Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-10-18
Doctors Mateh-MakIng.
BY JOHN G. WHITTIER.

"Good morning, Mrs. Barnet" cried
/ Doctor Singletary, as we drew near a
4 neat farm house, during one Of our
morning drives.
! A tall healthy young woman, in the
4 bloom of matrOnly beauty, was reed
/ ing chickens at the door. She uttered
an exclamation of delight, and hurried
/ toward US. Perceiving a stranger, in
/ the wagon, she paused, with a look Of
| embarrassment.
ssIy friend, who is spending a few
weeks with me,'' explained the doctor.
She greeted me ciyilly, and pressed
the doctors hand warmly.
sob, it is so long since you have call
ed on us that we have been talking Of
going up to see you, as soon as Robert
can get away from his cOrnheld. You
I don't know how little Lucy has grown
lately. You must stop and see her,
s'She is coming to see me herself re-
piled the Doctor, beckoning to a sweet
blue-eyed child in the doorway
The delighted mother caught up her
darling and held her before the Doc
tor.
"Doesen't she look like Robert p, she
[ inquired. s'Edis very eyes and forehead
bless me here he is now"
a stout, hale young farmer, in a
checkered frock and brown straw hat,
came up from the adjoining field.
ssWell, Robert, - said the Doctor, chow
do matters stand with you wen,
t sincerely hope"
FsAII right, Doctor. We've paid OF
= the last cent of the mortgage, and the
farm is all free and clear. Julia and ]
have labored hard, but we're none the
: worse for it. ,"
'"You look well and happy, I am
sure, - said the Doctor. ''I don't thinB
t you're sorry you took the advice OF an
old bachelor, after all"
The Young wife's head dropped unit
her lips touched those of her child.
''Sorry - exclaimed her husband
s'not we. If there's anybody happier
than we are within ten miles OF us, We
don't know them. III tell you what
I said to Julia the night brought hom'
II that mortgage. Well, said I, that deb
is paid but there is one debt we cal
> never pay as long as we live. 4 know
IT. says she, but Doctor Slngletar.
II wants no better reward for his klndnes
than to see us live happily together
and do for others what he has thus don
& for u.s. -
. 5sPshaw ~ said the Doctor, catchin
up his reins and whip. you owe m
nothing. But I must not forget my eI
s, rand.-POor old widow Whiting need
lie a watcher tonight, and she insists. o.
cd having Julia Barnet and nobody elst
"a What shall I tell her 20
y ''I'Il go instantly. I can leave Luc,
now as well as nOt.H
''GOOd bye, nelghbors."
- ''GOod bye, Doctor
AS we drove off, I saw the DoctC
draw his hand hastily across his eye
ar and he said nothing for some minutes
''Pubic opinion y said he at lengtl
as if pursuing his meditatlOnS alOut
fPublic opinion is, nine cases out
ten, pdblic folly and impertinence. "
= are slaves to one anOther-We dare n'
:" take counsel Of our conscience and a
he fectiOns, but must needs suffer pOpul'
as prejudice and custom to decide for u
III and at their bidding are sacrificing 10y
and friendship, all the best hopes Of OF
- lives. We do not ask what is right ar
y =, best for US, but what viii folks say
by it.. How few dare to seek their oW
happiness by the lights which God b.
given them, or have strength to defy Il
false pride and prejudice of the WOrl
and stand fast in the liberty Of Chri
tians- Can anything be more pitiab
ron than the sight of so many who shOu
," be choOsers and creators under God
their own spheres of utility and hapI
ness, self-degraded into mere slaves
ing propriety and custom-their true n
lures undeveloped, their hearts cram
md ed and shut up, each afraid Of his neig
sat Dor, and his neighbOr of him, living
de, life of reality, deceiving and being d
ceived, and forever walking IN va
y show Here now, we have just LETT
sf married couple who are happy becau
rye they have taken counsel of their hon'
r. affections, rather than the opinions
. the multitude, and have dared to
mas true to themselves in defiance of il
sDd pertinent gossip"
ANU "You alIude to young farmer Barr
and his wife, / suppose, said i.
RN ''Yes. I viii give you their cases
an illustration. Julia Atkins was
- daughter of Ensign Atkins, who liv
d so on the mill road, Just above DeRo
the Warmers. When she was ten years
1t Of her mother died and in q few mont
afterwards her father married Po
Virgins, the thiloress, q selfish, shire
o. managing woman. Julia, poor g.