The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-05-15
DOCTOR and patient.
Which Needed Assistance 2

y
eyes and looked up the road-stared,
indeed, so far ahead that his eyes
seemed to burst forth. Hither and
thither he tripped, and whenever he
caught sight of any one his cry was:
'What on earth has become of Simon
and the doctor? I'll surely die before
they reach meY'
Paul Berget was the younger brother
of Simon, the farmer who had gone
after the doctor, and for the following
reason:
About six months before our story
begins Paul became terribly i'll one
evening, and the old doctor was sum-
moned. Paul had eaten something that
he could not digest, but the doctor did
not trouble about that. He never in
quired as to the cause Of sickness,
but merely asked where the sore part
was and then did his best to make it
well. So he gave Paul some warm
drinks and some horrible medicine,
and, sure enough, Paul quickly recov-
cred.
The doctor, however, was not one of
those who make small account of a
sudden attack of illness from which
the patient quickly RECEIVERS, and he
did not fail to assure Paul that he had
been near deaths door and that if they
had not called him In time Finally
he warned Paul to be more cautious in
the future.
Since then Paul had done nothing but
think about his health. Not moment
was he quiet. and he found it impossi-
BILE to sleep sound at night The doc
tor had told him to be cautious, and If
the old pain came back-what was he
to do? Finally night came when be
was in a terrible condition. All night
long he walked about the house, and at
o'clock in the morning he woke ST.
mon.
"Get up at once and go for the doc
tor"
what, are you sick again, Paul"
"Yes, am. The pain comes and goes,
but can't shake it off,"
"It's dark yet. Wouldn't it be better
to wait awhileY
"Wait! Do you want me to die on
the spot? It's now two days, and the
doctor says-oh, do hurry. Simon!
only hope you'll not be too late!"
eyes, yes; I'll get up right away. But
are you really sick? The doctor will
be mad as a halter if you bring him
from his warm house and he finds
there is nothing the matter with you"
Nothing the matter when | tell you
that am threatened with dangerous
Illness? Why, may not be alive when
you get back"
Simon went off as fast as he could,
and Paul was looking for him to come
back and was tripping around every
where. At last he noticed a moving
speck far down the street. Yes; there
they were at last, and In sleigh, but
wasn't the horse rather dark? He
stood watching, with outstretched
head and following the moving point
as though he would draw it to him.
Finally he went into the house. dressed
and washed himself and seating HIM
self on the edge Of the large, old fash
Toned bedstead, awaited the doctor.
| Meanwhile Simon and the doctor
were driving up the narrow road. The
weather was mild, and, although the
doctor was load enough for Blakken,
| the old brown horse, the sleigh sped
/ smoothly along. The doctor in his
sleigh, by the way, made very much
| the same impression as a snowplow.
A great portion of his body was visible
at both sides of the horse. He was so
stout that he could not get on horses
back, and he increased his size by
wearing an unusual number of winter
garments He wore shoes, inside slip
pers and heavy wooden stockings as
! well as an overcoat, a shawl and q
heavy plaid lined with VOLTS fur. In
such fashion was he attired on this oc-.
| casion. and therefore. though the
weather was mild, B1akken felt that
he had an unusually heavy load to car
ry.
When they came to the foot of the
hill, they stopped Simon scratched
his ear and hesitated. Blakken also
seemed to be waiting. The truth is the
poor beast was accustomed to have
persons dismount here and walk up
the steep hill. Simon scratched him
self again. but what could he do? 1t
was impossible to move the ponderous
doctor, and so in despair he urged poor
Blakken to go ahead.
The ascent was most difficult and
Simon had to take care that the sledge
was not upset Blakken climbed up
sideways, pausing now and then and
giving a long look backward as though
he would say, "You senseless persons,
why don't you walk up the hillT FL
nally they reached the top, and here
they rested good while. When Simon
finally told Blakken TO go on, the horse
showed great unwillingness, for he
saw another hill before him. At last
he started and wonder of wonders, al
most Immediately broke into trot
This unusual speed lasted till the sum-
nit was reached, and there calamity
befell the party. Without moments
warning the sledge was overturned,
and the big doctor was tumbled into
the ditch.
Paul meanwhile still sat on his bed.
Suddenly he heard some one come into
the adjoining room. Now, since he was
sick. he ought to be in bed, and so he
threw himself down on the bed and
drew the long fur blanket over him.
The next moment Simon stuck his
head into the room and said breath
lessly:
Are you alive, PaulT
Eyes, but I'm bad enough. Isn't the
doctor with your" he whined-
mo; he's lying yonder on the hill.
The sleigh was upset, and | couldn't
bring him here, and there's no one
around the house to help me. Now,
whether you're sick or not, you've got
to get up. We can't let the doctor die
out there on the hill"
"Well, can't be worse than | am,''
replied Paul. jumping out of bed. and
the next moment they were running
down toward the doctor.
There the big man lay, soft and
warm and with his face the color OF a
boiled lobster, and from him came a
torrent of abusive language, while neal
by stood Blakken, calm and contented
as usual. 1t was not easy to get the
doctor up-nay. the more Simon and
Paul worked the deeper he sank into
the soft snow.
They tried to raise him. but In vain
Nothing then remained but to remove
the big pile of snow that surrounded
and hemmed him in. After quarter
of an hours hard work they were final
4 ly able to grip him firmly by the. arms
and then two or three mighty tugs SCI
him on his feet. Great was his wratf