Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 6.djvu/115

 THE

��GRANITE MONTHLY,

A NE V HAMPSHIRE MAGAZINE Devoted to Literature, Biography, History, and Spate Progress.

��Vol. VI.

��JANUARY, 188:3.

��No. 4

��DAVID T. PARKER, M. D.

��T.Y ADELAIDE CI

S'rangers visiting New Hampshire in pursuit of novel experiences and fresh subjects of study or of amuse- ment, are prone to exclaim at the continual succession of hill and ilale, as well as at the population which bears a great resemblance to the phy- sical features of the state itself. Between the ruggedness of the m >un- tains, with their In ighls forever purely crested in snow, and the fascination of the wild bluff-, and lovely coves of it-, sea-coast, rest the gentle swells and beautiful valleys of the ''Old Granite Stale," whose sons hive b.-en mi _^!it v ju war. wise in council, and sturdy in the maintenance of their stiffly set

��princ-

��iples.

��In a region such as is New Hamp- shire, the life of the country physician is fnled with alternate comedy and tragedy, since human nature is every where prevalent, and with the un- avoidable drudgery o( all day and all night work over the many roads which branch from his t iwn. For him there i.-> no surenessof that particul uly com- fortable state of mind and body induc- ed for more fortunate men by a warm hearth and pleasant companionship, with well fastened doors and close windows, on a night when storms seem to envelop the world ; he must be aleit at a word, and ready in five minutes to drive any distance, whether it be a lovely June morning or the worst winter night of the season ; his fatigue must not lead him to indulge in any attack of '•nerves," nor must he allow it to color his spectacles

��LLEY WALDRON.

when looking with all his might into a difficult case, and neither must a hint of depression affect his tones as he stimulates some weak impressionable system into a semblance of cheer- fulness and fair working order; he must be at once frank as sunlight, an I reserved as the sphinx; he must com- mand and caj )le, be sarcastic an I sympathetic, free and discreet, seeing everything and yet nothing; a mm who shall be able to wield the knife without compunction, and yet with a tender heart. It is of one of this hard-worked, often unappreciated, yet often beloved class, that this brief sketch treats.

About the year 1675 a father and mother, dwelling in the town of New- ton, Mass., were killed by Indians during King Philip's war. A son of these parents, named Samuel Parker, went, while quite young, to Connecti- cut, a.v\ w'th others founded the town of Coventry, lie was the first deacon officiating for the church in that town, and died greatly respected at a very advanced age. From him were de- scended John, Samuel, and Clement who was the father of bright sons and daughters. His third child was born in Bradford, Vc. April 10, 1813, ami was named David Taylor Parker. A short time after the birth of this son, his father removed to Cabot, in the same state, where he lived until, the, winter of 1816, when he removed to the West Parish, Chester, N. H., lor the Presbyterian church of which town he was ordained, and with which he

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