A Story about Albert Ingalls and his journey to become a Doctor.
The Physician:
Chapter 1:
The farmers of the town of Walnut Grove are at a meeting at the Community Church to discuss Farm prices and the upcoming Grange meeting in Chicago this summer.
Charles Ingalls is explaining to them the value of a co-op and how that will result in a sufficient discount for farm equipment.
Charles is unanimously voted as Walnut Grove's representative to the Grange. He wants to take his wife Caroline with him but she is ill. Caroline suggests for Charles to take Albert so he can visit the University of Chicago Hospital since he wants to be a doctor.
Charles asks, "How about it Albert, would you like to come with me to Chicago and visit the University of Chicago Hospital? We might even take in a Cubs game at Wrigley Field they play the White Soxs the last night of the Grange." Albert replies, "Could Sylvia, my fiance come with us?''
"Certainly," Charles replies.
The next morning they ride in Charles' wagon. Charles, Albert and Sylvia to Sleepyeye to catch the train to Chicago.
The town of Walnut Grove is paying their room and board, so Charles, Albert and Sylvia was able to get a Hotel Suite. Sylvia stayed in the adjoining room seeing as how she and Albert were not yet married.
The Grange meeting went on and there were lies being told. The newspapers printed a story about the Grange meeting that didn't even happen that way at all. Big businesses were getting paid off and tried to undermine the small co-ops but the co-ops were determined they were going to stick together.
Finally on the last day of the Grange meeting the dishonesty, corruption and greed got so disgusting to Charles he stood up and gave them what for.
Charles, Albert and Sylvia left the Hotel after Charles returned from the Grange meeting and went to the ball game the game started at 4 p.m.
They arrived at the Ballpark and progressed in line to get a ticket for a seat in the stands when Albert says to his Pa, "Look Pa, someone brought his goat to the game tonight."
Charles replies, "Some people do peculiar things."
Sylvia asked, "Now who's playing?"
Albert answers, ''The Chicago Cubs versus the Chicago White Soxs, and I'm for the Cubs."
Sylvia replies, "Than I'm for the Cubs too."
Albert smiles at Sylvia and says jokingly, ''Now, I know why I love you!"
They approach the ticket box man and Charles says, "Three tickets please."
The ticket box man says $9 please."
Albert says, "That's a lot Pa."
Charles replies, "Tonight we are going to live a little."
Charles pays the man and they all three find their seats in the stands. They happen to be way at the top. Once seated a little while later a vendor comes by and says, "Hotdogs, Cracker Jacks and Cold Sarsaparilla."
"Excuse me?" Charles asks, What's Cracker Jacks?"
The vendor answers it's the latest snack, it's popcorn with caramel mixed with peanuts, a prize in every box."
Charles then says, "We'll take three of all three please." The vendor says, "$4 Mister."
Charles hands him the money, distributes the Hotdogs, Cracker Jacks and cold Sarsaparilla and thanks the vendor.
The pitch: Cubs pitching, White Soxs hitting the first hit by the White Soxs is a homerun. The Crowd goes wild. Albert saying, "Come on Cubs, Come on get you pitch together."
Cubs up to bat, foul ball, Strike one, Strike two the batter bunts the ball, makes it to first base.
The second batter, Strike one, Strike two, Strike three. The Empire cries, "You're OUTTA there!"
The third batter goes to first base on a hit the fourth batter proceeds to first on a hit the third batter makes it the second.
Charles shoves Albert a little and says, "Now this is becoming a ballgame."
The fifth batter up, He knocks it into the outfield. The third batter on third base the fourth batter on second base, the fifth batter on first before the ball gets back to the pitcher.
The sixth batter up to bat there's a hush over the whole baseball Grand Stands. He hits and it's a homerun out of the ballpark. The crowd goes wild it really looks like it's going to be the Cubs ball game after all.
The second inning the Cubs strike out, The third strikes out, the fourth inning the Cubs strike out. A timeout is called.
