The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1865-04-05
Srlett Mlisetllauv.
PRESS-GANGS AND POISON.
1t - ..
A Story Of Death and the Doctor.

This isn't altogether a story of press
gangs. as you'll lind bef0ce Eve done, and
il made good deal of talk here at the time
as remember, though | WIS only q lad /;
but you sec the crowners quest set all
things right, and after that it was no use
asking further questions. IL must be nigh
fifty years ago-iil'ty years = he repeated
half closing his eyes and pausing, US his
mind Travelled over the space which had
brought 50 many and great changes even
to that quiet little vilRge--'that All old sea-
laridg man they called Capt. Meredith lived
--;st least, that is to say lodged--in the
house of widow named Penrlyn. You
might see the spot from the brow OF the
hill, for the house itself has been pulled
down since then. Well, he might have
beena captain or,not, don't pretend to
say. it is certain he had bit of money put
by and lived comfortably enough. Some
said he had been in the smuggling trade
and made money that way. However, it
don't mnell matter: he was well respected,
and though lie had no wifc living, he had
daughter, as was called Ellen, aud the
prettiust lass in Cawsand and for miles
round. Well, now, this old widow had a
son named Paul, and strange article he
was! | remember him; o little. bandy-eg.
gcd chap. with red hair, and thepeoplc used
10 call him Doctor - qsse.s = Fr5.
Was he surgeon. th,nr interrupted.
'Fm going to tell you. lie had
teen 'prenticed to chemist IN De
yonport I'VE used to cal! it Dock in those
days1 and after his tims was out, he had
been stopping with his mother to take care
of her, or perhaps because he eonldn't find
a situation readily for himself. The old
widow had put something by suppose
and Panl had been at home abont o year
when the captain came TO lodge there Will
! his daughter. This Paills room WAS al
the top Of the house, where his light wonld
be seen burning at time OF night when
all honest folks were in bed and asleep
Sometimes he would be out all night. and
be met in the moruing returning with his
arms full of weeds and plants, which he us
cd to take up stairs into the :Ipctor's shop,
as they called II.
'Ah! a botauist, Remarked.
| Il don't know about that replied my
friend, slightly puzzled, but the people
said he made pisoA out of them. Anyway
once when Paul WAS passing hy ills black
smiths, the dag ran out and bit him. and
the next day Panl was seen to give him Q
piece of bread, and the dog was dead with
In am hour The neighhors blamed him fol
il, and irecolIoct. whena youngster, calling
after him, ''rllnro goes Dr. Nightshade
and his stopping and saying, III had Il
i doctor YOU, my lad. you wouldn't shout sc
loud. We'll, very shortly after Ellen andhel
father had been lodging at the widow,
house. il was clear to see that Pasl wisheC
Z to court her; wherever she went. snre
enough Paul wasn't FAR behind, and things
went on III this way for about six months
When one dark and wintry night. the whs
blowing great guns. and the sea running
high, wo saw signals OF distress from SOM
vessel off the point there. There was NJ
ilife,boat in the place, and onr small Graf
couldn't have lived a minnie In such wealth
err In the morning we saw no signs of ths
vessel, and We supposed she had gone
down, aud ell aboard lost; however. W,
heard Ia tho day. that one of the poor fol
lows had escaped, and, though cut aH
bruised, had coniiiyed 10 crawl mp tll'
point there, where he had been found b,
Capt. Meredith. who brought him home :.
his own lodging aud nursed him. lie was !
4 fiue young fellow, an orphan, as he said, b,
iname William Randall, and had been wor <
u ing his way 10 Liverpool in hopes OF Oh
taihing employment, The clergyman Of tlp
plaieo-yOu may see the church on Ia
risht as you 80 towards u lgecnmbs Fern