The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1912-02-29
DR.. Perkins Fee
Il Game to Him on Christmas Eve
By F. A Mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.


profession. and In the place where an
other should have been there was
vacuum. He was wonder In boil
diagnosis and In operating. but b,
had no ability 10 put on that urbanity
which goes so far with patient. In
deed. had the doctor not been recon
mended by other physicians he would
never have worked his way into Z
practice. As il was. he had all the
patients he wished. more than he wish
ed. for many OF them he treated with
out pay.
That's peculiar feature OF oul
profession" he said. "A merchant may
decline TO sell a man goods without
price. but doctor who Will decline t.
treat sick. person without a fee
should be drummed out Of the medi-
gal 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, well dressed man came
into his Office and asked the doctor to
perform an operation on a member Of
his family.
4 can't said the doctor. I'm used
mp"
What do you usually charge for
performing such an operatiOnY' asked
the gentleman.
"A thousand dollars" replied the
doctor, hoping to head the man or by
the enormity Of the amount
I'm give you $1,000"
Don't want II. Go to DR.. Guilford.
He's better man at that than I in
that line"
But want you"
We'll. you can't get me. and that's
all there is about It. Good morning"
The gentleman retired. and the doc
tor. throwing himself on a lounge.
pressed his hand to his throbbing tenn
Piles. The door had been left IN
guarded. and a ragamufin boy stepped
into the room.
Get out O. herer' shouted the doc
tor.
But I've got the Fee" said the boy,
looking at the doctor pleadingly.
The feeY'
Yes; 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 EN- wouldn't cure her. COS
she hadn't no money to pay EN- She
left the kids in my charge. SaIlie's
down sick. and it's Christmas eve"
Meanwhile the boy was fumbling in
his pocket and pulled out a silver half
dollar. blackened through dIsuse. Ap-
preaching the doctor. be handed It TO
him. The doctor took II.
How did you happen to come 10
me-" asked the surgeon
Il sOr the sawbOnes sign"
Never heard OF DR.. Perkins,
NO; I only knowed You was a pill
shower
Where do you liver
"Out on the Parkeville road I walk
ed the hull six miles"
The doctor pulled himself OF the
couch. called for his automobile and
prepared to go out. Entering a closet
where he kept gifts from grateful pa
TENTS 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 1
went to the house Of sickness. He !
found three little children in one room,
4 girl Of six in a high fever. He bent
Down over her with the first kindly
oppression on his face that any pa
tent had thus far seen there, smoothed
her brow with his hand and talked to
ler about a lot Of nice things he was
going to send her Then be took some
.abIets from his bag and instructed
he head Of the family-the boy who
iad summoned him-as to their use.
The doctors next act was to draw
rom his overcoat pocket the presents
rom grateful patients" and hand
hem to the boy.
Take care Of these, sonny" he said.
and when you want any money sell
ne Of them. II anybody suspects you
I having stolen them send him to me.
'hey1l last you some time, and when
hey're gone III give you some more"
But don't you want emp asked
be astonished boy.
Want 'em7 No. Haven't got your
&c instead? They have all been given
Ie BY rich people. some Of them IN
enuine gratitude. others to make sure
ley can get me when they want me
hey are better employed in your serv-
e than laying in my closet. I wish
ad time; I'd try to get you fixed up IN
stter shape. But can't do that: am
reaking down from overwOrk. Good .
?. little girl; take your medicine
ravely. and I'll tell Mrs. Doctor to
nd you or bring you all the nice
iings I've been telling yoh about"
Then. instructing the boy to step into
telephone station the next day and
{ him know how his sister was, the
,ctor got into his auto and his chauf-
ur took him home
Christmas morning Mrs. Doctor
opped in her automobile ~ tte house
me and the kids and, loaded with