The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-06-05
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IIALF way up the hill, on the main
road, crossing the small town of
Pertuis, stands the plain, comfortable
house of DR.. de st. Leonard, an old
country physician, celebrated miles
and miles around for his learning, his
zeal, his ineXhaustible kindness, his
hump and his gig. The gig, an old-fash-
ioned vehicle, is drawn alternately by
two venerable animals, Cocotte and ia
Vote. so much alike that were it not
that Cocotte's hair is grayish yellow
and Javotte's grayish brown, one could
not distinguish the one from the other.
Going at their usual jog trot, that no
obiurgation, no castigation, can acccel-
crate, the doctor, who knows the use
lessness of his efforts, resigns himself
to the inevitable once on the road he
rolls the reins around the whip, takes
out a book and reads.
If you meet a hunchbacked little
man in an antiquated gig drawn by
prehistoric animal, you have seen DR..
de st. Leonard. He has devoted him
self for more than forty years to the
arduous duties of country physician.
Plain featured, it is true, but look at
his eyes: they reveal superior intel
lect, keen spirit, and above all di-
vine kindness that illuminates his
! whole countenance.
John, the only son of the doctor, is
neither hunch-backed nor ill-fa-
vored; quite the contrary, indeed.
Having completed gloriously his med
ical studies in Paris, he renounced the
brilliant career opened to him in the
very capital, and preferred to assist
his father in his humble work of devo-
tion and charity. Tender-hearted, his
only ambition is to continue his
fathers mission of perpetual abnega=
tion, untiring and discreet generosity.
For John, the supreme glory is to
double, in this small place, the affec-
tion for the honored name he bears,
and to prolong. by the exercise of the
same qualities as the old man, the
grateful popularity he enjoys.
So John came courageously and
cheerfully, burying himself in Pertuis
to attend patients at two francs Wis
it, following in everything the example
of his father, who never claimed a fee
from the poor, and often left silver
coin under the prescription.
Thenceforth there were two Drs
de st. Leonard at Pertuis. Everything
went on as before.
Javotte and Cocotte were at first
rather jealous of pretty Blanchette
the young doctors nag, who in most
reprehensible Juvenile ardor dared tc
pass them on the road.
The people had thus-happy people
\ two learned doctors and two gooe
men devoted to their welfare.
Happy people,! I repeat it. for, be
sides these two emeritus practitioners
they possessed the most active, the
most charming the most generous vol
unteer Sister of Charity, Isabelle Du
plessis, who resided in the sumptuous
villa on the hill. Her father, multi
millionaire, had gone to America wher
quite young man and identified him
self with the country and advanced
business habits of the Americans. Re
turning to France after long absence
he introduced innovations and i'm
provements in the iron industry, an6
amassed an immense fortune. His only
daughter, Isabelle, born and reared il
the United States, rode here and there
through the country, with American
independence, in her light phaeton
drawn by feet ponies and accompanied
oy little groom.
What contrast with the old DOCTOR
creaky vehicle.
isabelle's drives took the direction
OF the neighboring villas when polite
ness required it, but very often sh
Wehded her way to the poor's stray cot
tages on the road where she wa
anxlously expected giving abundant.
70 everyone. consoling the unfortun
aIes; nursing the sick. They called he
Our Angel" There was joy at Per
'ais and~fo many miles around whel
she returned from Paris for the sum
mer season.
sne often met DIR. de st Leonard L
her charitable visits. Between the oil
doctor and the young girl in the bloor
q youth and beauty, their sprang, a
tue bedside of the sick and the dyins
mysterious charity alliance, a friene