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

This isn't altogether story of press gangs, as
you'll find out before I've done, and it made 3
good deal of talk here at the time as I,remcmber
though was only a lad; but you see the crow
ners quest set all things right and after 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 viii
l.ge-that an old seafaring maa they called Cap
tain Meridith lived-at least, that is to say, LODI
ged-in the house of 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 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 snug
Cling trade, and made money that way. How
ever, it don't much matter; he was well respect
ed, and though he had u daughter, as was called
Ellen, and the prettiest lass in Cowsand and for
miles.around. Well, now, this old widow had
son named Paul, and strange article he was.
rsmsmber him; little bandy.legged chat
with red hair, and the people used to call him
doctor" -..
"Was he q surgeon, then?'
I'm going to tell you. He had been 'prsnti-
csd to chemist in Davenport 1--WE used to call il
Dock in those days) and after his time was out
he had been 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 year, when the captain there
there with his daughter. This Paurs 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 "doctor's shop"
as they called it.
HAh, botanst, remarked"
~ don't know about that" replied my friend,
slightly puzzled: ''but the 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 neIt day Panl was
seen to give him bit of bread, and the dog was
dead within an hour. The neighbors tlamed
him for it, and I recollect, when youngster,
calling after him, ''There goes DR.. NightshadeP'
and his stopping him and saying, ''lf had to
doctor you, my lad, you would not shout quite
90 loud" Well, very shortly after, Ellen and
her father had been lodging at the widows
house, it was clear to see that Paul wished to
court her; wherever she went, sure enough Paul
wasn't far behind, and things went on this way
for about six msnths, 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,
we heard in the day that one of the poor fellows
had escaped, though cut aad bruised, had con-
trived to crawl up the point there, where he was
found by Captain herdith, who brought him
home to- his own lodging and nursed him. He
was fine young fellow, an orphan, as ne said,
BY pame William Randall, and had been work.
Ing his way to Liverpool in hopes of obtaining
employment. The Clergyman OF the placs--you
may 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 Yves handy
chap, and soon made friends with the people,
and they persuaded him to stop here, instead Of
going to Liverpool as he had intended, Ire
didn't want much pressing, for any, ono eonld
sse there was girl in the case, and that girl was
Ellen Meridith, and it didn want more than two
eyes to sse that she liked him. The folks used
70 jser P.yl about his nsse being put out of joint
and Tom Treyelliau; the blacksmith, Who owed
him grudge for the dog used to say, 'Well,
doctor how's your nose by this time 3'' But
they say the doctor only used to turn white and
yph biz hands; itwas way be had, and he did