Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-04-12
DOCTOR and PATIENT.


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Paul Berget could not keep still.
Now he was at one window, now at an
other and the next moment was out in
the yard. He held his hand over his
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 mep'
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 III 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 a sickness,
but merely asked where the sore part
was and then did his best to make 1t
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
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 a night came when he
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"
Eyes, am. The pain comes and goes,
but can't shake it off"
"Its dark yet Wouldn't it be better
to wait awhile?"
''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 later
Eyes, yes; III get up right away. But
be mad as 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 backw
Simon went of 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 outstfetched
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
ioned 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 woolen stockings as
well as an overcoat, shawl and a
heavy plaid lined with VOLTS fur In
such fashion was he attired on this oc-
casion. and therefore. though the
weather was mild, Blakken 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 long look backward as though
he would say, You senseless persons,
why don't you walk up the hillY 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 a trot.
This unusual speed lasted till the sum-