ACTING FROM PRINCIPLE.
"FATHER, I cannot! You may call it a weakness; I will even acknowledge
that it is. But to let my sisters support me by hard labor is more
than I will permit. Let me go South. I will find some place where my
services are needed. It will be better than to sit down idly here to
wait for a practice that may be years in coming."
"Martha and Ella will do what they say, independent of your movements
altogether, and I approve their determination. All of us should be
usefully employed. They have the time and the ability, and are wise to
give them both a right direction. But, independent of all that, here
is a home for you. The burden of your presence, my son, will be far
lighter than the burden of your absence. Do not go then. I shall be
unhappy if you leave us so causelessly."
The reasoning of his father Lloyd had withstood, but could not resist
an earnest appeal like this, made with a lip that trembled and a voice
that had lost its uniform steadiness.
"Let it be as you wish," he said, in a low tone. "I trust that all
will be right. If you feel the burden too heavily, you will say so. As
quickly as I can, I will relieve you."
There were cheerful hearts in the dwelling of the watchmaker when it
was known that Lloyd had yielded, and was to remain.
An office was immediately secured, and Doctor Hudson put up his sign.
He did not expect any practice at first, and, therefore, was not
disturbed because he received none. Anatomy and surgery had attracted
most of his attention while a student, and to the perfecting of skill
in these he gave the principal portion of his time and attention now.
He attended all the hospital operations of consequence, and assisted
the surgeons in the performance of their difficult and often dangerous
tasks. His devotion to this branch of his profession, amounting almost
to enthusiasm, did not escape the notice of those with whom he was
thereby brought into contact. He was often alluded to by surgeons of
high standing, when he deemed himself scarcely noticed by them.
One day the professor of anatomy in the school from which he had
received his diploma called upon him. It was nearly a year after he
had opened his office, and at a time when he was beginning to feel
discouraged about a practice. The professor soon made known his
business.
"Doctor," he said, "our demonstrator of anatomy is not half so capable
as you are, nor is he a great favorite I would prefer you a hundred
times, and so, I believe, would every student in the school. Now it so
happens that he has been called away for a couple of weeks, and some
one must be had in his place during his absence. I wish you to fill
it. This will give you a chance to exhibit your superior skill, and
so far make in your favor, that it will be an easy matter to have him
displaced and you appointed in his stead some few months hence."
"Excuse me, doctor," replied Hudson, "but I cannot meet your wishes
under that view of the case. Doctor S— is a good anatomist and
demonstrates quite well. I would not, for the world, have him displaced
to make room for me. If I rise, it must not be at the expense of
another's downfall."
The professor looked astonished, for a moment or two, at this
unexpected reply. He then said:—
"I believe you are right, doctor. Forgive me for having made a
proposition so repugnant to the honorable principles you hold. I
see that I erred. My anxiety to have the very best talent in every
department of our school, has led me to think of means not altogether
as fair as they should be. Still, there must be some one to demonstrate
to the class while Doctor S— is away, and I know of none so capable of
doing it as yourself. I must, therefore, beg of you to reconsider your
prompt decision of the matter, and consent to serve the class for a
couple of weeks."
"Indeed, Doctor," returned Hudson, "I cannot change the resolution I
have declared. It would not be right for me to do so. I could not feel
in any degree of freedom. Why did not Doctor S— name some one to take
his place?"
"So he did."
"Ah! Who?"
"Doctor D—. Just think of it! Why, I doubt if he remembers enough of
his anatomy to tell the difference between a sinus and a foramen."
"You underrate him, doctor," said Hudson. "D— will give a very fair
demonstration."
"And you one a thousand times better."
"I doubt that. But, waiving this question, doctor, it is impossible for
me, under the circumstances, to meet your wishes. The fact that Doctor
S— has named Dr. D—, settles the matter definitively. If, in any other
way, I can serve the school, it will give me pleasure to do it."
"While I cannot but regret your decision, think as I will about it,"
returned the professor, "I must do you the justice to say, that I am
constrained to honor your principles. Few men would have resisted the
temptation. It would be better for the world, perhaps, if there were
more like you."
When Hudson mentioned at home what had occurred, there was not one who
did not express a warm approval of his conduct.
"It is only what I expected of you, Lloyd," said the father. "Be ever
true to right principles, and you will be true to yourself. You need
not be concerned for the issue."
Two weeks from the day Doctor Hudson received a visit from the
professor of anatomy, that individual called upon him again.
"You are probably aware," he said, "that the father of Doctor S—, a
physician of large practice in Boston, is dead. It was his illness that
made the absence of S— necessary."
"Yes, I have heard it," returned Hudson.
"You may not have heard, however, that S— is to remain in Boston, and
take up his father's practice?"
"That intelligence has not before reached me."
"It is true, nevertheless. I received a letter from S— to that effect
yesterday. This morning, at a meeting of the Faculty, I made known his
decision, and brought forward your talents and anatomical skill as
fitting you in a peculiar manner to take his place. You were appointed
without a question, and by a unanimous vote. Let me congratulate you
on the occasion, as I have already congratulated the school. An honor
has been worthily conferred. You can now accept the chair, and feel
yourself fairly entitled to it."
"For your kindness I feel truly gratified," replied Hudson, showing
more emotion than he wished to exhibit. "I accept the appointment, and
will endeavor to discharge the duties appertaining to it to the best of
my ability."
"Which will leave us no cause of complaint!"
"When am I expected to take charge of the demonstrations before your
school?"
"Immediately. Doctor D— has already been informed of your appointment,
and will give place to you after to-day."
"Very well. I will be at my post in due season."
Nothing could have happened more accordant to the young man's wishes
than this. Besides giving his abilities full scope, it secured him
an ample income, considering his habits of strict economy, as there
were nearly a hundred and fifty students in the class, and the
demonstrator's ticket was ten dollars.
The first thing he did, after communicating his good fortune at home,
was to insist that Martha and Ella should give up their scholars. To
this, however, they promptly objected, as they had a large number of
pupils, and were receiving from four to five hundred dollars each per
annum. The marriage of Martha to a worthy young man, a few months
afterwards, settled the matter, however, as far as she was concerned;
but Ella continued her useful and profitable employment.