The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-05-09


The request was SO simply and natu.
rally put that the rest at once. as they
sat about the table, bowed their heads
while Rhena prayed. Andrew follow
ed, then Eric, and lastly Stuart. They
were straightforward petitions for wis
dom and larger knowledge Of Gods
will. The somewhat foggy atmosphere
Of the discussion seemed to clear up
after that lHtle pause while they talked
with their Father, and the rest of the
afternoon they seemed to feel that
whatever mistakes they might make,
and however short they might fall
Of answering any real problems. their
hearts and wills were asking for di-
vine wisdom, and their great purpose
was to use all talents and all property
for the uplift of humanity.
About o'clock. as Eric and Andrew
were getting up to go, the doctor came
in to see Louise. He had come into the
house without being noticed and had
entered the library just as Stuart was
saying: at will be splendid thing
for the doctor. 1t will keep him busy
but he won't be exposed any longer to
these terrible rides over the range in
winter"
"If you are talking about the plan Of
turning this house into n hospital and
shutting me up in it the rest Of my
life. you're wasting your time and
breath" said the doctor grutily. 81
simply won't do anything of the kind.
/ can't live without fresh air"
The doctor looked grimly at the little
group about the table. 1t was raining
hard, and he had come in dripping. He
was going to lay off his wet coat in the
hall before going to see Louise, but as
he stood there he looked as if he ought
to be very comfortable. The water had
run from the brim of his old hat down
upon his right ear, and what semblance
Of a collar he had on when he started
out had melted away down his neck
under the folds of his great coat.
But, doctor, why don't you have
more sense, as you say to the rest OF
usy" demonstrated Stuart. Here you
are today wet through, and like ms not
you won't get dry thread on you again
until tomorrow or next week, for all
that l know. You'll take your death
cold this way"
Ibid you ever know me to take my
death cold"
"And this place we are arranging for
you," continued Stuart, will be COM
Portable berth for you the rest Of your
life. You're getting too old, doctor, TO
expose yourself through another win
ter"
"I'm not such an old fool as to be
cooped up in a hospital yet. Who will
look after the men outside II stay
here all the time" the doctor asked
stubbornly.
"Why. we can get a man all right.
There are plenty Of young doctors who
are eager to begin practice here"
"Yes," burst out the doctor, "young
upstarts who have lot Of newfangled
surgical instruments and are eager to
try every one Of 'em on every case they
get-anything from rheumatism to liver
complaint! l was talking with one Of
'em last winter. and he wanted me to
swallow his latest contraption for op-
Grating on the throat with an electric
searchlight and battery combined, and
1 don't know what all! What'll become
of my people II these fellows are turn
ed loose on 'em with their inventions?
No, sir; don't intend to turn 'em over
to any such risks! Mines and provi-
, dence are dangerous enough, but new
doctor with n lot Of brand new instru-
ments Is too much even for Champion
men,"
But you are all the time grumblng
about the hard work, and when we ar
range good. easy place for you you
won't take It," said Stuart, firing a
parting shot as the doctor started to-
ward the hail.
"Good. easy place! Stuart. you know
I'd rather die from tumbling, Ajax and
all. into an old shaft on my way to set
Lew Trethven's leg the nineteenth time
than petrify dead In the best hospital
on earthw retorted the doctor.
1t Is possible he will die that way
some time, for under no persuasions
would he consent to abandon his out
door work on the ranges. After all,
was It not out there that the doctor felt
the love OF humanity and Its hunger for
love? And nothing could ever satisfy
him except that. The thought Of turn.
ing over the people Of his parish" as
| he sometimes called It, to strangers,
was thought he could not endure. He
had cared for them too long, and please
God he said to himself often us he
tumbled through drifts and waded
through gorges. he would still claim
the privilege Of calling them names
and loving them.
| So the short summer went swiftly
by, and Stuarts plans matured so far
as the building was concerned, but he
confronted some new problem every
day. 1t required all his growing steadl'
ness Of purpose, together with all OF
Rhena's great love for him, TO keep