The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-05-01
49,. The
Grateful Pattern.



[originall
DR.. Sylvester Fordham, specialist
had passed the morning ID his consult
ing office listening to the complaints
of one patient after another until
o'clock. when, tired out ana thinking
that lie had attended 10 the last applI-
cant for treatment he threw himself
on d lounge for few minutes rest.
There are doctors who have very little
aptitude for the profession. They ask
for symptoms, then whip out pencil
and paper and write a prescription. as
surfing the patient at the same time
with pleasant smile that he will come
out all right. There are doctors who
pry into every case, makinga business
Of diagnosing the cause of the trouble
and doing their best to remedy Iii The
first cure by encouragement and sym
pathy. the second class BY investiga-
ton and skill, ana consequently they
are apt to be brusque Iii manner. Dr
.Fordham belonged to this number. In
deed, by some lie was considered bru-
tai. Nevertheless such was the conf
dence in his surgical ability that he
had far more patients than he wanted.
While taking his minute Quantum Of
rest he heard some one fumbling with
the knob Of the door leading to the
anteroom. The door opened, and there
stood the ghost Of man, looking at
him with great hungry eyesa man
whose clothes denoted that he belong
sd to the working class.
II don't want no medicine nor op-
GRAFTON, DOCTOR said the man Id d
trembling voice Don't you know
me?''
mo"
"Tm the man you found In the hos.
pital the day you were hurIyin'
through 1t. You stopped, felt over me,
found ont my trouble, operated on me
and cured me. 1t was very good of
you. doctor, SEEM hadn't red cent"
That's all bosh,' sneered the doctor.
q haven't time to be good, remem-
Der you now. You're the man OPP
Grated on for stone"
Eyes. sir, and you made me well
again"
The patient accompanied bis words
with grateful look. Instead Of pleas
Ing the doctor II seemed to irritate him.
Suppose did, he snarled Isn't
that my business, making people well n
'It may be little to you. doctor, but
| it's lot to the people you relieve from
sufferin', besides putin 'em In a fix
to do somethin' again. It's made q lot
of difference TO me"
's0h, most of these people treat are
able to pay me well. work for mon
ey, the same as everybody else. That's
what we all work for"
''You didn't get much money from me,
doctor"
"Oh, had to Ak you up or there d
have been bad story out about me.
Half of it's for pay, the other half to
avoid getting into position to prevent
our making money. Its all selhshness
at bottom"
81 don't know nothin' about that. /
know you made me we'll
"Well Why, man, you're shadowF'
'sThats because / haven't had much
70. eat since got out Of the hospital"
"If you're well, why don't you go to
work.
'I've been lookin' for work, sir. I
only found Vjoh this mornln'.H
"Well, then, why don't you 60 at IT.
I don't see what you want here"
The man opened his threadbare coat
unbuttoned ragged waisteoat and be
gan TO tumble with his wooden shirt
Then he took a rusty knife from bis
trousers pocket and began 10 rip. The
doctor watched him curiously. Pres
entity little gold coin fell from the
shirt into the mans hand. A change
might have come over the doctors ex-
preston had he not been used to con.
trolling 1t, Doctors and gamblers must
4 screen their feelings. The man walked
up to the doctor and poked the coin at
him.
1--WE been keepin' 1t for you, doctor,
ever since got ont When left home
4 my old nanny sewed II up In my
shirt and told me never to part with It
except in sickness so long as you're
WE'LL she said, you can work to put
bread In your mouth. but when you're
sick you can't. Besides, you might have
to pay a doctor They're entitled to II,
\ and want my son always to pay for
1 what be glts' I've been hungry. doc
tor, for a month, and I've been tempt
/ ed to buy a meal with 1t often, but
remembered what my old mother said,
and l remembered your kindness IN re.
levin me from sufferin' and putin
I me on my feet again"
The doctor, who was lying with his
head resting IN the palms OF HIS hands.
listened to the speech without motion
or change OF expression, When the
man had finished he remarked. with
apparent irrelevance:
by thunderw
Then he arose, took the gold piece
and said to the man;
"Ill keep your coin as a souvenir.
Come in here where / store my pres-
ents from grateful patients. There's a
silver punch bowl from a millionaire, q
seal ring from a wealthy widosT, din.
mond scarfpin from bank president.
Here, take this CIanding the man the
Hearfpin) and this IA jewel bandled pm
per cutter and this "a gold sniiffboxl.
There's not a mite Of sacrifice in any