Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1846-04-30

approached the Doctor who appeared To be
asleep, and, after arousing him, inquired if he
could tell what had occasioned The sudden dis
proportion between his unmenIiohabes and that
part of his person which now refused TO be en-
closed in them.
"Why, yes" said The Doctor, rising and
scru,inzing Ned closely---It is just as plain as
The nose on your face.you have been drinking
and swillng, at such rate lately that just
what predicted has come 'ruc--y you haue got
the dropsy ''
"Great God you don, tell me sol" ejacu-
lated the poor Lieutenant, as he casped his
hands together and fell back in an arm chair
(" Oh ! that had listened to your advice, my
dear fellow !-Cant you do something for met"
"I'II try" was the reply, ''but you must 60
10 bed keep on low diet, avoid all stimulating
drinks, and take such remedies as | may pre-
scribe ~
Thank you, Doctor, will do anything in the
world 10 ge, rid of this horrible disease" said
Ned, "and if you will only cure me, III pro-
mise to stop drinking al,ogelher-Doc,or do
you think I'll have TO be tapped :"
at is impossible to say. Ned, bur-" added
the doctor, "as you are young and have good
constitution, think we may avoid that opera.
tion, provided you keep still and lie on your
back z"
Ned followed the Doctors advice strictly,
l.: Il,
whilst the Doctor and Ned's brother officers,
10 whom The joke had been impaired, were en-
joying themselves a, his expense. Every day
he would receive half dozen visits of condo
! lence from the subs Of the garrison-e each .ol
whom would express his surprise al the en-
larged state of Ned's corporosi,y
At the end of a week, The Doctor again alb
stracted Ned's breeches and dfawers-had
them restored 10 their fair proportion, replaced
by the bedside of his unsusrecling patient and
then told him to rise and dress himself. Sc
indeed he did, and Ned soon found to his infn
tie Joy that his clothes were almost mucf
too large for him now, as they were before tot
small-al symptoms of the dropsy having dis
appeared d-ifanks to The kind attention Of The
Doctor. which were literally bestowed on hin
by Ned The Doctor bound all The officers Il
secresy, and Ned's dropsy became the stand
ing joke Of the garrison.
; Time passed on, and by acciden, or design
!, Ned made the acquaintance of the fair Il woul'
r., h
3 as Seams,resshe very person who had Ell
; gagged TO sew up the Lieu'enant's lnexpressible
4 las matter of course he had not advance
I very far into her affections, before she threw
out some hints lha, awakened Ned's suspicious
and with ll,ile management. he soon pos
e sessed himself Of all the particulars of the lrc
e Iha, had been played upon him. No longe
, having the fear of death from dropsy before hi
# eyes, Ned reapsed into his old habits 'just a
n easy as falling off log" and the doctors night
lily precautions again commenced. The ten
perance lectures were renewed, and the LAT
: hair breadth escape was held up before hlt
u Sin terrOrem;" but to no purpose. Ned's cor
n slant reply 10 all The admonions of The Doc'o
y was "a short life and merry one!" at time:
il however, Ned would appear melancholy an
$ detected, and would say to the Doctor, that h
If was Tired of his existence, and that he mu:
!. not be surprised if he pu, an end 10 himself.
d About l o'clock one night, after the Doc,c
& had retired to rest, and was snoozing il ava
IS very comfortably protected from the assaults
he mosquitoes by well tucked pavilion, h
e was suddenly aroused from his slumbers by III
entrance Of Ned who was very much disguise
i by liquor.
Doctor" said he, (feeling backwards az
| forwards, and introducing hiccup Row al
e then between his words) Doctor get up!
want to talk 10 you bout sorlelhing that CO
ID Germs life and dea,h---I wan, your advice, n
sr dear fellow, am abo'u, 10 commit deed--
h fearful deed--.a houid deed! Ge, up, wol
le you!"
IN Clear out and go 10 bed. and stop yo
Il ~