rid of a most troublesome, standing _patient_. Had I a moral right
thus to do? Did the end either sanction or sanctify the means? Grant
that I saved, or seemed to save, the patient;--was she really saved?
Was there any absolute gain in the end? These are questions which I
cannot, as yet, fully settle. Most certainly she was not quite cured.

What a mighty work for this fallen world education has yet to achieve;
especially Physical Education! This, reader, let me say once for all,
this physical education, under the guidance of Christianity, whose
handmaid all true science should be, and to whose development and
application all true religion should be directed, is our chief
dependence. It is the lever by which we are to raise the world.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

HEZEKIAH AND DELIRIUM TREMENS.

One morning, about two o'clock, in the depth of winter, I was roused
from my slumbers by a stranger's voice, requesting me to get up and go
immediately along the sides of the mountain and see Hezekiah. "And who
is Hezekiah?" I said, only half awake; "and where is the side of the
mountain? And who are you with whom I am conversing?"

The mystery was easily cleared up, and I mounted my horse and was soon
on the road through the sides of the mountain. It was wild and
unfrequented; nay, it was, in places, almost impassable, especially in
the night. Mr. Judkins, the father of the sick man, not only resided
quite beyond my usual range of practice, but almost out of the range of
everybody else, squirrels and rabbits and wild fowls excepted.

In passing along, I made many inquiries with regard to the particular
condition of the young man, in order to prepare myself for a more rapid
investigation of his case whenever I should arrive. But I sought in
vain. The messenger's lips were almost wholly sealed. The cause, at that
time, I did not at all understand; but I had, subsequently, great reason
to believe he was silent and reserved by the special command of the
patient's friends. All I could obtain from my guide, was that Hezekiah
had an ill turn; that he was occasionally subject to ill turns, and that
the family were greatly alarmed about him.

On my arrival, I found a group of friends large enough, almost, for a
train band, gathered so closely round the bed of the young man that he
could hardly breathe. There was, also, a monstrous fire in the chimney,
sufficient to heat well the whole house, had the heat been properly
distributed. Th