Year: 1875

Good Shepherd, how instlnctIveiy
should we all turn for it to our FAINT
" physician ~


Who is there that, like him, seems
to stand between us and the outer
darkness? Who is there that, like
him, knows our frame and the dust
of which we are made? Who is
there to whom, as to him. we con-
fess our defects, and with whom we
make capital out of our weakness
es? He is to us the visable repre-
sentative of the dispenser of life
and death; we hang upon his word
for sentence or reprieve: when he
comes in at the door we feel as
though he brought safety in with
him; when he goes by the window
we send our blessing after him.


He is but man; he pursues o
science founded on shifting sandsi
his work is largely experimental,
and in many places he gropes in a
more than twilight gloom. But to
our ignorant helplesshess his limited
knowledge seems to be the clear
sight of god. his slightest aver
ment thing to treasure up and
consider carefully for its store Of
truth. his decision an affair as i'm
mutable as the laws OF the universe.
il we die, we cling to his hand as we
step into the dark river, while he is
like the comforting rod and staff of
Scripture; if we live we feel as
though it were through his determi-
nation and because of his effort.


Not that we ignore, by any means
the great and merciful Power behind
him; but we recognize him as the
agent of that Power, who has put
into his hands. as it were, the issues
of birth and the grave.


The doctor, indeed, seems to us
unlike all other men. He is imper-
sonal as a spirit. We send for him
in our tronbles we 90 to.hirn with
our grievances; we confess to him.
the ailments we would hide from all.
the world we no more try to .'put
the best foot forward with him
than we would if he were omnis-
cient, for we are aware that unless
he sees us as we are he can afford us
no aid. He, indeed, and no other,
is the Tomb of Secrets He is
acquainted with the inner recesses
of households, with the histories of
tortured lives lie knows over what
home peace broods /; he knows where
Fnrrlnnf nn6 oraI oh
work havoc, and where the dark
stains run in the blood from genera
tion to generation. to reveal them
selves some day in foul fungus or
distraught brain. To all he brings
a consolation of his own, delicate
sympathy, promise of the whole
that he has an assurance of best ef-
fort, a sense that every thing which
skill and science can do is being
done, and that the rest is only in
the hands of God.


And when we are in the dreadful
presence of some sickness whose un-
known issues touch upon the auful
mysteries of death, who is there
that comes into the room so like the
commander of the forces of light
scattering those Of darkness as the
family physician Who seems, like
him, to be the actual vicegerent Of
the great spirit of good fighting the
inroads of evil? How he labors,
how undefatigable he is, how he suf
fers with us, and wrestles with fate
for US lie rises in the dead Of
night, perhaps to walk through fnr
rious storm, perhaps to skate over
frozen rivers, perhaps to drive miles
in biting winterY winds. Light
comes in with. him then out of tbs
thick darkness. In the morning he
brings in the outside vigor. of the
healthy world. lie is sure to come
and give us reinsurance just wher
the sun is departing and taking al
our little cheer with him as tbs
dreadful. night sets in again. An6
when the balance hangs SO that {
hairs weight may incline it either
way, up into the happy light OF
down into the dark region where al
abandon hope. then he spends sleep
less nights beside rs, discards, less
serious matters, is away only or
flying visits, makes our woes. his
own, and manifests on his errand o.
mercy all the devotion of love.


And what motives are they thai
nrge him to this .sumlime unselfsh
ness, this work and suffering? NoI
money, or the love OF it; for he il
paid at best but pittance, and sci
dom collects the half of his dues
Not fame for when his day is done
and he lies down for his long and
well-earned rest, his name soon fol
lows him, or lives only in the CRATE
ful recollection of the generation he
has served and saved. In almost
any other path in life lie could ac
auire far more Of either of these
lrerishable things with infinitely les:
cost 10 himself. It can, then, bC
only the love of science and the love
of his fe!Iow-men that spur him tC
this heroic duty, to this unfailing
SELF sacrifice; and, beyond his sue
cess from day to day, the chief re
ward he has is that his very work Al
once refines and enlarges his nature
and gives his soul all the time ;
stronger and nobIer existence.


Never, then. can we pay or at
tempt to pay to our family physi
clan the obligation Of gratitude that
| =. -, i,su, HE cfoa1u IahoP III.
enthusiastic research. his utter self
forgetfulness. his spontaneous sym


pathy, his nnfailing tenderness
neither gold nor gifts. neither word


nor acts, can ever make the acconn


even with him for the abncgatioI
and surrender which such things i'm


ply and all that we can do is will
ouswhole hearts to acknow.edg tn
debt.