The Ottawa free trader., 1846-03-13

neatly taken in about four inches in
Tic waist, then quietly replaced
them, and tumblcd into bed to await
the result. Half an hour before
breakfast, (his accustomed time for
rising,) Ned slid out Of bed, cooled
his coppers by long pull at the
water Jug, and then commenced the
operation ofmaking his toilet. The
Doctor, who was lying with one eye
open and a wad of bed clothes stuff
ed in his monthly way of smother
ing a desire to laugh-watched
closely the dressing process going on
before Kim.
'Tis very strange" exclaimed
! Ned II wonder what has got in
these Id drawers? they were
large enough yesterday, and now |
can't make them meet, IT'S no use
in trying-Ill hitch them to my
pants. -.-.-.. .... ............
Ned then drew on his pantaloons,
and strained himself to the utomst
! to make them meet over his bread
basket, but it was no go-tor with
every effort he only increased the
size Of the bunch ,ci shirt that ''stuck
ont a feet between the buttons and
button holes of the waist-band. AZ
ter exhausting himself in vain at
tempts to close the opening in lis
neither garments, he approached the
Doctor, who appeared to be asleep,
and, after aronsing him, inquired if
he could tell what had occasioncd
the sudden disproportion between
his unmentionables and that part of
his person which now refused to be
enclosed in them. 'Ia
"Why, yes" said the Doctor, ris-
ing and scrutinizing Ned closely
'lt is just as plain as the nose OH
your face-you have been drinking
and swilling, at such rate lately,
that just what predicted has come
truc-you hare got The dr0pSy." .
"Great God! you don't tell me
~ calculated the poor Lieutenant,
as he clasped his hands together and
fell back IN an arm chair. "Oh
that | had listened to your advice,
my dear fellow .-Can'tyou do some
thing for me 20
"pll try!'' was the reply, ''but
you must go to bed, keep on low
diet, avoid all stimulating drinks,
and take such medicines as | may
prescribeH' -
"Thank you, Doctor, | will dc
any thing in the world to get rid o.
this horrible disease" 'f9id Ned
''and if you will only eAsIc me, III
promise to stop drinking altogether
Doctor, Go you think III have tc
be tapped %
"Itis impossible to say, Ned, but,
added the Doctor, ''as you are young
and have a good constitution, think
we may avoid that operation, provi-
ded you keep still and lie on YOU
back?n "A. af M
Ned followed the Doctors advice
strictly, took simpies, dieted, ant
kept on his back, whilst the Doctor
ana Ncd's brother officers, to whom
the Joke had been impaired, were
enjoying themselves at his expense
Every day he would receive half ;
dozen visits of coincidence from The
subs Of the garrison--each ofwhom
would express his surprise at the en-.
larSod state of Ned's corporosity.
At the end of a week, the Docto,
again distracted Ncd's breeches
. and drawers-had them restored tC
their fair proportion, replaced blythe
; bedside Of his unsuspecting patient
and then told him to rise and dres
: himself. SO indeed lie did, and Nee
I soon found to his infinite JOY tha
his clothes were almost as much to-
large for him now, as they were be
q fore too small-all symptoms of tn
dropsy having disappeared-thanI
, to the kind attention of the Doctor
! which were literally bestowed o
: him by Ned. The Doctor bound a.
the officers to secrcsy, and Ned
dropsy became the standing Joke {