The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1896-09-24

| Ii IN front or tho child, whose eyes
were lighted up by n pleased express
sion. Little Bob looked at it and
touched it.
Does it go along by itself?" he in
quired
.'Of course it does" replied Guiehe-
merre. you just watch it,"
There was a long table under the
window. The doctor quickly cleared
it and dragged it across the uncarpet-
ed floor to the bedside. A few turns
Of the key, and the engine ran along
the table, a piping whistle coming
from it every few seconds. The boy
shrieked with delight and tried to raise
himself in his bed; Guichemerre
propped him up and started the engine
again.
This continued for about ten minutes
when the doctor felt that he must de-
sist, or the little patient would be over
excited The difference in Bob's ap-
pearance was astounding and when
the worthy medico left the room (after
having put everything straight, and
wrapped up the toy) he was able to
say, with perfect truth, in answer to
the perpleXed inquiries of the parents:
Hes much better this morning"
He hurried home and made up a
simple tonic; then he wrote letter to
the friend who had sent the toy-en-
gine.
When Guichemerre paid his second
visit, toward evening, he found the
constable and his wife delighted and
astonished at the change in the child's
condition. He was so much brighter,
and had begun to eat his food as
though he wanted it. They We're, how
ever anxious about one thing: Bob
had been talking a great deal about
something they could not understand.
1T goes round" sit Whistles and
several other things. They hoped his
brain was not affected.
Hes all right in the head" returned
the doctor. Take no notice of what
he says, only see that he takes the
tonic | will see him again to-day, lest
my new treatment should excite him
too much" He was glad that they had
not guessed the truth.
The next day the same thing took
place. The parents got no nearer the
truth, probably because Bob, being
more accustomed to the toy, did not
say so much. The constable and his
wife did not worry themselves much
/ 1,n Il; ia
that he was getting slowly better, and
they had the doctors assurance that
Bob's head was all right.
The following day Guichemerre had
a new toy, and afterward he took them
alternately This went on for same
days, Bob's condition improving
daily. At last, one morning the doctor
made such noise amusing his patient
who was by this time almost con-
valescent-that the perplexed father
and mother tried the door, and, find
ing it unlocked, came hurrying into
the room.
Guichemerre uttered an exclamation
of fright, tumbIed the engine into the
| y,
the question as to whether anything
was wrong, simply bolted from the
house.
For the first time he realized the
ridiculous position he was in. Every
body in the place believed that he was
treating Bob according to some new
system of medicine-he had said IAN
invention of his own"-and he had
simply been playing with toy. He
could never face his patients again;
he would be the laughing stock of the
village
But that evening he was set at rest
by visit from the schoOlmaster.
II am an occasional contributor to a
popular scientific journal, Doctor
Guichemerre," said the schoolmaster,
land have come to ask you if you will
be so good as to let me examine that
wonderful invention which has en-
abled you to cure the constables son.
/ am convinced that a description OF
the details of your mode of treatment
which hope you will give me, will be
read with the greatest interest"
He bowed. Doctor Guichemerre had
hard work to preserve his gravity. But
he was relieved of all anxiety; it was
clear that the parents of little Bob had
not seen enough of the toy to distin-
guish it, and were Of opinion that IL
was some surgical or similar appar-
atus.
II am exceedingly sorry that can
not oblige you," replied the doctor,
but am unable, for important
reasons, to make the invention public
just now. l hope to explain all that is
new in my treatment at meeting Of
the College of Surgeons in due course"
The old doctor is the most popular
man in the village; all his neighbors
say that he is extremely skilful; his
practice has very much increased; and
| his young rival, DR.. Preville, is seek
| ;p,x ,,oxxy fa11 xxrbapoi, r., ffannt IN