The record-union., 1896-08-23
But II Brought the Doctor a Good
Practice.
The Villagers Refused to See Their Old
Friends-A Scheme That Worked
to Perfection.

| IL. w
| could be expected, seeing that he
seemed always to be studying some
| thing? He was never seen without a
book in his hands. So the good people
OF Cucugnan reasoned thus: Our doc
| tor knows nothing at ALL He does
nothing but read-if he reads it must
| be to learn-if he requires to learn it
| is because he is ignorant; and if he is
| ignorant he is not the man for u.s. -
! This was the opinion they had formed
OF him, and as l have said, they had no
confidence in him. A doctor without
patients is like a. lamp without OIL But
it was necessary for him to earn a liv-
ing OF some sort, and as yet he had not
earned enough to pay for his salt
Indeed, it was essential that this dis
NAL state of things should come to an
end, and he bethought himself of means
| to end it.
One day he gave out, in such a man
ner that it was sure to be reported
throughout the whole of Cucugnan.
| that his knowledge was so extensive
and so powerful that not only was he
able to cure all sorts of diseases-which
was mere child's pIay-but even to
| raise dead man to life; and this might
be looked upon as a real miracle, for he
repeated: Yes, [ can raise dead man
to life even after he has been buried.
And l will resuscitate him at any time.
in the open church yard, before the
whole village"
There were very few who really be-
lieved this, but even the great skeptics
said: I'VE risk nothing in putting his
powers to the test; let US see how he
sets about it; you can judge of the
workman by his work. He might sue
ceed, for he has studied much, and so
many fine discoveries are made nova
days. Let him really raise dead man
to life, and then we shall know what
he is made Of"
So it was agreed that on the following
Sunday, in the open church yard, the
doctor should raise to life a dead man.
two II he liked; there We're even some
OF the female members of the congrega-
ton who said nine or ten Therefore
the next Sunday, long before the hour
fixed, the church yard of Cucugnan
was as full as is the church at mass time
on blessed Easter Sunday. AS soon as
Il O'Clock had struck the doctor ar
rived punctually, dressed in black. BY
dint of much struggling and pushing
he succeeded at length in reaching the
cross and taking up his stand on it's
steps. Then he bowed to the audience.
cleared his throat, blew his nose. and
began:
My friends said he, ''I have prom
ised to raise a dead man to life, and I
will keep my word. 1t as just as easy
for me to recall Jacques or Jean. Ma
non or Babet, Claude or Simon. Now,
whom would you like me to call? Sup
pose l call Simon-let me see-what was
his name me?-Simon Cabanier, who died
of pleurisy nearly a year ago?"
Il beg your pardon, DOCTOR" inter-
posed Catherine, poor Simon's widow.
He was a good man, admit; he made
me very happy, and shall weep for
him as long as God reserves me nv
eyes. But please do not call him, for at
the end of this month 1 am going out
of mourning, and my parents wish me
to marry big Pascal. This day week the
banns are to be published for the first
time. l have received lot of wedding
presents already"
"Oh, them replied the doctor, that
alters the case, and it is we'll you told
NE. Very we'll, then; suppose I call
Hanoun Paurogue, who was buried last
Candlemas day.?
Don't do anything of the kind, doc
tor" cried Jacques Lamelo. "Hanoun
was my wife. We lived ten years to-
gether-ten years of purgatory, as all
CGcugnan knows. Let Hanoun remain
where she is, both for her peace and
mine. She had a vile temper, sir: she
was as obstinate as a pig, idle and
quarrelsome, slovenly and dirty, and
untidy, and with such a tongue a reg
ular viper, sir
The doctor replied: But, still, my
friends"
Excuse me interrupting you. doctor
A dead wife means new hat Hanoun
left me three children on my hands,
you know, and so T have married
again; so it is useless
''All right; I understand It would
be too much of a good thing for you to
have two wives in the same house
One is enough, and more than enough
However, my friends. as we must call
somebody, suppose L call-say, good
Master Piere.''
Master Peire of Mas-Veil?" inquired
Felix Bonopugno.
THE same" replied the DOCTOR
'Ah, my poor father may God rest
his soul. Ah, doctor, he was a most
sanity man. But don't call him, for if
he returned to life he would find
great deal of squabbling among his
children, and he would be broken
hearted-poor man, he was so anxious
to see us agree. After much discus
sion and blows and a heavy lawsuit we
nave divided amongst us a few acres
of land. There are six of us, four sons
and two daughters. We have each of
Us a good many children, and each
tries to turn the water to his own MILL
We are none of us very we'll off, be-
Sides"
So them" replied the doctor, ''it is
out of the question:
Excuse me-" continued Felix, eff
you call him we shall be obliged to
make up a pension for the poor man
between US; this would only be reason
able. But we have had such bad years,
doctor-the silk worms produce next
to nothing, the vines have the disease.
the wheat crops are bad, the olives
have the worm, we have no rain, mad
der is almost given away"
Very well, then," said the doctor.
1--WE will let Master Peire rest. But as
I have not come here to waste my time.
ror you either, I will call-whom shall
1 call?"
"Gothon. Call my Gothon back to
me-" exclaimed an old woman, who
was crying bitterly.
mo, no, doctor" said a girl; ''please
don't. Poor thing; it was we'll she did