第 7 节
作者:人生几何      更新:2021-02-19 17:02      字数:9311
  bandages; and would rub and smack the arm more than the doctor would
  have thought of。
  Sam   was   once   seen   taking   out   a   tooth   for   one   of   his   patients;   and
  nothing   appeared   more   amusing。        He   got   the   poor   fellow   down   on   his
  back;   and   then   getting   astride   of   his   chest;   he   applied   the   turnkeys   and
  pulled away for dear life。         Unfortunately; he had got hold of the wrong
  tooth; and the   poor man   screamed   as loud   as he could; but it was   to   no
  purpose; for Sam had him fast; and after a pretty severe tussle out came
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  the sound grinder。 The young doctor now saw his mistake; but consoled
  himself with the thought that as the wrong tooth was out of the way; there
  was more room to get at the right one。
  Bleeding and a dose of calomel were always considered indispensable
  by the 〃old boss;〃 and as a matter of course; Sam followed in his footsteps。
  On one occasion the old doctor was ill himself; so as to be unable to
  attend    to  his  patients。   A   slave;    with  pass   in  hand;   called   to  receive
  medical advice; and the master told Sam to examine him and see what he
  wanted。   This   delighted   him   beyond   measure;   for   although   he   had   been
  acting his part in the way of giving out medicine as the master ordered it;
  he had never been called upon by the latter to examine a patient; and this
  seemed   to   convince   him  after   all   that he   was no   sham  doctor。 As   might
  have been expected; he cut a rare figure in his first examination。 Placing
  himself directly opposite his patient; and folding his arms across his breast;
  looking very knowingly; he began;
  〃What's de matter wid you?〃
  〃I is sick。〃
  〃Where is you sick?〃
  〃Here;〃 replied the man; putting his hand upon his stomach。
  〃Put out your tongue;〃 continued the doctor。
  The man ran out his tongue at full length。
  〃Let me feel your pulse;〃 at the same time taking his patient's hand in
  his; and placing his fingers upon his pulse; he said;
  〃Ah! your case is a bad one; ef I don't do something for you; and dat
  pretty   quick;   you'll   be   a   gone   coon;   and   dat's   sartin。〃   At   this   the   man
  appeared frightened; and inquired what was the matter with him; in answer
  to which Sam said;
  〃I done told dat your case is a bad one; and dat's enuff。〃
  On Sam's returning to his master's bedside; the latter said;
  〃Well; Sam; what do you think is the matter with him?〃
  〃His stomach is out ob order; sar;〃 he replied。
  〃What do you think had better be done for him?〃
  〃I tink I'd better bleed him and gib him a dose ob calomel;〃 returned
  Sam。
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  So; to the latter's gratification; the master let him have his own way。
  On one occasion; when making pills and ointment; Sam made a great
  mistake。      He   got   the   preparations   for   both   mixed   together;   so   that   he
  could not legitimately make either。             But fearing that if he threw the stuff
  away; his master would flog him; and being afraid to inform his superior
  of the mistake; he resolved to make the whole batch of pill and ointment
  stuff into pills。 He well knew that the powder over the pills would hide the
  inside;   and   the   fact   that   most   persons   shut   their   eyes   when   taking   such
  medicine led the young doctor to feel that all would be right in the end。
  Therefore   Sam   made   his   pills;   boxed   them   up;   put   on   the   labels;   and
  placed them in a conspicuous position on one of the shelves。
  Sam felt a degree of anxiety about his pills; however。 It was a strange
  mixture; and he was not certain whether it would kill or cure; but he was
  willing   that   it   should   be   tried。   At   last   the   young   doctor   had   his   vanity
  gratified。    Col。   Tallen;    one   of  Dr。   Saxondale's     patients;    drove   up   one
  morning; and Sam as usual ran out to the gate to hold the colonel's horse。
  〃Call your master;〃 said the colonel; 〃I will not get out。〃
  The doctor was soon beside the carriage; and inquired about the health
