lance

Night has fallen over the country, through the trees rises the red moon, and the stars are scarcely seen. In the vast shadow of night the coolness and the dews descend. I sit at the open window to enjoy them; and only heard the voice of the summer wind, like black hulks, the shadows of the great trees ride at anchor on the billowy sea of grass. I cannot see the red and blue flowers, but I know that they are there. Far away in the meadow gleams the silver Charles. The tramp of horses’ hoofs sounds from the wooden bridge. Ten all is still save the continuous wind of the summer night. Sometimes I know not if it be the wind or the sound of neighboring sea. The village clock strikes; and I feel that I am not alone.

How different it is in the city! It is late, and the crowd is gone. You step out upon the balcony, and lie in the very bosom of the cool, dewy night as if you folded her garments about you. Beneath lies the public walk with trees, like a fathomless, black gulf, into whose silent darkness the spirit plunges, and floats away with some beloved spirit clasped in its embrace. The lamps are still burning up and down the long street, people go by with grotesque shadow, now foreshortened, and seems to pass him revolving like the sail of windmill. The iron gates of the park shut with a jangling clang. There are footsteps and loud voices; tumult; a drunken brawl; an alarm of fire; then silence again. And now at length the city is asleep, and we can see the night. The belated moon looks over the roofs, and finds no one to welcome her. The moonlight is broken. It lies here and there in the squares, and the opening of the streets angular like blocks of white marble.

My teeth screamed. I couldn’t neglect them any longer. I finally ignored my fear of dentists and decided to get them fixed. But how? I was a college sophomore and barely supported myself with part-time jobs.
    Maybe I could fix the worst one. I flipped open the Yellow Pages and called the first dentist within walking distance. The receptionist told me to come right over. As I hurried across the campus, I forgot the pain in worrying about how I would pay the bill.

In a few minutes I was in a chair being examined by a dentist who said, “Hmmm!” as he surveyed the wreckage of my mouth. “Your teeth are in bad shape.”
    “I already know that”, I snapped, in a smart-aleck way to hide my fear.
    “But don’t worry, I’m going to fix them.”
    “No, you are not. I can’t afford to pay you.” I started climbing out of my chair.
    “What are you doing?”
    “I told you I have no money.”
    “You are a student at the university, aren’t you?”
    What difference did that make “Yes…”
    “Your going to graduate in a few years, aren’t you?”
    “I hope so.”
    “And then you expect to get a job, don’t you?”
    “That’s my plan.”
    “Well, then you’ll pay me. Meantime, you concentrate on your classes and leave the dentistry to me.”
    I stared at him. He really meant it. He calmly picked up his tools and fixed the aching cavity.
    From that day on I saw him every week until my teeth were in good shape. And he kept them that way with regular checkups. After graduation, I got a job and settled his bill in a few months.
    In the 40 years following, I’ve learned to call this man a “woodwork angel.” These are strangers who appear out of nowhere-out of the woodwork-when I need help. They’ve lent and given me money, materials or equipment; they’ve taught me skills and help me organize groups; sometimes they’ve rescued me from danger or making a big mistake. So, dentist dear, wherever you are, bless you and thank you again!