clotelle(有色女英雄)-第7节
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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。
