The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-08-22
A Country Doctor $
Story
BY CAROL H. PIERCE

uOSIOTeu Farmer OHuDDS luiully
for years and knew the constitution Of
every one Of EN-. Billy, the only boy
III tho family, was queer little chap.
never gave him dose of medicine
that he didn't ask me just how it was
going TO AFFECT him, and. If it didn't
act as | said 1t would, the next time
was called in he would throw it up at
ME. We doctors don't like that sort
OF thing, and took dislike TO Billy.
The boy grew up and went off some
where, | don't know where. but his
mother said Ire was going to settle
there and grow up with the country.
She was sure he would be mayor or
governor or something like that, for he
was so smart.
One day when | was visiting the
house to see some one of them that
was sick Chubb asked me If wouldn't
buy Il draft for him at the bank In
Rogersyille the 2ext time | went there
and drop it into an envelope he gave
me addressed to his son Billy. He
handed me 500 for the purpose, and
consented to oblige him.
This didn't hook very well to me for
Billy. He was twenty-four years old
and hearty. His father was having
all he could do to get along. and
didn't see why his boy should accept
money from him. But / said nothing
to the old man about what thought.
because it was none of my business.
He asked me not to say anything to
any one else about 1t. and / promised
/ wouldn't.
1t wasn't long after this. when was
called in again for something. that
AIRS. Chubb gave me $50 and asked
me TO buy draft when | went to
Rogersville payable TO Billy and send
At to him in the same way the old
man did. But | wasn't to say any
thing to her husband about it. l
agreed to send the money for her and
promised not to let on to Chubb that
/ had done it.
1T beats all" said to myself, what
people will do for their childrenr"
Here was doctoring the family with.
out sending In any bill because knew
they were hard up and they sending
money all the while to man who
ought to have been sending money to
them.
You bet when / drove away from the
house | was mad all over. ! made up
my mind that the next time any of
them asked me to send money to the
man, who was either specializing or
gambling or loaflng, | would let out
what thought about it. And | wasn't
going to make any more promises not
to tell, either.
But when it came to the scratch |
couldn't do it. Mrs. Chubb sent an /
other draft by me, and when ! asked !
her If she didn't think Billy had better |
be sending her money she looked at
me so reproachfully that l didn't say |
another word. she said that Billy had
invented q machine for getting the |
seeds out of watermelons. or some
thing like that, and what she was |
sending him was the last payment for
his patent right,
One day girl came to my house,
pretending that she came for consulta-
ton What she really came for was
to ask me how she could send money.
told her to buy draft, and she ask
ed me if | wouldn't buy one for her,
seeing | went to Rogersville. where
the only bank was, nearly every day.
asked her what name | should make
1t payable to, and she said William
Chubb
| thought / should explode. The
good for nothing chap was taking mon
ey from a girl Howsomever. If n
doctor learns anything it's to confne
himself to his pills and keep his mouth
shut SO l bottled up my wrath and
told the young woman l would be hap
by to serve her. She gave me SIS, but
ms she didn't know that the draft
would cost anything ! paid the ex-
change myself.
That was the last draft l was asked
to send to William Chubb. His father
introduced the subject of his son to
me one day, but | cut him short, and
ne saw Just how felt and didn't press
the subject Mrs. Chubb didn't say
anything, but it seemed to me she look
ed well pleased about something.
Then one day Farmer Chubb astonish-
ed me by calling for my bill. 1t had
been running seven years and amount
ed to $3.50. made it 1895. | was more
astonished than ever to receive pay
ment.
One day l was Just starting out on
my daily round Of visits when a well
dressed. prosperous looking young man
stepped up to my buggy and accost-
ed inc.
Don't you know me. doctor? I'm
Billy Chubb."
How de do. Billy?" l said. trying to
appear cordial Where you been all
this while. and what you been doing?"
"Oh. I've been slashing around. I've
picked up something since I've been
nway I'VE come back TO be married.
| want you to come to my wedding.
I'm going to marry Sarah Crofts."
Sarah Crofts was the girl who had
sent him the SIS
As soon as | saw Farmer Chubb
again | spoke of his soc and let him
tnlk all he wanted to. he told me that
Billy was a natural Spectator; would
take money from any or everybody TO
put a deal through. but he seemed TO
have n gift for knowing lust what TO