Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-12-27
II P rkiins &c
i Came . Him on Chri.tma. Eve
By F. 4. Mitchell
- ,.5. u
Copyright by American Press Assoc s
citation. 1911. III =.

n 1T. Edward Perkins was q SURGEON
who possessed one requisite for his
profession. and In the place where an
other should have been there was
vacuum. He was a wonder in both
diagnosis and in operating, but he
had no ability to put on that urbanity
which goes so far with patient. In
deed. bud the doctor not been recon-
mended by other physicians be would
never have worked his way into
practice. As it was. he had all the
patients he wished. more than he wish.
ed. for many Of them he treated with
out pay.
That's a peculiar feature of our
profession," he said. "A merchant may
decline to sell man goods without
price. but doctor who will decline TO
treat sick person without Tee
should be drummed out Of the met1i-
cal fraternity"
But the doctor wore himself out, as
many physicians are doing nowadays.
by trying to do more than he could.
The day before Christmas. after Of
dee hours, a. well dressed man came
into his Office and asked the doctor to
perform an operation on a member of
his family.
Il can't" said the doctor. "I'm used
up"
WHAT do you usually charge for
performing such an operation?" asked
the gentleman.
"A thousand dollars" replied the
doctor. hoping to head the man of by
the enormtty of the amount.
TN give you. $1,000"
Don't want it. Go to DR.. Guilford.
He's better man at that than in
that line"
but want you" :. -.
well. you can't get me, and that's
oil there is about it. Good morning"
The gentleman retired. and the doc
tor. throwing himself on lounge.
pressed his hand to his throbbing tenn
pies. The door had been left un-
guarded, and a ragamuff1n boy stepped
into the room.
Get out o. here" shouted the doc
tor. .. .sf
But I've got the fee." said the boy,
looking at the doctor pleadingly.
| 1.-THE fee?"
!. Eyes: mother told me all about the
doctors when she give it to me. She
said the hardest thing me and the kids
would have to meet was sickness and
the doctors wouldn't do nothin' for us
without the fee. Reckon she died, cos
none Of 'em wouldn't cure her. cos
she hadn't no money to pay 'em. She
left the kids In my charge. Sallie's
down sick, and it's Christmas eve"
Meanwhile the boy was fumbling
his pocket and pulled out silver ha
dollar, blackened through disuse. Ap.
preaching the doctor. he handed it to
him. The doctor took it. - =
"How did you happen to come to
me? asked the surgeon.
II sor the sawbones sign"
"Never heard Of DR.. Perkins?"
mo; I only knowed you was a pill
shower"
"Where do you liver"
"Out on the Parkeville road. walk.
ed the hull six miles," .'.
The doctor pulled himself of the
couch. called for bis automobile and
prepared to go out. Entering a closet
!, where he kept gifts from grateful pa.
, tients." he took down a thousand dol.
lars worth Of presents that had been
made him. in addition to his regular
fees. Taking the boy with him, be
went to the house of sickness. : he
found three little children in one room,
a girl Of six in high fever He bent
down over her with the first kindly
: expression on his face that any pa.
: tent had thus far seen there. smoothed
her brow with bis hand and talked to
her about lot Of nice things he was
going to send her. Then he took some
tablets from his bag and instructed
the head of the family-the boy who
had summoned him-as to their use.
The doctors next act was to draw
from his oyercoat pocket the presents
from grateful patients and hand
them to the boy.
'Take care Of these, sonny" he said,
, "and when you want any money sell
!, one Of them. II anybody suspects you
Of having stolen them send him to me.
} They'll last you some time. and when
e they're gone I'll give you some more"
but don't you want 'em?" asked
the astonished boy.
want EN-? No. Haven't got your
fee instead? They have all been given
me by rich people. some Of them in
genuine gratitude. others to make sure
e they can get me when;t they want me.
They are better employed in your serv.
t ice than laying in my. closet. wish l
{ had time: I'D try to get you fixed up in
better shape. But can't do that: / am
breaking down from overwork. Good
by, little girl; take your medicine
bravely. and I'll tell Mrs. Doctor to
send you or bring you all the nice
things I've been telling you about"
Then. instructing the boy to step into
a telephone station the next day and
/ let him know how his sister was. the
doctor got into his auto and his chauf:
feur took him home.
Christmas morning Mrs. Doctor
stopped in her automobile at the house
Of me and the kids and. loaded with
toys good things to eat and clothing
went ito the room where they lived