Charles discusses the game and says, "It's only about half over they could still win!"
An announcer is heard over the Grand Stands, "Would someone please get his pet goat off the baseball diamond?
The crowd boos and laughs at the thought of that stupid goat.
Meanwhile, in the called, 'time out,' each eats down in his Cracker Jack box to find the prize included. Charles finds a wrapped pencil in his and says, "What do you know? I was needing a new one."
Sylvia finds a yellow wrapped hair ribbon in her Cracker Jacks, her favorite color.
Now for Albert his prize is smaller he finds it, pulls it out and it's a silver ring. It seems perfect for Sylvia's hand so he puts it on her finger and fits beautifully. ''I guess it's meant to be."
Sylvia responds, ''Oh how, I just love you!" and kisses him on the cheek.
The ballgame continues the Cubs were defeated in the ninth Inning, 20 to 4.
Everyone gets up to leave the ballpark someone says, ''I wonder why the Cubs didn't win? They were doing so well."
Another answers, ''I like to get my hands on that dumb goat."
As they were leaving Albert's nose started to bleed badly. Charles gets out his handkerchief and applied it to Albert's nose with great concern.
Another spectator not far from them approaches and says, "I'm Dr. Richard Thompson, University of Chicago Hospital, Let's get your son there immediately.
The doctor cries out, "I'm a doctor we have a medical emergency, we have a medical emergency. Please make way, we have a medical emergency."
The doctor keeps making that announcement as they progress lower in the Grand Stands. About 3/4 down the doctor is still announcing the medical emergency. When a spectator takes notices to Albert's nosebleed and says to a friend, "I've always said they built sitting up too high. The air is to stagnant up there, it would give anybody a nosebleed I'm glad I pre brought my tickets in advance, you'll never catch me up there with the birds!"
The doctor puts Charles, Albert and Sylvia in his buckboard and as fast as he could he races to the University of Chicago Hospital.
A Dr. William Houser is the chief surgeon on duty. Charles and Sylvia wait in the waiting area. Over in the corner is a heavyset man with a heavy beard reading his Bible and praying.
Dr. Houser and his medical staff examine Albert and runs some tests. After about an hour of examination and tests, there is no more doubt in Dr. Houser's mind. He leans back and sighs. He comes back out to the waiting room and approaches Charles and Sylvia. Dr. Houser pauses, pierces his lips and then speaks, "Mr. Ingalls, It is never easy to tell the families of anyone what I have to tell you, your son is going to die. He has leukemia there is no known cure."
Upon hearing that Sylvia weeps, puts her hands on her face leans over to her knees and wails, "NOOOO!"
Charles replies, "No doctor, You are wrong! A couple years back he was addicted to morphine. This is just an after effect. Earlier we were at a ball game and was sitting high in the Grand stands the air was stagnant this is just a little something that's going to pass.
Dr. Houser says, "I'm sorry, Mr. Ingalls there's nothing I can do."
Upon that, Mr Ingalls takes the doctor by the lapels of his coat strikes him emotionally distraught and cries, "What do you mean there's nothing you can do? God in Heaven man you're a doctor your supposed to heal."
Dr. Houser responds, "I'm sorry there's no known cure."
Upon observing this scene, the heavyset man with the heavy beard and his Bible goes over to Charles and places his hand on Charles' back and says, Let me help you, I'm a minister."
Charles lets go of the doctor and begins to weep. The minister embraces him. Sylvia embraces Charles, her hopefully soon to be father-in-law.
The minister says, "If there is anything I can do let me know." He hands Charles a business card.
''Thank you Rev." Charles says, ''Thank you."
The Minister walks away. Charles looks at the card and it says Reverend Dwight L. Moody, Moody Church, Chicago Illinois.
Will Albert get better, Marry Sylvia and become a doctor?
To Be Continued...
Note: The Art is from ultraknight used by permission.
