2 History of Gutta-Percha Willie,

 

Mr Macmichael was a country doctor, living in a
small village in a thinly-peopled country; the first
result’'of which was that he had very hard work,
for he had often to ride many miles to see a
patient} and that not unfrequently in the middle of
the night; and the second that, for this hard work,
he had very little pay, for a thinly-peopled country
is generally a poor country, and those who live in
it are poor also, and cannot spend much even upon
their health, But the doctor not only preferred’a
country life, although he would have been glad ‘to
have richer patients, and within less distances of
each other, but he would. say to any one who ex-
pressed surprise that, with his reputation, he should
remain where he was—“ What’s to become of my
little flock if I go away, for there are very few
doctors of my experience who would feel inclined’
to come and undertake my work, I know every
man, woman, and child in the whole country-side,
and that makes all the difference.” You see,
therefore, that he was'a good kind-hearted man,
and loved his work, for the sake of those whom he
helped by it, better than the money he received
for it. ‘

Their home was necessarily a very humble one—
a neat little cottage in the village of Priory Leas
—almost the one pretty spot thereabout. It lay
in a valley in the midst of hills, which did not look
high, because they rose with a gentle slope, and