The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-04-13
The Doctors Yindication
THERE was once learned doctor
An Unpeformed Miracle.

THERE was once learned doctor
who had studied long and hard,
but in Cucuguano, where he had set
tied, no one had faith in him. Meet
ing him always with book in his
hand. the Cucuguanese said:
THAT doctor knows nothing, he is
always studying; if he studies so much,
it means he has need to learn; if he
needs to learn, it means he does not
know; if he does not know, he is an
ignoramus."
A doctor without patients is like a
lamp without oil. Without other re-
sources, forced therefore to earn liv-
iLg by hook or by crook, up to this time
the poor devil had not been able even
to pay for the water he drank. He de-
cided there would have to be change.
So one day he managed to spread
abroad through all Cucuguano the re-
port that his science was so sublime
and all-powerful that not only could
lie heal the sick-mere child's play
but raise the dead as well, miracle of
God, surely. And this miracle he
promised to perform openly in broad
day, in the graveyard amid the multi
tude.
Few gave credence to the report.
Yet even the incEedulous said: 1--WE
will let him attempt it, anyhow. Let's
see him at work-the proof of the pud-
ding is the eating. He may succeed
lie reads so much, and nowadays such
wonderful discoveries are being made.
ii he succeeds, we will applaud him; If
rot, we will hiss him out of the coun-
iryside. Let him bring man to life
again and we will say he is the clever
est doctor we nave ever had"
Finally it was settled that on the fol-
lowing Sunday. at the stroke of noon,
In the cemetery of Cucuguano, the doc
:or would raise man from the dead
nine or ten, some old women went so
lar az to say:
That Sunday, long before noon, the
graveyard was as iammed as is the
church on Holy Easter day. True to
his word. Oh the second stroke of the
bell appeared the doctor, all in black.
lie elhowed his way to the steps of the
central cross. There he saluted the
crowd, spat on the ground, blew his
nose and began:
My dear friends, have promised to
bring one of your dead back to life.
| intend 10 keep my word. Be silent
and hearken to me- 1t Will cost me alb
solutely no effort to raise from the
toEib Giascomo or Giovanni, Mamma
or Beta, sAmadoe or Simone. Shall
raise Simone? Simone-what was his
last name? Simone ~Capannaro, who
0'ea OF n..eurisy year ago."
.,cuse me, signor dottore,"s said
Caterina, poor Simone's widow. Ser
tainly he was fine fellow; he made me
very happy, and / will mourn him as
long as have eyes for tears, But,
pray, do not bring him back; for, you
see, toward the end of the month I'm
to put off mourning, and, to please my
family, I'm to marry Pasqualone. The
banns are already published, and I've
acceptedthe presents"
you did well to tell me, Caterina.
Then will raise Nina Garcia, who died
Candlcmas day."
For heavens sake, signor dottore!"
cried Giacomo Garcia; nina was nv
wife; we lived together ten years-ten
years of purgatory, as all Cucuguano
knows. Let her stay where she is, for
her rest and mine. What a peppery
temper, doctor! Obstinate as mule.
lazy and quarrelsome, and slovenly.
and ragged! And that is not all.
Wasteful, and tongue!-a viper's
tongue thai would have set st. Joseph
to quarreling with the Madonna. /
might add. But that's better left un-
said"
Yet, my dear fellow"
Excuse me for interrupting. signor
dottore. A new broom sweeps clean
Nina left me three brats, who certain
~ do not take after their father. and
as could not handle them all. have
married again-so, you see, it is USE
less"
"Well and good. can conceive Il
would be martyrdom to have two
: wives in the house; one is more than
enough sometimes. Then whom shaft
restore to you, my dear people?
must find some one. How about Master
Pietro?"
"Ah. my poor father!" cried voice
May God rest his soul! A good man
Nasal S.