Maryland free press., 1866-11-22
Press Gangs and Poison. !
STORY OF DEATH AND THE DOCTOR.

This isn't altogether story of press-g gangs, as
you'll find out before I've done, and it made 8
good deal of talk here at the time as I.remcmber
though was only lad; but you see the crow
ner's quest set all things right and aftef that it
was no use asking questions. 1t must now be
nigh on to fifty years ago-ffty years. he repeat
ed, half closing his eyes and pausing as his mind
travelled over the space that had brought many
and great changes even to that quiet little vil-
lsge-that an old seafaring maa they called Cap
tain Meridith lived-at least, that is to say, LODI
ged-in the house of a widow named Penryhn.
You might see the spot from the brow of the hill
for the house itself had been pulled down since
then. Well, he might have been g captain or
not don't pretend to say, it is certain he had
q bit of money put by and lived comfortably
enough. Some said he had been in the SNUG
Cling trade, and made money that way. How
ever, it don't much matter; he was well respect
cd, and though he had daughter, as was called
Ellen. and the prettest lass in Cowsand and for
miles around. Well, now, this old widow had
son named Paul, and a strange article he was.
I remember him; a little bandy.legged chap
with red hair and the people used to call him
"Doctor."
''Was he a surgeon, then2"
I'm going to tell you. He had been 'prsnti-
ced to chemist in Davenport 1--WE used to call il
Dock in those days) and after his time was out
he had besa stopping with his mother to take
care of her, or perhaps he couldn't find situa-
ton readily for himself. The old widow had
put something by, suppose, and Paul had been
home about q year, when the captain there
there with his daughter. This Paul's room was
at the top of the house, where his light would be
seen burning at q time when all honest folks
were in bed and asleep. Sometimes he would be
out all night, and be met in the morning return
ing with his arms full of weeds and plants which
he used to take up stairs in the doctors shop"
as they called it.
HAh, botaaist, :" remarked ed"
, 'I don't know about that" replied my friend,
slightly puzzled: ''but tho people said he made
poison out of them. Any way, once when Paul
was passing by the blacksmith's, the dog
ran cut and bit him, and the Hext day Panl was
seen to give him a bit Of bread, and the dog was
dead within an hour. The neighbors blamed
him for IL, and I recollect, when youngster,
calling after him, ''There goes DR.. Nightshade'
and his stopping him and saying, "lf had to
doctor you, my lad, you would not shout quite
20 loud" Well, very shortly after, Ellen and
her father had been lodging at the widow s
house, it was clear to see that Paul wished to
court herr wherever she went, sure enough Paul
wasn't far behind, and things went on this way
for about six months, when one night, the wind
blowing grea. guns and the sea running high,
we saw signals Of distress from some vessel on
the point there. There was no life-boat in the
place and our small craft couldn't have lived a
minute in such weather. In the morning we
saw no signs of the vessel. and we supposed she
had gone down, and all on board lost: however,
wc heard in the day that one of the poor fellows
had escaped though cut aHd bruised, had con-
trived to crawl up the point there, where he was
found by Captain kerdith, who brought him
home to- his own lodging and nursed him. He
was fine young fellow, an orphan, as he said,
by name, William Randall, and had been work.
Ing his way to Liverpool in hopes Of obtaining
employment. The clergyman OF the placs-you
NAV see the church on the right as you go to-
wards Edgecombe Ferry-heard Of this, end be-
coming good deal interested in the young imam,
offered him place as gardener, or general ser-
want, or something or other. Bill ives handy
chap and soon made friends with tho people,
and they persuaded him to stop here, instead 6i
going to Liverpool as he had intended, Ert
didn't want much pressing, for any ono eould
sse there was girl in the case, and that girl was
Ellen Meridith, and it didn't want more than two
sxsa IN sszs that she liked him. The folks used
70 iser Psyl about his nsse being put out of joint
and Tom Trevelliau; the blacksmith, vho owed
him erudgs for the dog used to say, "Well,
doctor, how's your nose by this time p But
they aay the doctor only used to turn white and
ypb hjs hands; awas way be bad, and nc did