Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-10-29

4
that bachelor only can enjoy at home, |
arim any peace. / soon found out that
e Mass Ben Brown" was or had been a
physician The Doctor called Cato, which
summons was answered by a young son of
Africa, and told him to inform Dinah that
he was ready for supper. And soon nice
| little round table was placed In the middle
Iof the room and was heaped with sub
stantial repast. AT my hosts bidding I
sat down to supper, and we were soon very
basy In discussing the merits Of Dinah'
success 10 cookery. After the cloth was
cleared, pipes were produced by Cato and
soon we were both, the DIR. and myself, en-
joying the fragrant weed-Doctor Ben s.
heels went up to the mantle by instinct,
sol lone resist the tenpta-
tion.. That's right" said he, make
yourself at home, for no woman ever In
vades this sanctuary he blew out long
puff of smoke and glanced at the picture.
We sat for fifteen minutes in perfect 81
lence-at length, with one end of his pipe
stem, the Dr. pushed aside the, veil from
the mysterious picture, ami " look at that"
said he. | looked, and was perfectly en-
tranced at the vision Of loveliness that
beamed down upon me. will not at
tempt description of it7-I am incapable
Said my host, Il like the looks of your
countenance-you look as if you had suf-
fered too-woman is naturally perverse-
[ see very little company-and am glad Of
an opportunity to talk-don't interrupt
me-yon're young, [ am old, have a
right to talk-say, if you wish to hear my
story or do you wish to retire" Iintima-
ted that nothing would please me better
than to gather wisdom from older heads
than mine. He smiled, took another long
"pulf'' from his pipe and fixing his eyes
on the picture thus commenced
"That woman-thereby hangs the whole
burden Of my story-and [ would like to
see story that didn't have a woman mixed
with it, IN some way or another.
My name is Ben Brown-by trade, a
physician-Twenty years ago | studied
medicine under the care of old DR.. P ]
was light headed and foolish at the time
and thought medicine was an easy road tc
wealth and affluence-I loved the girls
and as consequence was fond Of dress
Before / attended my first course of lee
lures at Philadelphia, [ saw, formed the
acquaintance and was lee captive by the
beautiful Annie B., who was then tht
reigning belle of our country neighbor
hood. If you wish a description of her
behold that picture, tbs as faithful tran
script of her lovely features as if she hat
sat for Though it is fancy picture ant
was drawn in Paris. Anatomy no longe
had any charms for me. Physiology in
terested me not-and the details of Mate
ria aIediea posseSscd ne attractions -
Wherever frolic was held, there wouI
! be seea, if Annie B. was there. How
ever distant the meeting house which sh
attended, there would go, and be pre-:
ent when her fathers old family carriag
drove up to assist her to alight. I inva
riably occupied seat during preaching
which commanded a view of Annie
sweet face. And thus it continued
getting deeper and deeper in the mire {
Love, and Annie growing sweeter an
sweeter every day-till the time approach
ed for me to leave for Philadelphia. III
day before left, l went over to old NJ
BIS. [ will draw veil over the partin
scene between Annie and myself -sufic
it that [ behaved like mooncalf and mad
myself ridiculous, and Annie seemed tt
tally unconscious of anything like bereav'
ment, and acted as any charming woma
of the world would have acted under tt
circumstances. Hoped that | wouldn
forget her amidst the many beautiful i
dies I would meet at the North. Ga,
! me flower, and so we parted. Fro
there [ went over to my old Preceptor'
to tell him good bye and to pack my book
The old Doctor was sitting In his roo
; waiting for me. Says he: Ben, yc
are going from home first time-take car
J. don't think you know everything-that
: foolish-don't act as if you knew nothin
, that's being "green." Study hard-a
tend close to the lectures and don't fall
= love- Medicine, my dear boy, and Lo
must not, could not, and should not agre
:, Get Diploma-then location-then,
! you are rash enough to desire it, WIFE
: A "word to the wise" Goodbye. I've
J patient to see'' He was gone, Thoug
: I, what does he know about love ?-been
bachelor forty years.
n 'sLet US pass over two years, am hor
J. again with Diploma. My ancient Pl
:, ceptor retired from practice, and pull
b down his sign and stuck mine in its plac
n The first Sunday after | commenced t
s practice of Physic, saw me on my way
e the old meeting house with fine NJ
e buggy and high stepping horse, with
y medicine chest very conspicuously strapp
I; on behind the vehicle. All eyes on t
g ground were on me when | drove up, an
e to my satisfaction. The first person who &
l. dressed me was vagabond sort of you
.e man in the neighborhood, called Bill.
E. How are you Ben? Understand Y
,e know how to pull teeth-got two old grir
Sc ers here wish you'd try at-can bleed t
le can't you ? understand you are f
J. grown Doctor now-don't know how
believe it-used to 90 to school with Y,
f. don't you recollect when" eco to thu
lie der" says I, &c don't know you" J
n then the old family carriage, the same
n | used to watch for so intently, came
le ling up-in second was at the door
bit " How are you, Doctor, o, am so glac
ld see you-how you've grown-but VIII
ne did you import all that hair from"
IN hadn't shaved in eighteen months.) Th
le, words, which seemed to me sweeter Il
on the music from silvery bells, were addres
I to me by Annie B. And l could scare
n believe my eyes, when | looked at hel