
In a rugged Scottish glen, the story follows a modest country doctor whose quiet devotion to his patients becomes the heart of the community. Through warm, colloquial dialogue the narrative paints a portrait of a man who never complains, even when his own health fails him. The opening scenes recall a winter when a broken leg leaves the valley reliant on a rival physician, highlighting the doctor's steadfast presence.
The second part moves toward the doctor's final journey, showing how his unassuming kindness touches everyone from children to the village smith. Vivid anecdotes reveal his habit of soothing frightened youngsters with song and his gentle humor in the face of hardship. As the locals reminisce, the tale captures both the hardships of rural life and the enduring gratitude owed to a healer who lived his faith through daily service.
Language
en
Duration
~21 minutes (20K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Juliet Sutherland, David Widger and PG Distributed Proofreaders
Release date
2004-08-09
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1850–1907
Best known for warm, vividly drawn stories of Scottish village life, this late-Victorian writer reached a huge popular audience with tales set in the fictional Drumtochty. He was also a minister and public speaker, bringing moral seriousness and humor together in both fiction and nonfiction.
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