Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-10-08
CHANGES HIS DOCTOR.

- =
Mr.. Blifkins, In his domestic economy, for
many years has retained the allopsthic system
of medicine, and By his liberal encourage
'ment of spothecsries has established quite q
reputation With that class. As, in the event of
icknsss, each application required new bot
ties and new pili-boxes, 1t may be supposed
that during the twenty years of his experience
there was abont his house a formidable aggre-
gate Of halfused prescriptions, remainders Of
several moderate fortunes that had been
thrown to the dogs in the form of physic, about
the use and effect of which the memory OF
Blifkins ceased to be cognizant. Mrs. Biif-
kins, ho wever, insisted upon keeping them,
from an economical desire that nothing should
be wasted; for she Is great economist, and
there is not one in her neighborheod that ex-
cells her. ~ ~. - - ssrrt ,s-n3 i
Her house is curiosity shop of relics of past
economies that have survived all earthly asss,
and lie mouideripg in hundred hooks around
the house, and bottles and boxes are numerous
-enough,in closet handy 10 set up druggist
a Of not inordinate desires. She pretended, and
actually thought, probably, that she knew the
difference between a cough mixture and q wash
for weak eyes could discriminate betweeh
rhsamatic and dyspepsia pills, and knew can
tharides from Dover's powders readily. Blif
kins had long been doubtful about this, though
which doubts recently brought about an en-
tire revolution in bis household pharmaoy
But Mr. Bliflfins tells his own story best, and
We feave It's recital to him 70. ok
s,s'' Mf.r Blifkins says my wife, suddenly
starting mp Ia the bed and looking wildly into
the face of little Tommy, II believe this child
is going to have the Group or the scarlet fever,
or something. Mr.. Blifkins !" --7.F
I had got to the stage of sleep when one IL
conscious of sleeping and waking at the same
time; the senses sleeping in the somnolent
poppies, but notquite narcotized into forget
"Mr. Blifkins :" repeated my wife, giving
me this time an unmistakab pinch.
"What in the name Of tribulation Is the
matter" cried. in something like a pet, lis
the house on fre ?'' 'sf
N.Y." she replied; perhaps he's going to have
the croup-maybe he'll have ft-he's very
restless"
I started up and looked in the face of that
81, little innocent They always said he looked
Just like me, and certainly that midnight in
spection gave little encouragement TO self
vanity; for more disagreeable-l e-looking little
, cub thought / had never seen. He was evi-
IDENTIFY in trouble; for his features worked, his
: tiny fists were clenched hard, his eyes were
partly unclosed, and his skin seemed hot and
dry. Immediately took my wifs's alarm
whats to be done?'' .r, ~. ~ =
"Mr. Blifkins," said she, eve must give
him something"
Exactly, responded, "but what shall It
be, You, who are such an excellent nurse,
shall decide"
I arose, and, "accoutred as was" stood
ready to execute her command. signif cd
this to her by saying: .--. ~ q
a'Now, my dear, say the word" -LE-m
'"Let me see" said she, I" If ii is the Group,
the medicine in the bottle on the left hand side
Of the closet Is the one. 1t was bought for
m Mary two winters ago."
Immediately proceeded to the closet ada
cent to our room, the interior Of which was re-
Al hv The dim fDh of tha
long rows Of yials on the shelves, backed by
bottles Of hair dye and boxes of undefnabie
articles in the domestic dispensary / saw
what supposed was the needed bottle; but in
extricating it from its position, threw down
some half dozen of the intervening yials, that
rsttled and clattered upon the floor in man
ner that sounded fearfully-some of them
breaking, and the glass scattering around, to
tle dismsy Of my bare feet.
"DO break everything to pieces 20 said nv
seville, in n tone not very sweet, considering her
smiability of temper; but imputed it to her
anxiety. .! brought the bottle; and placed it
in her hands
"Good heavens, Mr.. Blifkins - said nay
y'wife; would you kill the child' This is vOla-
10 Z. The ID it is ~ cried I, with unwarrant-
xaks heat s
ssss1Ezoh, Mr.. Blif kins, suppose We had given
ssh N same Of this by mistake,-you never would
have fcrgiyeu yourself" -ss. : .r-
I thought the change of person In her re-
mark little inyidious and somewhat unkind
ssikSfew Of the fact that she had command of
the medicine chest a4
a took the bottle from the place you told
me-" said /, almost fercely. 80 ''rIsr3 I
You couldn't have done ss. Mr. Blifkins, ~
replied my wife; 81 saw 1t on the right hand
just inside the door, no longer ago than Tues
day week, when Mrs. McGonsgle cleaned the
paint" =
Right hand ~ repeated, after her, .you
said the left just now"
I heard her sigh out something about sscru.
city" and ''unfeelingness, /" as went to make
another plunge among the bottles.
y This must be it them" said I, seizing a
~ Reck, and bringing it out to my wife.
y "Gracious goodness :" exclaimed she, aare
you determined to kill the child? That's ar
MICA, for the rhsumstism. Mr.. Blifkins, are
yoa awake"
Without replying this time, made q dive
for the closet, taking down vial after vial, and
rsaAing the smesred inscriptions ss we'll az
could. What an ocean Of lotions and mixtures
ana vermifuges and preparations and washes :
AZ length got hold Of one that felt sure
must be it, because I could not by any inee-
nuity decipher the label. accordingly car
ned il to Mrs. Blif kins with the confident air
e one who had achieved an immense exploit.
it out to her with 50 There ~ expires.
I. me Of my satisfaction. a1
That ~ said my wife, CHATS not II; that's
ss1hD chalk mixture bought for Bub two sum
nss ago" = !.
81 broke down at this, and with voice tren.
l1Bs with cold, though my wife always wrong
fsllg said it was anger, asked her Why, In
Of some deity or other, she didn't
Re1yp and find IL herself? She Immediately
to the occasion, like . speaker at .
~ o6rth Of July dinner, and subiimely strode
towards the closet, returning q moment thefe.
? after with two bottles that had escaped nv
notice, which she held up before me with the
simple but comprehensive remark:
: a. Stupid "'T --''I s-7
felt that vas stupid, and was ready to
20 sdmit the fact, when I was struck BY the puz-
zx.led look that appeared upon my wifs's face. -
". v. Let me see >" said she. -~t sea- I
r. i made motion to turn mp the gas, 20 that
. she might see, but found that she required q
: clearer vision regarding some mental problem
that she was solvingi 80 I let her see a. she
% bsst might. ..-..a.4.a ~ -s..s
-, q I declare" said my wife, ~I don't know
Nhethsr this 10 the bed-bug poison or the croup