Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-02-24

WA9 NO gottnG . the eCsuA tLut0.
knew no more than they did, and my 70
lations with my father prevented my
ascertaining, 20 that Whatever WA aid
about the matter was for many years no
more than eurmise. A. TO the deaf old
housekseper, who lived in the house, she
was always Grossly discTest and had such
. vicious temper be1idee, tha4 L was use-
lsos Soe any Of the nsighbofs 70 Try and
confirm their suspicious from her.
Well, after my father had gri1sled
nearly twelve month Over the little
house being shut up, and began 70 fear
he must put it into repair before hs could
let Il any more, . tenant suddenly turned
up in che person d DR.. John Grysnt
he was Suavs, Aabby nan, nearly 40 |;
short, and rather stout with . II, color
les, dough-like fsce. Il vas rum0red
that he had very powerful, II not very
creditable, reasons for relinquishing .
practice somewhere in Essex. We never
knew II that was true--it was merely
gossip, and Crawford II great place for
that-but DR.. Grysnt paid down half ,
years rent In advance, took the place
ffom Mlchaelmas, and wanted nothing
done. Isaac Morley took his money and
asked no question:.
A great man for doctors was my father.
He was scarcely ever really Ill, but a. he
grew old and began TO feel the natural In.
hrmities Of age creeping on, DO was
never content unless he could be squirting
al manner Of things into his ears and his
eyW to mako him feel better, and improve
his sight. He had his dinner pills regu.
larly, whether he had any dinner or no.
He denied himself wine and spirits, bat
drank steel, quinine, and bark, and all
manner Of tonic medicines 70 sxcss. He
was . certain income 70 any doctor who
would put mp with his whimS and all into
his WAYS, but ~ fond Of changing his
physician % the habitual topper II Ofchang-
ing his publican. What u moro, though
near In most thingA he never objected
TO doctors bill.
Az soon % Doctor Gryant was installed
next door, my father paid OF his last
medical man, DR.. Ron, who lived q
Spedminton "a neighboring village), and
gave himself up to the advice Of his new
tenant. It was always great day, and
one to be remembered by my hther, when
he commenced with new doctor. There
were all his ailments TO be gone over
his eye-symptoms, his car symptoms, his
indigestion, Els nervous debility, his liver,
&c,-so that, a. he said, "his constitu-
ton might be properly understood BY his
adviser.
Doctor Grysnt licked OF every item In
the long catalogue very solemnly with .
nod of his fat white chin In his shirt col
lar, and though he knew these to be pure.
" imaginary complaints, he aid, "Ah r.
and "dear me!' and "Very true" and
promised to send corrective medicines for
each. One symptom, however, was that
of . real disorder, and demanded moro
careful attention. My father complained,
In addition, Of certain nervous twitchings
in his limbs. Doctor Ross, who had be-
come accustomed to the fancies Of his pa-
tient, had taken little notice Of this, but
Doctor Grysnt laid more stress on the
symptom, and mentally determinedt TO ex-
hibit minute doses OF strychnine.
II get very nervous about these witch
ings, sAid my father, "and my heSnh be.
ing altogether In prccarious state, am
glsd to gave doctor living handy. II I
should happen TO want you, either by day
or night, have only to pull your bell.
Don't be surprised II I should not wait for
you 70 answer the door tho weather n 90
chilly, and am 20 susceptible Of cold that
! can't stand draughts. shall ring your
bell II I want you, and como indoors again,
where you WIN ind me. You can never
mistake my ring; know tho bell better
than you do. 0blige me by going to your
surgery now, and liatening."
DR.. dryant did 70, and In few minutes
he heard this identical bell ring, not - II
usually does, in . peal, but In allow, meas
ured beats-"One, two, three, four" and
20 on. II rang In this manner for nearly
minute, then stopped.
The unusual sound OF the bell struck
painfully ON Dr.. Gryant's ear. For an
Instant no was CONSCIOUS Of . creeping
sensation, warning Of evil, - though
some one wero walking over his grave
but, ahaking il Of, he laughed ct himself,
and saying, Its only . whimsical old fool
ringing tho bell his own way" went TO
the door. Old Isaac Morley had mot wait
ed In the cold, but had left the front door
OF his house open for the doctor TO enter,
who found his patient quietly seated at the
dining-room flfe awaiting his return.
"YOu eco" aid my father, " my dining
room being on the ground door, I may
just - wsll wait here for you BY tho IRE
@ on your doorstep"
"Quite o." assented the doctor.
"And you are moi likely to miseAke my
ring for strAnger'si"
"Certainly not But that b . very
queer bell Mr. Morley. Do you know Il
has not . pleasant sound when rung -
you rang IT."
vt has Q distinctive sound, DR.. 0syant;
that II Oh I want. Whenever you hear
the bell rung In that way, remember 4 u
land I want you. Whether night or day,
Win you kindly remember thisf And II I
should not be ct tho door you VIII dnd mo
In the dining.roOm..
The doctor aid no would, and on 10.
turning 70 biz house made several expert.
mente With the bsll.handle 70 repeat the
effect produced BY my Athsr, but with
very poor OuCOo0a
well" he thought 70 himself, "thsrs
L no doubt ] ahall know the old ALLOWS
1yAsAe waA esrsainly. : sFsas plague
loe any doctor 10 i've nsxt door 70. Doc.
toes wsre his weakness; and 70 81 doc.
Tor living - nea1-A tenant Too, with
lbety pounds . year rent 70 credit aeainst
. eoogo tog phy1lc-Wasa ooge temptation.
Nearly always once . day Doctor Cry
ant would b certain 70 hear that haElh,
eIa4ing SUMMONS O the moet trivial O..
rand, until he got % accugl0ned 70 The
boll that 4 ceased 10 afeCe him IN any
nahnR Way than hnn2nann-vfR WMnwlnV