  of his patient。     After a little consultation; the doctor returned to his office;
  took down a box of Sam's new pills; and returned to the carriage。
  〃Take two of these every morning and night;〃 said the doctor; 〃and if
  you don't feel relieved; double the dose。〃
  〃Good gracious;〃 exclaimed Sam in an undertone; when he heard his
  master tell the colonel how to take the pills。
  It   was   several   days   before   Sam   could   learn   the   result   of   his   new
  medicine。  One   afternoon;   about   a   fortnight   after   the   colonel's   visit;   Sam
  saw   his   master's   patient   riding   up   to   the   gate   on   horseback。   The   doctor
  happened to be in the yard; and met the colonel and said;
  〃How are you now?〃
  〃I am entirely recovered;〃 replied the patient。 〃Those pills of yours put
  me on my feet the next day。〃
  〃I knew they would;〃 rejoined the doctor。
  Sam   was   near   enough   to   hear   the   conversation;   and   was   delighted
  beyond      description。      The     negro     immediately       ran   into   the   kitchen;
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  amongst his companions; and commenced dancing。
  〃What de matter wid you?〃 inquired the cook。
  〃I is de greatest doctor in his country;〃 replied Sam。 〃Ef you ever get
  sick; call on me。       No matter what ails you; I is de man dat can cure you in
  no   time。    If   you   do   hab   de   backache;   de   rheumatics;   de   headache;   de
  coller morbus; fits; er any ting else; Sam is de gentleman dat can put you
  on your feet wid his pills。〃
  For  a   long   time  after;   Sam  did   little   else   than  boast   of   his   skill   as   a
  doctor。
  We have said that the 〃black doctor〃 was full of wit and good sense。
  Indeed;   in   that   respect;   he   had   scarcely   an   equal   in   the   neighborhood。
  Although his master resided some little distance out of the city; Sam was
  always the first man in all the negro balls and parties in town。 When his
  master could give him a pass; he went; and when he did not give him one;
  he would steal away after his master had retired; and run the risk of being
  taken up by the night…watch。 Of course; the master never knew anything of
  the absence of the servant at night without permission。                 As the negroes at
  these parties tried to excel each other in the way of dress; Sam was often at
  a loss to make that appearance that his heart desired; but his ready wit ever
  helped him in this。 When his master had retired to bed at night; it was the
  duty   of   Sam   to   put   out   the   lights;   and   take   out   with   him   his   master's
  clothes   and   boots;   and   leave   them   in   the   office   until   morning;   and   then
  black the boots; brush the clothes; and return them to his master's room。
  Having resolved to attend a dress…ball one night; without his master's
  permission; and being perplexed for suitable garments; Sam determined to
  take his master's。 So; dressing himself in the doctor's clothes; even to his
  boots and hat; off the negro started for the city。 Being well acquainted with
  the usual walk of the patrols he found no difficulty in keeping out of their
  way。     As   might   have   been   expected;   Sam   was   the   great   gun   with   the
  ladies that night。
  The next morning; Sam was back home long before his master's time
  for rising; and the clothes were put in their accustomed place。 For a long
  time   Sam   had   no   difficulty   in   attiring   himself   for   parties;   but   the   old
  proverb   that   〃It   is   a   long   lane   that   has   no   turning;〃   was   verified   in   the
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  negro's case。 One stormy night; when the rain was descending in torrents;
  the   doctor   heard   a   rap   at   his   door。 It   was   customary   with   him;   when
  called   up   at   night   to   visit   a   patient;   to   ring   for   Sam。   But   this   time;   the
  servant was nowhere to be found。 The doctor struck a light and looked for
  clothes;   they;   too;   were   gone。    It   was   twelve   o'clock;   and   the   doctor's
  clothes; hat; boots; and even his watch; were nowhere to be found。 Here
  was a pretty dilemma for a doctor to be in。