Rising in the World CHAPTER 16.
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Much sooner than even his warmest friends anticipated, did Doctor Hudson rise to the professorship of anatomy and surgery; his predecessor having vacated the chair in consequence of some misunderstanding among the faculty, in which an implied censure was permitted to rest upon him.
Shortly after rising into this position, which greatly increased his income, Doctor Hudson, who had since his marriage continued to reside in his father's family, took a handsome house in Walnut Street, and commenced housekeeping in a style appropriate to his condition and standing in the profession. At the same time, he proposed to his father to give up his business, and live at ease for the rest of his life. But to this, old Mr. Hudson positively objected. "Let me remain independent, my son," he replied, "while I have in me the ability to be independent; and let me serve my appropriate use in the community, as you are serving yours, while I am able to do so. I shall have a clearer conscience and be happier. When my ability fails, then it will be time enough for me to give up, and I will do it cheerfully."
The doctor tried to argue the matter with his father, but it was of no use. Mr. Hudson was not to be moved. He knew that he would be happier going on in the old way. It was too late in life to enter into a new occupation, or to learn the art of doing nothing — a wearisome employment at best.
Much as Doctor Hudson wished to see his father give up all business, and live for the remainder of his life at ease — his judgment could not but approve the decision he made.
The elevation of our young doctor to the chair of anatomy and surgery, was received by the profession and the public with marked approbation. The newspapers and medical journals spoke of the appointment as honorable both to the school and the individual who had been elected to fill the professorship.
In the city, Doctor Hudson was at this time well known to the public by his eminent skill as a surgeon, and to the profession abroad by reports of successful and difficult operations which he had performed, but much more through the many able communications from his pen, which had appeared from time to time in the medical journals.
Some time before the occurrence just referred to, Ella had become the wife of Dr. Baldwin, and already the fact of her having been only a music teacher was nearly forgotten, or, if remembered, was thought of as honorable to her independent spirit, rather than as an exception to her standing in society.
It was rather a severe trial to the pride of Mrs. Baldwin to come into such near relationship with a poor old watchmaker and his wife, as the marriage of her son with Ella necessarily brought her, and at her first meeting with them, it required the exercise of a good deal of self-denial to treat them with anything more than cold politeness. It did not take her long, however, to understand that she was not in the company of an ignorant, vulgar-minded woman, when she sat by the side of Mrs. Hudson; but with one of her gender whose mind, if not fashionably educated, had delicate perceptions of right and wrong, great penetration, and sound sense. It would not do, she felt, to assume any air of importance with her, from having moved in a different sphere, for this would not elevate but rather lower her in the estimation of Mrs. Hudson, for whom, in spite of herself, she felt a rising sentiment of respect. The father of Ella was a man of a character much more strongly marked than she had expected to find, and she noticed that men of education and known attainments, when they engaged in conversation with him, paid great deference to his remarks, and treated him with as much respect as they did any one.
"If he would only give up that old shop of his," Mrs. Baldwin said to her son, shortly after his marriage, "he could come into genteel society, and no one would ever suspect that he had been a mechanic. I wonder Doctor Hudson doesn't go to housekeeping in a handsome way, and take the old folks to live with him."
"It is his intention to do so as soon as he thinks his income sufficient for the purpose," replied Baldwin.
"Isn't it sufficient now?" asked the mother.
"He thinks not; and I suppose he ought to be the best judge in the case. But if I am not mistaken in the character of his father, he will find the old gentleman altogether opposed to such an arrangement. I have heard him say, that he considered every man in duty bound to pursue some useful employment so long as he had a sound mind and a robust body; both of which he possesses. Mr. Hudson is too independent in his habits of thinking and feeling, to consent to give up his business, while he can work at it; at least such is my opinion."
Mrs. Baldwin could not understand this; and when the fact proved the truth of the son's prediction, she was outraged at the old gentleman's "perverseness" as she called it.
But as time went on, and Mrs. Baldwin saw that her family had suffered no real disgrace, as far as she could distinguish, by the marriage of her son into that of the watchmaker — she became more reconciled and indifferent. Mrs. Hudson did not, as she at first feared would be the case, thrust herself at all unsuitable times, and on all unsuitable occasions, into her company. The fact was very different. Mrs. Hudson gave her no trouble in this respect; for she was by no means strongly prepossessed in her favor, and did not enjoy her society well enough to seek it very often.
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