The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1907-05-15
-. TIE
Grafef1tl Pafienf.
torIginal.l

Of one patient after another until /
O'Clock, when, tired out and thinking
that he had attended to the last appll-
cant for treatment, he threw himself
on 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 prescription, as
suring the patient at the same time
with a pleasant smile that he will come
out all right. There are doctors who
pry into every case, making business
of diagnosing the cause of the trouble
and doing their best to remedy it. The
first cure by encouragement and sym.
pathy, the second class by inyestiga.
ton and skill, and consequently they
are apt to be brusque In manner. DR..
Fordham belonged to this number. In
deed, by some he was considered bru-
tai Nevertheless such was the confi-
dence In his surgical ability that he
had Car 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 a man, looking at
him with great hungry eyes-a man
whose clothes denoted that he belong
ed to the working class.
81 don't want no medicine nor op-
Grafton, DOCTOR" said the man In a
trembling voice. Don't you know
me-"
NO"
I'm the man you found in the hos
pital the day you were hurryin'
through 1t. You stopped. felt over me,
found out my trouble, operated on me
and cured me. 1t was very good Of
you. doctor, seein' hadn't red cent"
That's all bosh," sneered the doctor.
81 haven't time to be good. l remem-
ber you now. You're the man op-
Grated on for stone"
"Yes, sir, and you made me well
again"
The patient accompanied his words
with a grateful look. Instead Of pleas
ing the doctor 1t seemed to irritate him.
Suppose did," he snarled. isn't
that my business, making people well2"
at may be little to you. doctor, but
its lot to the people you relieve from
sufferln', besides putin 'em in a fix
to do somethin' again. It's made a lot
of difference to me-"
"0h, 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 fix you up or there d
have been q bad story out about me.
Half of it's for pay. the other half to
avoid getting into position to prevent
our making money. It's all selfishness
at bottom"
81 don't know nothin' about that.
know you made me we'll"
"Well! Why, man. you're shadowf'
"That's because / haven't had much
to eat since got out of the hospital"
''If you're WELL why don't you go to
workT
1--WE been lookln' for work, sir.
only found job this mornin'."
"Well, then, why don't you go at 1T
don't see what you want here"
The man opened his threadbare coat,
unbuttoned a ragged waistcoat and be
gan to tumble with his wooden shirt
Then he took rusty knife from his
trousers pocket and began to rip. The
doctor watched him curiously. Pres
emily a 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
screen their feelings The man walked
up to the doctor and poksd the coin at
him.
1--WE been keepin' 1t for you. doctor,
ever since got out When left home
my old nanny sewed 1t up in my
shirt and told me never to part with II
except In sickness. so long as you're
WELL 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 doctor. They're entitled to IT.
and want my son always to pay fol
what he gits.' I've been hungry. doc
tor, for month, and I've been tempt
ed to buy meal with 1t often, but
remembered what my old mother said
and remembered your kindness in re
levin me from sufferin' and putin
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, Will
apparent irrelevance:
"By thunder"
Then he arose, took the gold piece
and said to the man:
"I'll keep your coin as q souvenir
Come in here where store my pres
ents from grateful patients. There's Q
silver punch bowl from a millionaire, 6
seal ring from wealthy widow, dIa
mond scarfpin from a bank president
Here, take this handing the man the
scarfpin) aud this Ia Jewel handled pa
per cutter and this "a gold snuffbox)
There's not a mite of sacrifice In any
one of them. Take them and sell then
and go get something to eat"
But Doctor
Get out of here. I'm tired and mus
go to lunch. II you don't, I'll fire you
Recently DR.. Fordham has astonish
ed his friends by giving up his prac
| tice They were still more agtOnishef
VIXEN 1t was learned that he was doing
certain amount Of work each day
among the poor. But his manner to
ward them has changed. Instead Of
snarling at them he speaks to then
kindly and sympathetically. Every
body is wondering at the change.
NATHAN WHITE HOWE.