--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Rich, Stella collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 29 number: 11 published: 1926-09 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Rich, Stella, “Doctor Graham,” *Improvement Era* 29, no. 11 (September 1926): 1043–1044." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera29011unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera29011unse start_page: 1043 end_page: 1044 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1926-09) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera29011unse publication_year: 1926 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1926, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Doctor Graham DOCTOR GRAHAM By Stella Rich "He is a small man, and like his office, a bit shabby, but his heart is immaculate. "Of course, I don't say that he doesn't have his fa.ults — an office girl sees both sides — but lack of sympathy isn't one of them. "Why only yesterday that poor little widow of John Riley's came into the office, 'I can't pay you very much now, Dr. Graham,' she said, 'but I've got the job cleaning the offices in the McGregor's building that you told me about, and, God giving me strength J' 11 pay you some day,' and she handed him a worn two-dollar bill. When he gave her the receipt, I saw what was written across it. 'Paid in full' was what it said, and I happen to know that bill amounted to three hundred dollars. "Then that day Old Man Johnson brought his girl Annie — I can see Dr. Graham now, a trifle tired-looking, but smiling that same smile he gives them all. 'You go along home, Johnson,' he said kindly, after his quizzical gray eyes had sized Annie up, 'I've a call to make out your way in about an hour, and I'll bring Annie with me then.' " 'There's nothin' the matter with me — ' began the girl as soon as her father had gone. 'I'm just tired — ' " 'I thought your father brought you here for me to diagnose the case,' smiled the little gray man, brisk fingers on her pulse; then sensing the nearness of her tears he continued, 'You know, Annie, we doctors are sort of Father Confessors as well as medicine men. Now there isn't by any chance something you want to tell?' and I saw his strong soft hand close reassuringly over hers. " 'Or, perhaps,' he continued after a second, 'you would rather not tell me. Would it be easier if I told you that I already know?'. "She gave a frightened little sob and then blurted out the whole miserable story to him — just like he was the mother she'd never had — and he acting like it, too,- — talking low and soft-like and stroking her hair, though I couldn't catch all he said. "I could hear her begging him to help her die, but finally I heard him say in that quiet voice of his, 'Come, Annie, I'll go with you to tell your father.' She screamed then, but he just said kind of quiet-like, 'Annie, you know I believe in you. You're going to do the right thing. You can't fail me!' She got right up and followed him out to his car. "It was hours afterward when he came to his office. He hadn't had a bite of dinner, I know, for he had gone right to the hospital from Johnson's, but he greeted his waiting room full of patients with his same old cheery smile. 'Nothing serious, I hope, with any 1044 IMPROVEMENT ERA of you,' and he proceeded to hear their woes. After the last one had gone I made bold to say, 'Doctor, when are you going to think a little bit about yourself?' ' 'When, my practice dwindles to the point that I haven't any- thing of more importance," he smiled. " 'But you're all fagged out and' — I couldn't help it — 'you need a new suit.' * 'Why, Jane,' he said kindly, 'you are all tired out yourself. Take the rest of the afternoon off." Paris, Idaho. True Greatness The man who shows strength The man who's worth while And true character, too, Is the one who will work, Is the one who says, "No," For there's nothing accomplished. When he knows he should do. If forever we shirk. The man who shows wisdom, The man who shows pluck Who stands firm 'mid the strife, Is the one who can sing, Is the one who keeps clean, No matter the troubles Body, soul, mind, through life. That each day may bring. The man who shows courage For to guard his own future, Is the one who can say: Make the world better, too, "True virtue's my motto, Are man's greatest duties, Forever and aye." Be they many or few. Mesa, Arizona. IDA R. ALLDREDGE. Conviction Fain would I know the power That ushers forth the dawn; I tremble mid the color of The silent dying day. The darkness of the night witholds From me a mystery; . And yet some force commanding calls Her inky hosts away. I fear the hand that raised on high Yon massive towering peaks. I crave protection as I hear The heaving, sighing sea. And as I count the myriad stars That glitter in the night, I breathe a prayer to One above Who framed and fashioned me. Salt Lake City OWEN WOODRUFF BUNKER.