Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1913-10-17
ACountry Doctor S
Story
By CAROL H. PIERCE


every one of 'em. Billy the only boy
In the family, was a queer little chap.
l never gave him a 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 l
was called in he would throw II up at
me. We doctors don't like that sort
Of thing, and l took dislike to Billy.
The boy grew up and went off some
where, l don't know where, but his
mother said he 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 80 smart
One day when ] was visiting the
house TO see some one Of them that
was sick Chubb asked me II wouldn't
buy a draft for him at the bank in
Rogersville the next time l went there
and drop 1t 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 look very well to me for
Billy. He was twentyfour 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 l said nothing
to the old man about what l thought
because 1t was none of my business.
He asked me not to say anything to
any one else about 1t, and 1 promised
l wouldn't.
1t wasn't long after this, when was
called in again for something. that
Mrs. Chubb gave me $50 and asked
me to buy a draft when l went to
ROgersville payable to Billy and send
It to him in the same way the old
man did. Blu. l wasn't to say any
thing to her husband about 1t.
! agreed to send the money for her and
, promised not to let on to Chubb that
l had done it.
1T beats ALL" said to myself, what
people will do for their children"
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
them.
You bet when | drove away from the
house | was mad all over. l 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 loafing | 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 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 a 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 l wouldn't buy one for her,
seeing | went to Rogersville, where
the only bank was. nearly every day.
l asked her what name | should make
1t payable to, and she said William
Chubb.
| thought l should explode. The
good for nothing chap was taking mon
ey from girl. Howsomever. if a
doctor learns anything it's to confine
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
as she didn't know that the draft
would cost anything l 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 l cut him short. and
he saw just how l 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. l made it 500. | 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 me-
Don't you know me, doctor? I'm
Billy Chubb."
How de do, Billy?' I said trying to
appear cordial Where you been all
this while. and what you been doingY'
"Oh, I've been slashing around. I've
picked mp something since I've been
away. I've come back to be married.
I want you to come to my wedding.
I'm going to marry Sarah Crofts."
Sarah Crofts w;ts the girl who had
sent him the SIS.
AS soon as | saw FGrmer Chubb
again l spoke of his son and let him