| Show GO WEST YOUNG MAN Lois Brown Manti Utah 84642 Non-Professional Division First Place Short Story George stepped from the chugging tlowing train and onto the platform of the station in Manti tiny town in central carried two suitcases one containing his clothes books and medical equipment As he looked around who had met the train he wondered just what these like and howsmall town in Utah compared to the where he had stopped Utah the other his at the people Mormons were other towns He George wasyoung doctor from Rock Island Illinois He had 1lived near the bustling city of Chicago all his life attended school there finished his training at the busy Cook County Hospital and decided that he did not want to spend the rest of his life ascity doctor So when his medical training was complete he had packed what he considered most essential bade farewell to his loving but bewildered family and boarded the train going-west Georgemother had always assumed that he would practice medicine somewhere near Chicago so when he announced that he was heading west with no particular destination in mind she was horrified He had graduated at the top of his class SO the opportunities open to hin were many but he was turning his back on all his family his friends and the many opportunities near his home ana was going-west just west When George arrived in Manti he had been traveling west for several months He simply boughtticket that would take him to some town by nightfall There he would leave the train findhotel meal visit the local drug store if there was one prepare to leave on the next train and go to bed Atlittle mining town in South Dakota where he had stopped for the night there had beensmallpox epidemic and no doctor When people with whom he visited found that he wasdoctor they begged him to stey and help them forday week month--just to please help them So he did He stayed until the epidemic was over then he leftgrateful little town that would long remember the handsome young doctor who had saved them from catastrophe This had been the pattern of days week or weeks helping where on His scrawled notes went home forweek and while there is need wherewish to live Love George -97 his trip west He spentfew help was needed then moved Dear Mother ve been here fordoctor here this is not |
