Year: 1869




"DoN'T take on about it, darling
Don't, pray Have patience, and all will
yet be well" whispered Grace Ross, leav-
ing her untouched breakfast and kneeling
at her husbands feet, 80 that she could lay
her hands upon his breast, and let her blue
eyes look up appealingly in his


Inc Ross folks, as the people in Elderly
called them, were in sad straits. Some
two years before, with a little money in
hand, John Ross had come to settle with
his young wife in the pleasant country
town, having made his calculation that
ne would get no practice, as the new doc
tor, for the first year-at least, none to
signify-but that he could furnish his
heuse quietly, and live decently for that
first year, while what little he did earn
would 60 to his remaining stock of cash,
and add to what he gained during the
second year, which he hoped would be
something, if not considerable, at least
enough to enable them to what he called
"rub along"


But John Ross did not know the preju-
dice of small towns, and he soon found
that he was looked down upon with con-
tempt by the old practitioner not known
by those who considered themselves the
gentry of the place, and viewed generally
WA'h SuoPIOiou ny tuc poOlcI huu uiiuulo
classes. He might have possessed the
skill of the Royh College of Surgeons
condensed into one man, but the people of
Elderly would still have shaken their
heads at him. And knowing all this,
Tompkins, the old surgeon, used to
chuckle and rub his hands, killing some
and curing others, and year by year grow
ing richer, telling himself that the new
man would soon grow tired and go, for,
after all said and done, it was a great
piece OF impudcnce to come and set up in
Elderby without his leave!


But things had gone very srookedly
with the Ross people, and in spite of every
exertiOn, John Ross found himself, at the
end OF two years and some months, penni-
less, and without chance of bettering his
position. It seemed as if the people
would have none Of him, and again and
again he wasfor trying some other place.
But after long discussion, his wife and
he always bore in mind the old proverb
OF rolling stone gathering no moss, and
knowing that it would be like going
through their troubles again without
money, they concluded that it would be
better to fight on hopefully, keeping their
poverty hidden as much as possible, and
waiting patiently for better days.


But though 1t was easy enough to talk
OF keeping their poverty hidden, that is no
slight matter, in country town; and il
John Ross and his wife could have known
all, they would have found that the Elder
by people generally knew the extent OF
their wardrobes; how much to shilling,
they owed the baker and butcher; how
thattheir landlord fully expected they
would give him notice from quarter to
quarter, and had promised the first offer
OF the house to some one else. In short
their affairs were made to be so bad, that
people used to shake their heads and won.
der how folks could be so proud and keep
up appearances as them Roses did, when
they were almost starving, Lord bless
you.


John Ross would never take any notice
OF the small tattling of the people, or he
might have resented the fact that Tomp
kins had spoken very disparagingly OF
his ability. But he was too wise a man
He hoped that times would mend, and
gave every spare minute to the study oi
his profession. working late every night
and merely taking such exercise as was
absolutely necessary for his health.


But it must not be imagined that nc
practice fell to his share, for the pool
flocked to him in spite of the i'll success,
that attended his efforts in the first yeal
of his coming. In fact, Tompkins made
great capital out of the death of fevel
patient whom Mr.. Ross was called in tt
atte I'd, when the young surgeon had tolt
his Fife that no human power could have
save, the stricken one.


However, people would talk and shak,
their heads, and say what pity it wa
that such an inexperienced person haC
been called in, &c. and it was not unit
the young surgeon had performed severa
cleV cures in gratis cases, that the poor
er le favored him with their patron
So ing him much trouble, few thanks
enc a IN any pay