Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-06-20

AIst IL Woulu HOC i've IL sucked It's tnumD
SO much .as
Seems to me that I've heard nv mother
say that twas the sign of a healthy child to
suck its thumb, but won't be certain
Any way, it is good sign or bad one !;
[ forget which,
Run, Charles, for the doctor! It's 60
ing to dic-I know it is! Oh, don't stop
to dress-don't !. It may die while you are
waiting. Call for Granny Bates. aud tell
her to bring some catnip, and saffron, and
PEPPERMINT tell her to bring all the herbs
she's got and do hurry, Charles, dol
Mercy on us its sucking both thumbs then
Charles, run!'
Mr.. Philips caught up the first articles
of clothing he could lay his hands on,
which proved to be his wife's embroidered
petticoat, but he was in too much haste,
and altogether too much excited to notice
dress particularly He flung the garment
over his head, and tied it around his waist
slipped on his shoes and plunged into
the keen air. The Doctor was asleep, and
did not care about turning out, but being
told that it was case Of life and death, he
yielded at once.
Mr.. Phillips left him dressing, and sped
to the residence of Granny Bates. The
old lady was wise, but she was very sup
erstieious and believed in warnings and
apparitions. Phillips gave laundering
rap at her door, and directly a night cap
ped head appeared at the upper window.
what do you want at this time of the
night and who be YEP said a cracked
voice,
Phillips stepped out and stood plainly
revealed by the light of dim moon. +.
Good gracious, massy! cried the old
woman, its gotta scolloped petticoat on
Land [ didn't think they'd spend their
time on such vanities as that arep
Its adyingp exclaimed Philips come
down quick
Not :! amt so green as to trust my
old body to a supernatural ghostv and
down went the window with bang
Phillips pounded at the door until he was
tired, and then made tracks for his home.
DR.. Gray had just arrived, Mrs. Phil
lips was preparing to go into Mysteries as
soon as she heard his opinion.
Baby was much worse it not only suck
ed its thumbs but wiggled its toes. It
could not continue long The doctor, with
a grave face, entered the sick room, Biddy
rubbed her mistress with camphor. Mr..
Phillips stood by, wiping his eyes with the
drapery of his scant attire
ooh, doctor !! doctor will it die On
ly save it, doctor, and you may take all
have! cried Mrs. Phillips, wringing her
hands. ''Pli get down on my knees to
you and thank you forever
Keep your sitting, marin, keep your
sitting said the doctor, taking large
pinch of snuff.
Don't keep me in suspense Only look
at its precious little arm What is it
For the love of heaven tell me-let me
know the worst
Well, marin, if I speak out, you prom
Use not to blame me ? asked the doctor
gravely.
No, no y
Marin, said he, with his long face still
more fearfully elongated, it is my opinion
as man and physician, that the child has
been bitten by four bed bugs, or else he
has been bitten in four places by one insect
Of that description
DIR. Gray cried the father, do you
mean to insult US ?
BY no means, sir [ repeat, sir, that
I think
No, you don'tp yelled Mrs P. Its
enough to insinuate that [ have bed bugs
to say nothing of the libel on that little an
gel cherub. Get out of this house this in
slant, you mean, cheating, insulting old
vagabond = and selling the butter ladle
from the table, where Biddy had laid it
f t OF hot pepper tea, she flung it at him.
The doctor knew enough about women to
realize that in fight lay safety, with ahasty
bow he backed off the step and started for
his gig. The ground was inclined, and
quite icy. His heels few up, his head
went down, and his whole body spun down
the hill like steel shod cutter. Mrs. P,
nothing daunted, rushed after him, and
shared the same fate. The two brought
up together at the foot of the hill, in wa
tering trough, but no words of sympathy
were exchanged. The doctor got up as
quick as he could, and galloped home, and
Mrs. Phillips followed his example.
The baby lived and throve. AS it grew
older, its dictatorship became more and
more absolute Phillips was down on all
tours the greater part of his time, that the
baby might ride on his back and Mrs.
Phillips went without crinoline, and left
her arms bare in the coolest weather be-
cause the steel springs and her dress sleeves
hurt the baby.
Baby made complete wreck of all the
crockery in the pounded it with a
hammer he kicked his heels through the
looking glasses, and tore the inwards out
of pas gold watch, unmolested. It pleased
the deary, weary, seary, baby, his mother
said-the little nifty sugar plummy baby
One day, when the wonderful baby was
year old. the village inhabitants were
startled by the disheveled appayition of
Mrs. Phillips-hare headed, and wearing
wild expression Of countenance-hurry-
r. II -