It was very early in the morning, it was scarcely dawn, when the young

man started upon a walk of twenty-five miles to reach Alton, where he

was to be assistant to the one physician in the place, Doctor Thomas

Gordon, or as he was familiarly called, "Doc." Gordon. The young man's

name was James Elliot. He had just graduated, and this was to be his

first experience in the practice of his profession of medicine. He was

in his twenties.

He was small, but from the springiness of his gait and

the erectness of his head he gave an impression of height. He was very

good-looking, with clearly-cut features, and dark eyes, in which shone,

like black diamonds, sparks of mischief. They were honest eyes, too. The

young fellow was still sowing his wild oats, but more with his hands

than with his soul.

He was walking because of a great amount of restless

energy; he fairly revelled in stretching his legs over the country road

in the keen morning air. The train service between Gresham, his home

place, and Alton was very bad, necessitating two changes and waits of

hours, and he had fretted at the prospect. When a young man is about to

begin his career, he does not wish to sit hours in dingy little railroad

stations on his way toward it. It was much easier, and pleasanter, to

walk, almost run to it, as he was doing now. His only baggage was his

little medicine-case; his trunk had gone by train the day before. He was

very well dressed, his clothes had the cut of a city tailor. He was

almost dandified.

His father was well-to-do: a successful peach-grower

on a wholesale scale. His great farm was sprayed over every spring with

delicate rosy garlands of peach blossoms, and in the autumn the trees

were heavy with the almond-scented fruit. He had made a fortune, and

aside from that had achieved a certain local distinction. He was then

mayor of Gresham, which had a city government. James was very proud of

his father and fond of him. Indeed, he had reason to be. His father had

done everything in his power for him, given him a good education, and

supplied him liberally with money. James had always had a sense of

plenty of money, which had kept him from undue love of it. He was now

beginning the practice of his profession, in a small way, it is true,

but that he recognized as expedient. "You had better get acclimated,

become accustomed to your profession in a small place, before you launch

out in a city," his father had said, and the son had acquiesced. It was

the natural wing-trying process before large flights were attempted, and

the course commended itself to his reason. James, as well as his father,

had good reasoning power.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024