The Irish standard., 1896-05-30
~.

day of the new year, woefully lacking in
projects for my future. > The metrop-
oils seemed to offer no promising field,
and soon gave up my idea of adding;
another unit to its hundreds of thou
sands. Then came thoughts of the
west; but chance meeting with an
old classmate, who had ventured into
that Ell Dorado Of impoverished youth
and had returned even poorer than he
went forth, was taken as a warning
against initiating his example. So, at
last, accepting Hobson's choice, re-
appeared in the city from which Capt.
Peck had lured me, and once more en-
tered the crowded ranks of it's ply
sicians. 1t was growing, bustling, &C.
tive community, but my share in its
general prosperity seemed destined to
be sadly limited.
7 secured cheap quarters in one Of
the poorer residence districts, thereby,
perhaps, handicapping myself greatly.
but at the same time reducing expenses
to point made advisable by light
purse. Still, in spite OF the most rigid
economy, the outgo constantly ex-
ceeded the income. From a small mar
gin to the good passed to a small bal
ance on the wrong side OF the ledger.
Worst of all, this balance grew, not rap
idly, for thought twice before spend
ing penny, but with the steadiness re-
sulting from an unseemly dispropor-
ton between earnings and expenses.
None of the old patients returned to
me-though thatwas hardly matter Of
regret-and new ones were few and far
between. Now and then an accident
case-what keen eye I kept upon
buildings in course of construction in
the neighborhood! then perhaps call
to attend some stranger fallen in a tit
on the pavement; then sufferer from
some chronic malady, even deeper in
debt than I, and changing physicians
simply because the charity Of the first.
was worn out: such was the shadow
of practice which appeared never like
ly to round out into a reality My
garments of decent black became shiny
with use, while my bell-pull lost it's
polish through rust. If looked as
hungry as often felt, it was no wonder
that the ailing passed me by. Little
by little the few articles in my posses
sion of which there was not absolute
need disappeared. Some were sold out
right; others We're lodged with pawn.
brokers.
This state of things continued for
more than year, my lot growing more
miserable day by day. At long inter-.
walls letters came from Ferez. My re-,
plies were mailed with the promptness
of a man whose time hangs heavy oni
his hands. There was no attempt in
10Y letters to conceal my troubles;
there was q certain relief in setting
forth an Indictment of the world in!
general and my neighbors in particular.
More than once I was sorely tempted
to seek loan from him, but pride
stood in the way. had not quite.
reached the point Of utter defeat, bus
I was very close to it. Not word had
been heard of Mrs. Loring and her
niece, who, for all I knew, might be in
Europe, Asia, Africa, or America. Let
tiers had come from Mrs. Peck, telling
me that she was at her home in Maine,,
awaiting the return of her husband
from another voyage round the Horn.l
Her health, she was happy to add, APP;
peared to be reestablished.
AS has been set forth, the test OF
endurance went on for more than q
twelve1nonth. It was ended in a strange;
manner, without warning. and at a:
time when was near to despair. The;
landlord had attempted again to col,
lect pa4t of the money due him-ha
could scarcely be said to have bounded
!. me for it. inasmuch as he had suffered.
SO undesirable q tenant to fall several.
months in arrears-and once more he.
had been put off with excuses and apol-
4 ogies. He had not been harsh in his
replies, but twas easy to understand
that his pntience was iairly exha usted.I
had left me stiIl rs but