu. thereby
deprIying the health officer Of the right Of
dispensing his own medicines. The drug
gisi, not stopping short at pecuniary in
iurv. had low cred the health officer IN the
ewes Of the people by sneering at his pre-
scTiptions, pronouncIug them 10 De IN
scientific.
To add to his misfortuues young doctor
had established himself at Saint lse0n ana
taken the place by storm. The villagers
would gladly have become SICK 10 De cured
by q doctor who from lis learned mouth
let fail pompOus and imposing words 10 de-
scribe maiadies that GulchemeTTe had
wounded their dignity By describing By
bnmbIe and everyday names They gladly
bought expensive medicines Tor the diseases
that Or. Previile described by SUCH new and
complicated names, whereas they learned 10
seUTn the simple remedies of GulehemeTre
Indeed. the poor heal officer vas unable
10 struggle against the imposing Dr. Pre-
Vile bis most faithful patients even aban-
dOning him one BY one. and lie saw poverty
ana ruin threatening his old age.
That winter day Guiehemerres sadness
col 4 nqnry fhn IL nat pUfs no
had remained true TO him was the forester,
whose sen Robert had been I'll for the last
four DAYS -Four days, and the health
oficer had not yet called 70 prescribe Tor
him.
'Will he also abandon me?" thought the
aged doctor. warming his hands at the IRE.
Suddenly his daughter entered.
Listen she exclaimed, growing pale
The trot OF a horse was heard on the road,
a Weii-knOwn trOt.
Yes, yes, it is he" exclaimed Guiche-
MERE. He is going to the fOTester's."
Ten second Later, IN truth, DR.. PTeyille
passed the end Of the avenue on his spirited
horse and turned 10 The left, toward the
furester's house.
Ola GuicuemeTTe let his head fan on his
hands n silent PRAYER, realizing that with
the deseTtiou OF his most faithful patient
Ills career as a doctor was ended.
Two weeks after GuichemeTTe experienced
one OF the greatest joys Of his life. The
forester, with tears IN bis ewes, came to
him eXClaiminE, My wife and l lmpiOTe
your pardon We made a great mistake.
Our child has been worse since Dr. Pre-
vile las been attending him. We are both
anxious that you should take charge Of
the case"
Guichemerre bore no malice, but for the
sake OF professional dignity ne observed,
what you propose. my FREED, would be
unDrofcssiOnal-'
"Ob. have no seruples," Interrupted tbs
forester. "He knows now that We have
more faith n you and VIII never set foot IN
cur house again"
VERY well: l will be at your house In a
quarter Of an hour" replied Guichemerre.
l. was only when the health officer
reached The CD IDS bedside that he realized
how very sick little Robert was. He re-
GREETED most bitterly the fact that he was
not more learned. though be treasured
the weeping mother By exelaiming, Yes,
yes. lie III recover"
GuichemeTre bad grave doubts upon the
subject himself. One remedy after another
as tried with out success, he administered
all the old formulas that had been success
ful II MS youth, but now there seemed no
virtue left IN them. His unaccusto med lips
reciied rosary, but his prayers were as
iuFfIicacous as his medicine.
AL the Inhabitants 0 Saint-Leon followed
every phase OF the sickness, the most extra
ordinary rumOTs being ID circulation. Every
evening Robert was said to be dead and
every morning he came 10 life again, while
the old doctor felt that his success or his
ruin was hanging by the thread Of the
child's life.
One day-the second Of January-Guiche-
MERE entered the sickroom with present
that he was taking 10 his grandson,
splendid brass locomotive that went By
steam.
lie happened to be alone with the invalid
and moved by a certain curiosity, took the
Ertfpudfd IF ifS II,
That's fine" murmured Robert whose
hollow black eyes actually showed a CLEAN
of interest "Oh, yes, IT'S fne."
Guiehemerre started. and took the en-
gine completely out Of its swrappiDgs while
Robert flushed wi pleasure, and whispered
feb y,
Does it go?"
Indeed il does" replied the old man.
almost weeping for Joy.
When he left the sickroom that day,
with his locomotive carefully hidden In its
case he smiled hopefully upon the patient,
exclaiming, He is better, much better, L
will come again this evening""
be came back that evening, the next
morning. always with the mysterious box
under his arm and his private interviews
with his patient became longer ana longer.
The parents, from outside the door,
heard singular noises during the doctors
visits.
''Iouf, COW. eow-thars fne."
Dt utsltS5 the cullQ recovered, ne
talked and his appetite came back
One day, when Robert was almost we'll,
Guichemerre made such noise with his
engine that the parents, consumed with
curiosity, suddenly entered the room.
SapTisliP cried the health officer, hiding
his toy.
But it was too late-they had seen 1t,
and the poor old man, overwhelmed with
shame, carried away his locomotive under
his oVereoat without uttering a word.
What would the doctor and the druggist
say-what would Saint-LeOn say at the
idea Of curing sick children with toys?
Gnlchemerre was tearing bis few remain
Ing hairs In despair when the officer OF
public instruction entered his house
sir. said the latter, Il am the c0rre-
spondent of a scientific Paris journal.
have Just heard of your success. l should
IKE 10 mention 1t in MY article. Would you
permit proiane outsider to examine the
marvellous appliance that you have invented
ana which the forester
Gulchemerre gave a start of Joy as the
truth dawned upon him. The forester had
seen badly, and had mistaken the LOGON O.
tive for new surgical appliance.
SIT, said he to the officer of public in
siruetion, with difficulty refraining from
laughter, ALLOW me TO express nv regret
that for short time longer l am compelled
TO guard complete silence respecting my