Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-12-06
The Doctors Thanksgiving.
BY FRANCIS CHURCHILL WILLIAMS.

'B-R-R-Rv" exclaimed the Doctor
as he came into the kitchen anC
threw of his greatcoat. We're in
for stormy night, sure. I'm glaC
tomorrow Thanksgiving. and l dc
hope it'll be holiday for me as wei
as for other folks. It'll be a goot
day to stay indoors.
His wife put both arms about him
regardless Of the -four on her hands
Il do hope you won't be called out.
she said; You need a rest. Now sill
down, and I'll soon have supper
ready"
The Doctor drew up chair near
the fire, and went on while the table
was being set: Eyes, the wind
from the east, and / think we'll have
rain before morning. It'll be bad
night offshore.
Then he relapsed into silence, en-
joying the warmth Of the room and
thinking with pleasure Of the next
day. The wind roarod more loudly
outside than ever, and shook the
house as If in impotent rage at its
inability to tear it from it's founda-
tions. When he went to the door,
just before retiring, there was fine,
driving sleet from the east. The
Doctor gave only glance out-of-
doors; then he shut and bolted the
door, and went upstairs to bed. 1t
seemed to him that he had but just
dozed off when he was awakened by
furious pounding below. Some one
was doing his best to let him know
that admission was wanted; and
with not little mental grumbling
the Doctor got out Of bed and into
his dressing gown and slippers, and
lifted the sash of window overlook
ing the door.
well, what's wanted?" he asked,
though he felt sure he knew before
hand.
cold Paxton's sick" said hoarse
voice from below; and I've come for
you. DR.. Brightly's out Of town."
The Doctor uttered a half-sup-
pressd exclamation OF disgust and
said he'd be down right away. Then
he drew in his head and shut the win
dow. Its no use," he explained;
there's no holiday for me. It's
nearly five o'clock, and it'll be seven
before can reach the village. Two
or three hours more must be spent
there at least, il the old gentleman
has one of his regular attacks, as l
fear. That means afternoon before
/ return. 1t won't be much of q
Thanksgiving for me; will it? That
is" he went on hastily, II mean not
a holiday" For his wife had come
to his side and was looking at him in
gentle reproach.
Fifteen minutes later the Doctor,
ensconced in buggy beside the man
who had come for him, was trying
to keep his face from the biting at
tacks Of the wind-driven sleet against
which they were slowly forcing their
way. 1t was wild night; and the
storm which the Doctor had prophe-
sled had come down on the coast
from of the sea, bringing with it half
frozen rain, and now and then fierce
flurries of snow.
1t was a tiresome struggle OF two
hours before they drew rein in front
of the house where was the patient,
and the doctor was glad to get in
doors. He found the case even a
worse one than he had expected.
Old Paxton, as he was generally
called, was well advanced in years
and was subject to periodical attacks
of a chronic disorder which obsti-
nately resisted treatment and usual
Iy entailed the physicians constant
presence at the bedside for several
hours before it yielded its hold, even
for the time. So it was now. The
doctor set to work Mt once with full
knowledge of what to do and of what
was before him; but it was past ten
O. clock before he felt he could safely
leave the old man. Then, with q
sigh Of relief, he went down stairs
and, after securing bite to eat, pre-
pared to start for home, for which
purpose he had directed the man who
had driven him over to return with
his team.
A few minutes later there was a
knock ut the door, and the doctor
went and opened it. His driver was
there. but he was all excitement,
and he did not wait to be asked what
was the matter.
There's ship of shore.' he ex-
claimed. "She came in an hour ago
She's on the outside bar. They re
all down on the beach now, watch
ing her. They've sent for the coast
guard but the stations miles away
and it'll be several hours before they
can get here with their gun; and
they say she can't last that long.
There's men aboard her, too; awhile
go they were seen tryin' to get
boat of from her; but the waves
smashed it to splinters alongside the
shipi"
For a minute the Doctor hesitated
as he thought of his comfortable,
home. Then 1t came to him that he
might be OF some assistance here.
There was no physician but himself
in the place. Suppose some OF those
poor fellows managed to get ashore
aliveY They would need just such
aid as he could best give. Plainly
his duty was down on the beach. He
would miss his Thanksgiving, prob
ably, altogether. But what Of that
beside the good he might be able to do
here? "Show me the way 4" he said,
quickly, to the man. 'IPll go down
with you and see IL there is anything
for me To do.D