The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-12-23


profession, and In the place where an
other sh4uld have been there was a
vacuum. He was a wonder in both
diagnosis and in operating, but he
had no ability to put on that urbanity
which goes so var with a patient. In
deed, had the doctor not been recon-
mended by other physicians he would
never have worked his way into a
practice. AS 1t 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 cell a man goods without
price, but a doctor who will decline TO
treat a SIX person without fee
should be drummed out Of the medl-
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
fee 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 Off by
the enormity of the amount.
I'm 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
We'll, you can't get me, and that's
all there is about 1t Good morning"
The gentleman retired, and the doc
tor, throwing himself on a lounge,
pressed his hand TO his throbbing tenn
pies The door had been left I'M
guarded. and ragamufiin boy stepped
into the room.
Get out o. herew shouted the doc
tor.
But I've got the fee" said the boy,
looking at the doctor pleadingly.
THE feeT'
Yes; mother told me all about the
doctors when she give 1t 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 EN- wouldn't cure her cos
she hadn't no money to pay EN-. She
left the kids in my charge. sallie's
down sick, and it's Christmas eve
Meanwhile the boy was fumbling in
bis pocket and pulled out silver half
dollar. blaekened through disuse. APP
preaching the doctor, he handed 1t to
him The doctor took ii.
How did you happen to come to
met" asked the surgeon.
Il sor the sawbones sign"
"Neyer heard Of DIR Perkinsg"
mo; only knowed you was pin
shower"
Where do you liver
"0ut on the Parkeville road. | walk
ed the hull six miles"
The doctor pulled himself off the
couch. called for his automobile and
prepared to 20 out. Entering closet
where he kept gifts from grateful pa.
TENTS" he took down q thousand dol
lars worth Of presents that had been
made him, In addition TO his regular
fees. Taking the boy with him, he
went to the house of sickness. He
found three little children in one room,
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 his 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 overcoat 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
they're gone I'll give you some more"
"But don't yon want emp asked
the astonished boy.
/ want EN-? No. Hawaii / got your
fee instead? They have all been given
me by rich people, some of them In
/ genuine gratitude, others to make sure
/ they can get me when they want me.
They are better employed in your serv-
Ice than laying in my closet. | wish
had time; ia 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
brayely, and I'll tell Mrs. Doctor to
bend 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-
i feur took him home.
Christmas morning Mrs. Doctor