Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-02-25
THE PILL TAkER

tendant to it, that had caused surh an ,,,,,,.
sual influx Of customers to the shon of An.
drew, Chemist and Druggist in the town Of
4 Fne, certain II Is that he and his how had
been more than usually EMPLOYED IN com.
/ pounding aperients and emetics, for the in
habitants OF the good city; never before had
such demand on his gallipot, and bottles
ocen madc---never before had blue pill and
yaiap been used IN such profusion, and never
! before had Andrew felt more sincere pleasure
than ne derived that evening, from the mar
ket-house clock striking eleven, his signal
Tor closing. With alacrity bis boy accepted
ms permission to depart, and left his master
70 ENJOY solitude for the first time during that
Gay; ana TO calculate the quantity of drugs
made use of duringit This was not small
l4a or blue pill, Alb. jalap, besides colycvnth.
SIENNA, and rhubarb, at the lowest co,nputa
ton, had he prepared for the good townfolk
OF Fife; ianumerable had been the cases Of
cholera morbus, and plumb pudding surfeits
ne had relieved that day, and the recollec-
ton oil the proportion OF evil he had been the
means OF alternating, gave him the most pleas
ing sensations. The profit also accruing from
his days labor, contributed no small share
OF pleasing thoughts, and one half hour more
has passed, ere it entered his mind the tine
for closing had more than arrived; he had,
however, just arisen for the purpose, when
IA stranger entered. Now, Andrew, though
an industrious man., would willingly have
dispensed with any other call for his services
for that evening, and not altogether SO oblig-
ingly as usual did he welcome his customer.
but awaited his commands without deigning
question.
The stranger was not, however, long in
opening his commission, neither did he APP
pear to take Andrew's inattention at all ainiss;
he seemed one of those happy beings upon
whom outward circumstances make little or
no impression, who could be either civil or
otherwise, as should happen to suit his humor,
and who cared little for any opinion but his
own. His broad and ample shoulders, over
which was cast large coachman's coat, with
its innumerable capes, and his hands thrust
into the pockets, and his round, ruddy, good
humored face, showed that the cares and
troubles OF the world had made but little inn
preston upon him. Andrew had seen many
wild Highlander in his time; but either there
was something peculiar in his customer, or
his nerves were = little deranged by his exer-
tons during the day: an indehnable sensation
of fear came over him, for which he could
not account, and his first impulse was to run
to the door for assistance But then he be-
thought himself he might, perchance, fall in
to the hands Of some of those night providers,
who, report says, make no scruple of sup
plying medical students with living subjects
If they cannot procure dead ones. And more,
did he leave his shop ills still would be left to
the tender mercies Of the stranger; he was.
therefore, compelled to summon courage, and
demand the strangers business. This was
not so difficult to him, perhaps, as we may
imagine, Andrew having formerly served IN
the militia; but it appeared that his fears had
alarmed him far more than there Was any oc-
casion, for, ON asking the strangers business,
he in the most polite manner only requested
him to prepare a box ofnoderately strong
! psrient pills. This at once relieved his fears,
! though it did not entirely remove them, and
| Andrew, quickly set about the necessary pre-
liminaries Blue pill and jalap once more
were in request, but so much had the stran-
| gers sudden appearance agitated him he
| could not recollect their places SO readily as
usual, and he was more than once on the
point Of mixing quite the reverse Of what he
intended. gz. :
The stranger observed to him he appeared
agitated, and politely begged he would wait
! a little and compose himself, as he was IN no
hurry.-Here all Andrews fears returned,
and in spite of all his efforts his hand shook
az though he had the palsy, and never had
the preparation of box Of pills appear so
irksome to him. 1t seemed as though the
very medicine itself had this evening conspi
4 red to torment; three times longer than it
:, usually took him had he now been, and tho
the town cock had already told the hour OF
! midnight, still Andrew was at his post. grind
ing and pounding; and often, as he delayed
for a moment through mere inability to
proceed, the stranger politely besonght
him to rest few minutes and compose him
self, and Andrew. for very shame, was com
PEELED to resume his occupation. AT length
bis labors drew to an end, and he prepared
the label, pasted it on, neatly covered the
box with blue paper, and presented il to the
stranger
al will thank you for a glass of wafer
said he, as he bowed to Andrew, on receiving
the box, "and ! see, Sir, you have giver
me a smartish does. .All these pills to b.
taken at bed time;' but so much the better
they will perform their required duty sooner
have ere now, mastered a leg OF mutton
and some writers affirm the human stomach
can digest ten penny nai, SO here goes"
II was in vain Andrew assured him he hat
made mistake in the directions, and tina
one pin was sufficient; in vain he remonstrs
, ted with him on the danger of taking large
dose; pill aitor pin disappeared from his alai
!, med view, while between every three or fou
in the same equable and polite tone came, .
!. viii thank you to prepare me another boz
Z and compose yourself. Sir. I'm ia no hurry
:. | Who cotIid the stranger hep Andrew w: