Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-04-03


sail Mrs. Marvel, weeping bitterly.
Don't DO alarmed, my dear madam
replied tho doctor i assure you II Is
nothing serious
Oh, I'm sure Irs the scarlo. feyorl It's
all about now"
NO, madam, | am in earnest when !
tell you il Is nothing OF tho kind. His
throat Is not in tho least sorc.'
Yes, doctor, itIs soro p
How do you know p responded tho
doctor, examining Charloy's mouth aud
throat, which showed not the least symp-
ton Of any irritation Of the mucous mem.
brano. 1t can't bs sore from any serious
cause. Some triaing swelling of the
glands Is all that can occasion ID, II any ex-
is,.'
Tins assured, and In positive man.
ncr, M Marvcl's alarm in some degree
abated, and after ordering n warm bath,
the doctor retired.
About thrco o'clock the doctor was
again sent for in great haste. On enter
ing tho chamber of his little patient, ho
found his fever all gone, and he in pleas
ant sleep
what do you think of him, doctor?'
asked Mrs. Marvel, in q low, anxious
whisper.
4 think he's doing as we'll rs he can.'
But amt it strange, doctor, that he
should breathe so low? He looks so pale,
and lays so quiet Are you sure he's not
dying?'
Dying , exclaimed DR.. Elton,-'he's
no moro dying than you arc Really,
Mrs. Marvel, you torment yourself with
unnecessary fears Nature is only q lit
Ito exhausted from struggling with tho
fever, he will be like new person bv NOR
ning'
DO not mistake the case, doctor, for
we arc very much concerned said Mr..
Marvel.
Il do assure you, sir, that ! understand
tho case precisely; aud You must believe
me, when | tell you that no patient was
ever in better way than your little boy
Next morning. among other charges
made by Dr. Elton, were two against Mr..
Marvel, as follows: To four visits to son,
81 To one night-visi. to son, IS.
Not bad customer = said the doctor,
with smile. as hs ran up the whole ac-
count, and then closed the book.
In the constant habit Of sending for the
doctor on every trilling occasion. whether
it occurred at monday or midnight, II il
not to bo wondered at that pretty large
bill should find its way to Mr.. Marvel a.
the end Of the year. And this was not
tho worst Of il; health of his whole fami-
ly suffered in no slight degree from the
fact Of each individual being so frequent
$ under tho influence Of medicine. Pool
Charley was victimizod almost every
week; and, instead Of being fresh, hear.
iy boy. began to show pale. thin face,
and every indication Of n weakened vital
action. This appearance only increased
the evil, Cor both parents growing moro
anxious in consequences, were more urgent
TO hayo him placed under treatment. DR.,
Elton sometimes demonstrated with them,
but TO no purpose; and yielding to their
ignorance aud their anxiety, became a par
" in the destruction of the boys health.
'What Is that. my dear p asked Mrs.
Marvel OF her husband. some ten months
after their introduction to the reader, as tho
Latter regarded, with no pleasant counter.
ancc, a small piece of paper which he held
in ,is hand.
'Why, It's DR.. Elton's bill.'
Indeed |! How wuch Il II p
One hundred and fifty dollarsp
oh, husband =
'D'd you ever hear Of such thing? p
One hundred and fifty dollais, did ycu
say ?
Yes, ono hundred and fifty dollars
An'tis outrageous p
It's scandalous! It's downright swind'
ling I'll never pay it in tho world =
Who ever heard Of such q thing One
hundred and fifty dollars for ono year..
aitcndaee. Good gracious and Mrs
Marvel holl up her hands, and lifted he,
cyo5 ~ profound astonishmcnt.
Il can't understand it. said Marvel
'Why, nobody's had spell of sickness In
the whole family for tho whole year
Cnarley's been little sick once or twice
but nothing Of much consequence. There
must be something wrong about it. I'll
80 right OF and sec him, and have an un,
dcrslanding about it at once.'
TocArry out his resolutionon tho instant
Mr.. Marvel left the house and proceeded
with rapid steps toward the Office Of DR.
Elton. lie found that individual in.
Good morning Mr.. Marvel! How dt
you do to-day?' said tho doctor, who un
derstood from his countcnanco that some
thing was wrong, and had an instinctiv,
perception Of its nature.
Good morning, doctor, Igot your bill
to-day
Yes, sir; Iscntit OUT
But a'n't there something wrong abou
it, doctor?'
NO, I presume not. I mako my char
ses carefully. and draw off my bills in ex
&C. accordance with them
But there must be. doctor. How i
the world could you make bill of on
hundred and fifty dollars against me p
I've had no serious sickness in my family
And yet. Mr.. Marvel, have bee
called in almost every week, and som
times three or four times in as many days
impossible ,