Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1842-12-02
From The RaichcrJockcr.
Extracts from "Thc Autobiography of n
Country Doctor.

Immediately called up stairs to see Burks.-
The room was full Of people, and he was
quite crazy.
An idea had taken possession Of his mind,
that conspiracy had been formed in the
family TO take his life, and get him out of the
way. | found them all holly arguing the
point with him, and attempting to convince
him that they cherished no evil designs; but
they only excited his suspicious the more
His sister Polly was very much distressed,
and took me aside.
'Only to think, DOCTOR said she, with
| tears in her eyes, brother will have it that
we want to kill him. when it isn't no such-a
! thing. don't see what put SIGH strange no.
tons into his head Do try and convince
him, doctor, that we don't want TO do him no
harm
Oh said |, never mind what your broth
or says. Don't YOU see that he isn't exactly
IN his right mind, and that of course his
words 60 for nothing! Only leave him TO
me, aud | will try to administer something
that will soothe his apprehensions and in
the mean time, perhaps YOU had better not
dispute with him
| oh! but, said she, ] must, doctor he
] say i W ant " klll Hlll, anu Tie DCllcNcS IL
when you see | never even dreamed of SIGH
a thing!
Yes added an old woman, who drew
near at the moment, we've did all we could
TO get that notion out of his head, doctor,
but 1t seems somehow as if we couldn't kind
o succeed
It's very hard, rejoncd his sister Polly,
TO be a-don' all that | can for him, and
then to be treated this way
Yes, and it's VERY ungra,eful in him.
SAID Messrs Lackadaisy, who thrust her cap
into the group; do say, lis VERY un-
grateful in him; and as TO our wantin' to kill
Burks, you know, doctor, that there's not
word of truth in it,
/ 'Oh, no, of course not, Madam; do not
pay the least attention to what he says; his
head is not right May trouble you for
pinch of snuff, Mrs Lackadaisyr
I've been thinking said the latter lady,
that little pennyr'yal tea would be good
for Burks. I've hearn of its dom wonders
But, dear me whats the use of don' any
thing for him, when he's so ungrateful 2
No, Mrs Lnckadaisy,' replied his sister,
1 You sha'n't say that lie never was migrate
full
'Ah, Polly Pollyr exclaimed the sick
man, suddenly, | see you you're a-plottin
ag'n me-
There, didn't tell you he was migrate
full ? said the widow Lackadaisy. Didn't
| tell you so 2 but YOU wouldn't believe me ;
= and now there's proof positive
say, you're a-plouiu' ag'in me, Polly,
and so are all of YOU there You'll never
be contented until you kill poor Burks.-
That's what you're after, and nothing short
of it,
Why, brother, how can you say so >
Wha; makes you think so! I'm dom all
that can for you
Yes, and so are we all a-doin' all that we
can for you; and you goin' on at this rate.
You ought to be ashamed of yourself Burks.
Hold your tongue, you she murderer -
Try and p'ison me ag will you! You was
always tryin' to harm me /; but, Polly said
the sick man, and here his voice somewhat
soltcued down, and he spoke with pathos,
Polly, | did expect better things Of you; ii
is very cruel in you to persecute me; it's
very cruel in You to want to take my life
Polly was touched by the voice aud man
ncr of Burks, and burst into tears.
Brother, said she, how often must tell
you that don't want to kill YOU. Why will
you harbor such dreadful idea? ! would
Mt hurt hair of your head; would sooner
die than do it,
'OhH replied he, you needn't talk. !
know you well enough Get away There
that old critter yonder: she is in the plo,
= with YOU You'll compass your end, betwixt
: and between you, before long, and then when
Pm gone, you'll laaf'
Brother, who has been putting such q
ralsehood into your head? You never would
have thought Of it yourself. Some enemy
has done this, I'm lraid the Father of Lies
himself has been doing it.
Hal hal IN $50 you thought would
Mt find il out, did you? You thought was
fool, did You? You thought | couldn't
: find ont when folks wanted to murder me {!
Dear me dear me intcrposed Mr.:
Lackadaisy, what will the man think next
make bold to tell you, Burks, that you've
got lie into yonr head, and as Polly says
the Father of Lies
Be STILL Mrs Lackadasy, don't charge
poor Burks with lying, when he's sick ano
peevish, and it all comes o that
Why, didn't you yourself, PollyP
'IIoity-toityr exclaimed Mrs Kushow, en-,
tering the room at this moment, her eyes on
FIRE; what are you iawing aboutF
I ] now feared that there ,oouN be murder
and trembed at my knees and heart, when
remembered the torn muslin, and saw those
fiery looks again flashing vengeance aud de-
lance.
what are you jaring aboutp said MIR:
Kushow, coarsely. Do you want to make
: bad worseP
: No, that we don't;' replied Mrs Lacko