The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-11-13
The Doctors Match Making.
By JOHN G. WHITTIER.

cried Doctor Slngletary, as we drew
near q neat farm house, during 4 oil
our morning drives.
A tall, healthy young woman. in
the bloom of matronly beauty, was
feeding chickens at the door. She
uttered an exclamation of delight,an
hurried towards us. Perceiving a
stranger in the wagon, she paused,
with a look of embarrassment.
My friend, who is spending a few
weeks with me" explained the doc
tor.
She greeted me civilly, and pressed
the doctors hand warmly.
"Oh, it is soelong since you have
called on us that we have been talk
ing of going upto see you as soon as
robert can get away from his corn
ield. You don't know how little
Lucy has grown lately. You must
stop and see her."
She's coming to see me herself"
replied the doctor, beckoning to a
sweet, blue-eyed child in the door,
way.
The delighted mother caught up
her darling and held her up before
the doctor.
Doesn't she look like Robert?"
she inquired. His very yes and
forehead; bless me. here he IS now"
A stout, hale, young farmer, ina
checked frock and brown straw hat.
came up from the adjoining field.
"All right, doctor. We've paid off
the last cent of the mortgage. and the
farm is all free and clear. Julia and
| have worked hard, but we're none
the worse for it,"
You look well and happy, [ am
sure, answered the doctor. 4 don't
think you are sorry you took the adj
vice of an old bachelor, after ALL"
The young wife's head dropped
until the lips touched those of the
child.
"Sorry! I" exclaimed her husband
mot we. If there's anybody happier
than we are within ten miles Of us we
don't know them. Doctor, I'll tell
you what I said to Julia the night I
brought that mortgage home; WE'LL
said [, that debts paid, but there's
one debt we never can pay as long as
We live L know it, says she, : but
DR.. Singletary wants no other reward
for his kindness than to see us live
happily together, and do for others
what he has done for u.s."
"PshawL" said the doctor, catch
ing Up his reins and whip. You
owe me nothing, But [ must not for
get my errand. Poor old widow
Whiting needs a watcher tonight, and
she insists upon having julia Barnet,
and nobody else. What shall [ tell
her?"
"Ill go instantly. can leave Lucy
now as well as not"
Goodbye, neighbors.o
Goodbye, Doctor"
As [ drove off, / saw the Doctor
draw his hand hastily across his eyes,
and he said nothing for some minutes.
" Public opinien,'' said he at length,
if pursuing his meditations aloud,
public opinion is, nine cases out of
ten. public folly and impertinence.
We are slaves to- one another-we
dare not take counsel of our con-
sciences or affections, but must needs
popular prejudice and custom
to decide for US, and at their bidding.
sacrificing love and friendship, all
the best hopes of our lives. We do
not ask what is right and best for
us, but what folks say of it.. How
few dare to seek their happiness
by the lights which God has
given thems or have the strength
to defy the false pride and the
prejudice of the world and stand fast
in the liberty Of Christians. Can any
thing be more pitable than the sight
Of so many who should be choosers
and creators under God, of their
of utility and happiness, self
degraded into mere slaves of propri-
ETY. and custom-their natures under
veloped, their hearts cramped and
shut up, each afraid of his neighbor,
and his neigkbor of him, living a life
Of ~unreality, deceiving and being de-
and forever walking IN a vain
Here, now, we have just left
/ married couple who are happy be-
cause they have taken counsel of
their honest affections, rather than
Of the opinions of the multitude, and
have dared to be true to themselves
defiance of impertinent gossip"
"You allude to young farmer Barr
net and his wife, | suppose" said /.
Yes. | will give you their cases
Is an illustration. Julia Atkins was
he daughter of Ensign Atkins, who
lived on the mill road just above
Deacon Warmers. When She was ten
years old her mother died; and in a
lew months afterwards her father
married Polly Virgins, the tailoress,
/ selfish, shrewd, managing woman.
Julia, poor girl, had a hard time of
t; for the Ensign, although a kind
md affectionate man naturally, was
900 weak and yielding to interpose
between her and his strong minded
md sharp-tongued wife. She had one
however, who was always