Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1856-01-17
from Graham's Magizine.l
SITTING IN ONES BONES.
BY GEO. w. GRIMsBY.

| 1nere isn't young man In all Richmond
who works as hard my George-no, not
ONE
So said George Grantham, one of the most re.
spected citizens of Richmond, Virginia, good
many years ago. The old man had once been
wealthy but series of misfortunes and a grad
ual decline in the value of his property had i'm
paired his circumstances; and instead of leaving
his only son competency as he had once ex-
pected to do, he now looked forward with con.
siderable anxiety to his prospects of success
in the profession he had chosen. Young George
was to be doctor. His father could not afford
to send him to Europe to study, nor indeed was
1t then thought necessary; but no expense was
spared to procure for the young man the latest
works and the best instruments and other par
aPhernalia of the craft. AS for George himself,
he was like all young men ofhis age. He was
anxious to work, and quite resolved in his vague
way to succeed in life, and make a name for
himself; but he did not thirst for medical knowl-
edge sufficiently to enjoy many hours consecu-
tive reading. IF the truth were told he prefer
red hard ride in the country with his friends,
! the Lindsays, or tramp through the woods in
search of game. Better still the rogue liked to
spend an hour or more of an evening by the side
OF pretty Lucy Prime, Who'll blush for the first
families as withdrawing been left destitute
by the death of an extravaganza father, had cour-
ageonsly hired a small room for herself, and
stuck on the door little sign, Miss Prime
Dressmaker,"
But of oil these likings of his boy George"
ola man Grantham, in the innocence of his heart
knew nothing. So far as he saw, George spent
the whole of his leisure hours in reading. So sedu
lous did he seem, that at times it flashed across
the kind old fathers heart that his "boy" might
be overlooking himself; and on these occasions
ne would himself insist on Georges spending
day or two in the country with the Lindsays,
who kept faithfully the secret of his frequent
visits to their place, There was, however one
person who was less easily deceived than the
old gentleman; and that was Georges aunt, Miss
Betsy Grantham AS common place as her
nephew, Aunt Betsy's sojourn on this planet
was divided between the duty of worrying Mr..
Grantham his son and the servants, and the
dispensing of charities to the poor with cross
words and vinegar aspect. If Mr.. Grantham
had set his heart upon seeing George great
doctor, Aunt Betsy had set hers upon develop
ing in him the noble christian virtues ofpatience
and endurance. Never for an hour did she
suffer him to rest at peace; he could not act,
speak or even look, but she found in thedeed,
speech or glance, material for a sermon. Only
when he was at work could he hope to escape
her, as his father had forbidden the household to
disturb his studies.
His room was in small building in the rear
OF his fathers house, communicating with it by
gallery. Opposite his window was that of the
aged spinsters bed room. In the exercise of her
authority as housekeeper, she had placed his ia
BILE III such position in his room that she could
see from her window whether he was at work or
not; and wo betide the luckless youth if Betsy's
sharp eye fell upon an untenanted chair, when
George was absent from the family circle
When this arrangement was first made, George
had reused himself to protest and even to make
show of rebellion against it; put latterly he
had submitted, and Miss Betsy was forced to
confess that at whatever hour of the evening
she stationed herself at the post of observation
and she fiattened her old bony nose against the
window at least half dozen times before she
went to bed, and got up. once or twice in the
night to repeat the operation-George's ample
dressing gown, and his smoking-cap were to be
seen in the right place.
1t was some time after this victory of Aunt
Betsey 's-one evening between and 10-that
Mr.. Grantham made the remark quoted above,
to his friend and neghbor, old Dr. Timms. 1t
is to be feared that the simple old gentleman
had sordid object in view in making it-for
Timms had the largest practice, in the place,
and was an upright and highly respectable citi-
zen. Moreover, as he had recently married a
young and rather giddy wife from New York,
and was besides comfortably rich, everybody
said he ought to take partner DR. Timms had
half admitted as much, as the two old fellows
prosed in Gran;ham's drawing room, adding:
eff were a bachelor still, Grantham should
not mind it. But You see Mrs Timms is
good deal younger than you or me-she likes
society, and l don't blame her for it, but / some
times think it's not right for her to be going
to parties with young fellows whom l hardly
know from Adam, while / am cut visiting my
patients"
Mrs, Timms is very fond of gayety," said
Grantham, gravely.
"Why, yes; very fond indeed. In our time
we should have said perhaps too fond. But
then, Grantham, We're old fellows; the worlds
gone ahead precious fast since we were young
nd T bnvap't tl,a hoo ~ 70 cnpals m bar
on the subject-poor child, yoked to and old
fogy like me-
And the old doctor cleared his voice once or
twice with energy.
81 sometimes think" said Grantham, hasten
ing to change the subject, "that George works
too hard. l daren't tell you the number ofhours
he reads day"
"Medcine,' replied the doctor, sententiously,
''is science which cannot be mastered even in
a lifetime of study"
"No doubt but you will admit that very few
young men of Georges age spend their evenings
in porting over scientific books -
Il know young men study less than they us
ed to do in my time.
"You must except George, Doctor. It's not
possible to work harder than he does. Now
Just come here" added the old father rising,
land YOU shall see him.
And despise q remonstrence from Timms, Mr..
Grantham dragged him into Aunt Betsys bed
room, even to the spinsters window. Sure
enough, there was George, wrapped as usual
in his dressing gown, his head buried in his
smoking-cap, and leaning on his hand His
lamp was burning brightly, and though his back
was turned to the observers, it was plain he
was immersed in the perusal of book
'He's been there some time already" said
his father triumphantly, "and he II not stir till
past midnight, I'll be bound"
'Has he seen much practice - inquired Dr.
Timms :.
Hes always visiting some sick person or
other replied Mr.. Grantham; but he could tell
you more about than than l. I'll send for:hlm."
PITY to disturb his studies
"Oh not at all. He'll be delighted to see
YOU Jane" he called to servant, ''just step
to Mr.. Georges room, and say It3 Ike to see
him.
The two old gentlemen returned to the draw
ing ROOM They had hardly sat down when the
servant returned with the answer that George
didn't say anything when she gave him the mes
sage-didnt even turn his head.
"You see, doeter," cried Grantham,. delighted,
"wrapt in his book-lost to everything else.
Go back again, Jane, and rouse him. Tell him
want to see him."
"He must be reading very hard, said Dr.
Tmms, kindly.
In few moments shrek was heard, and
the servant came running back, as pale as DEATH
and hardly able to speak from agitation.