The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-27


he had brought her children through the
successive ills and sicknesses that. be-
ginning In pulling infancy. had Desieged
their lives to puberty and to adolescence.
And he had stood by the master In all
the repeated fevers that, In the viruiehce
which characterized the fevers OF that
day, had struck at the citadel OF his life,
and he Rad succored the patient And ne
had gone out with the young master. ana
had stood by him on the field OF honor
had caught him in his arms when falling
by the bullet OF his fellow-duellist. had
staunched the red current which threat
enei to drain away his life-and, combin-
ing the skill OF the surgeon with the
Office OF friend had taken him 10 MS
own home, and only broken~th the news 10
the parents when the safety OF the pa
tent was confirmed. Little wonder that
In every household he had a warmer well
come even that the old Virginia parson-
that the fruits of the field and the stores
Of the larder were spread before him In
prodigal hospitality. Nothing was with
held which could tempt the palate or COM
fort the inner man. And IL sometimes ne
fell an innocent victim to hospitable ex-
cess, and left the mansion a little I'M
steady in his bearing. charity. made low
ing excuse for a frailty that was very
human. and it was considered no heresy.
at that day, to believe that even the re-
cordlnx angel winked and passed the
weakness by. | did read recently. In
one OF the registers Of an old church, In
one Of the oldest parishes OF virginia,
that he was at one time suspended Tor
occasional intemperance" Nrom the COM
munion); but IT followed that he was
reinatated" and that he died IN the
communion Of the Catholic church. In the
confidence Of certain faith, in the com
- ~ Ia rel
hope, in peace with God and in charity
with the world
THE CHILDREN FEARED Elm.
The Old virginia doctor was a Christian
always. but without cant, and with great
charity for the foibles and infirmlties Oh
his fellow-man. He had but little oppor-
tunlty amidst the exactions or a large
practice TO wait upon the services OF
the sanctuary; but was he not ever rem
derlng mercy2 And does not the Psalmist
say that the Lord will have mercy ana
not sacrihceY'
There was only one class that did not
love the old doctor; to them he was
terrOr-viz.. the children of the FAMILY
and OF the plantation. To the white
children he was the author and the d.
rector of all the calomel and rhubarD ana
ialaD and oil that was given them Wneh
sick. and administered not by persua-
sion or promise of reward, but forced
down their Threats by threats OF bringing
i'm the doctor with his lancet and pull
kens'' tooth forcepg. To the coIored
children he was something worse. lie
was a superstition and fetch his
physic was made Of dead mems bones:
Nanny had been to his shop once, ana
had seen a dead man-all bones-hanging
nm behind the door And he carried great
sharp knives; and the nurse at the
'ereat-house" said that he had cut OH
Dncle Tony's leg, when the mule ran
away and broke II. But the climax came
with his visit to vaccinate everybody {.
During the first quarter OF tine present
century. Jenner's immortal discovery,
that a prior attack of cow-pox rendered
the human subject immune 10 smallpox,
had lust been accepted In all its import
and promise And edict followed edlct,
from plantation 10 plantation, that all
should be vaccinated. That dag was a
GeId-day for the old doctor He himselr
had had smallpox by incubation during
his apprenticeship. as was the custom OF
the day, that he might be protected from
contarion Ia his subsequent practice.
mn vaccination now was known TO be
equally eficacious to protect the doctor.
and more desirable. as the disease user
might be spread By an inoculated patent.
As the doctor approached the pian'auoh'
the children. who had heard or his com
ing fed like chickens, and had TO De
ferreted out from corner and creyice anu
bush. and brought back. vi et arms
with struggles and screams, that maze
the day a memento or panueHloiiuhi,
Rut whoever shrank from the ordeal
the old doctor never faltered; and when
no had planted his mark upon the blceps
time did not efface It; no septennial Pc
riod demanded a repetition OF the pro-
cess Not seven years, nor twenty-seNeh
years. nor forty-seven years, nor Sixty
seven wears have yet efracef II, IN the
few who have lodged death's jaVenns
so long. In peace and in war, IN prison
ard In hospital. this strong tallsman mas
STOOD the test of time; and this writer
can testify that, in an exceptionally large
experlence with smallpox he has never
seen case following a primary VAGINA
;ion OF that period Whether the virus
OF the cow-pox has become attenuated or
adulterated. or whether the process OF
vaccination itself, often entrusted 10 lay
men who are incapable Of Judging wheth-
e. II has taken or not, the protecton
now does not seem as perfect.
FAMILY MAN.
Rut to return TO the old doctor. He
was always known as a family man. tie
usually married early in life, ana with
the advantages OF social pOsllon, wealth.
and culture. the latter sharpened and
improved by travel-A privilege not so
common or facile then as nOw-he was
considered an eligible party. and had no
difficulty IN securing a desirable partner.
But he was often. indeed generally. away
from home-doctors being few, ana the
distances between the home OF ms pa
tents often Creation the mistress of the
mansion devolved more than her share
Of the domestic duties. III his nome was
on a plantation, or in country town
even then plantation and negroes were
essentially a part of a gentleman's es-
tata-the management Of affairs In gen
eral. IN conjunction, perhaps, with an
oversaer devolvcd upon her TO great
extent.
She was known as a business woman /;
and as the rights Of hospitality iavlshiy
administered called 10 the doctors house
a retinue of visitors and retainers, on
occasion and without occasion, upon her
devolved. In his frequent and protracted
absence. their reception and entertain
ment. In dispensing these Offices she was
10 the manner born. As the daughter OF
an Old Virginia gentleman-and only such
"a woman could have filed the heart ana
ftted the fortunes Of the Old Virginia
doctor-she was in her native sphere
when playing the gracious hostess; and
the doctor trusted her with a faith born
NOT only of personal devotion, but OF
uride in her pre-eminent fitness for her
place. And as the mother Of his children
l.. coreiored IN her with perfect trust