English essays -- 19th century; Great Britain -- Social life and customs; London (England) -- Description and travel
In this past year's diary is there any dismal day noted in which you
have lost a friend? In mine there is. I do not mean by death. Those who
are gone, you have. Those who departed loving you, love you still; and
you love them always. They are not really gone, those dear hearts and
true; they are only gone into the next room: and you will presently get
up and follow them, and yonder door will close upon YOU, and you will be
no more seen. As I am in this cheerful mood, I will tell you a fine and
touching story of a doctor which I heard lately. About two years since
there was, in our or some other city, a famous doctor, into whose
consulting-room crowds came daily, so that they might be healed. Now
this doctor had a suspicion that there was something vitally wrong with
himself, and he went to consult another famous physician at Dublin, or
it may be at Edinburgh. And he of Edinburgh punched his comrade's sides;
and listened at his heart and lungs; and felt his pulse, I suppose; and
looked at his tongue; and when he had done, Doctor London said to Doctor
Edinburgh, “Doctor, how long have I to live?” And Doctor Edinburgh said
to Doctor London, “Doctor, you may last a year.”
Then Doctor London came home, knowing that what Doctor Edinburgh said
was true. And he made up his accounts, with man and heaven, I trust.
And he visited his patients as usual. And he went about healing, and
cheering, and soothing and doctoring; and thousands of sick people were
benefited by him. And he said not a word to his family at home; but
lived amongst them cheerful and tender, and calm, and loving; though he
knew the night was at hand when he should see them and work no more.
And it was winter time, and they came and told him that some man at
a distance--very sick, but very rich--wanted him; and, though Doctor
London knew that he was himself at death's door, he went to the sick
man; for he knew the large fee would be good for his children after him.
And he died; and his family never knew until he was gone, that he had
been long aware of the inevitable doom.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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