The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-03-21
Doctor John"

OSeO' VSHhs
| "A Doctors lie is a strange one ~ NUT
| tered DIR. John Hessman as he Jumped
into his carriage, taking the reins from
the hands of the grinning Ethiopian who
| tor the last twenty minutes had been
cherishing the fond delusion that he was to
accompany his master on his round of
professional inquiry.
mot this time. Ebony" said the doe
tor, with a good-natured shrug of his
broad shoulders. You shall come to-
morrow" noting the look of disappoint-
ment in the boys face. DIR. John was
more tender OF his servants than some
men are of their wives.
"Oh, never mind, Massa, never mind."
replied Ebony like the average human,
quite 10 gettul OF annoyance when the
subject of consideration II knows what
It's Just knows what it's" added Ebony.
as he watched the carriage ont of sight.
He's got one Of his spells, and wants to
talk to hisself. | know him of old. II
twas anybody but DR. John, should lust
say, Ebony, that man has got sottening
of the skull but no such nonsense can
be laid to him"
DR.. John did want to be alone or as
much alone as man can he in the streets
of a crowded city, and he did want to talk
to himself Most men who are in the
haolt OF communing with their own souls
90 It IN audible language; 50 in this re-
spect, whatever he might be in others DR.
John did not differ from his brethren A
man own opinion is not untrequntlv his
best and safest companion. 1t will keep
lis owners secrets, and when the compan-
lonshlp Is frequent, will in all cases prop
erly guide aud admoniSh Seli-com-
munl>m in its highest form is the avenue
winch leads directly to the heart of God.
~ es. continued the doctor ~ yves.
SIR Sometimes Dr.. John was very re-
spectfnl to himSelf,) "A doctors life i
no loke Easy. my beauty. easy now,
John, look at that horse. You are only
Just little more of an animal than he is.
Its fun for him to travel when there's an
other horse close By that he can outrun.
Exactly the case with YOU. John If it
hadn't been for another horse in the shape
OF doctor You We're determined to Get
little the start of where would YOU have
been to,day2 That's the point Worthy
ambition, eh to pass poor devil on The
road of life Upon my word, | believe
should be better man if / had a wife.
rather like women; but its little hard 10
understand how fellow manages with a
woman tied to him morning. noon and
night. That's what takes me- Then.
am not sure that anvbodv'd have me that
was anyways suitable Ot course | should
want intelligence - and intellectually.
too, by George and | never could en-
dule plain woman, or woman with a
loud voice, or----I es, sir, that question
is in order continued the doctor. strok-
ing his long, silky black beard That is
what | call driving the nail in. What
have you got John Hessman, to give in
exchange for these royal treasures Of
mind and body? A good name-ves an
unexceptionable position, unimpeachable
integrity : yes, sir. These are some
thing" and our NJ D reined up before
an elegant brownstone mansion, where
one OF his best (pecuniarilv speaking)
and most fashionable patients resided.
Here DR.. John was employed by the wear
and although the position was no sinecure,
on account of the amount of patience re-
quired to battle with the nervous tancies
of the principal invalid of the establish
ment, still. DR.. John, to use his own tell
ing vernacular, considered it ian exceed
ingly soft thing'-4nd soft it was in more
senses than one.
DR.. John walked right up into the in
valid's chamber.
"Oh, good morning, doctor A little
late, aren't you? Seems to me | have
been waiting an unusual length of time,''
drawed the lady from her luxurious
couch.
About the usual hour" replied Dr.
John, with no especial show of Difference
wv hat seems to be the matter this morn
ing?"
Now, really. doctor, that is too cruel.
Matter this morning Do you remember
what was the matter yesterday? Please
don't be 80 blunt. You shock my nerves
terribly"
LET me see," said the doctor. Eyes |
terday according to your own admission,
you were tagged out with fashionable |
party and late supper. That, of course,
cannot be the case to-day"
Il know l should not have attempted !
it IN my weak state, doctor | know lust |
what You think OF it," sighed the fashion
able woman from her downy bed but,
then, you men will never understand what
society demands of us women Dear
Estelle (dear Estelle was the inyalid's
daughter) had quite set her heart on 90
ing to Mrs. Donk's reception. OF course
l could not allow the dear child to 90 un-
attended, and, bless your heart, DR.. Hess
man, that girls father would not accom-
pany her to party if she fell dead at his
feet In consequence. Oh, lord such
time as did hive about it, trying to in
duce Mr.. Waters to escort her | really
believe that scene had more to do with
my suffering to-day than the party had
Dear me such set man as Mr. Waters is
| told him-says I, William this NAV re-
suit In my death What do you think he
said in reply, doctor? Says he-.When
woman gets to be forty years old, and
don't know enough to take care of her
health, and the healths of her children, it
is time she died. and then, doctor, he lit
his cigar. and puffed out of the house I
tell you this, because l want you to know
what has so unnerved me, and that YOU
may not lay it all to the party. Estelle
is quite i'll, too, doctor. and when you
have written out my prescription, | wish
you would walk into the next room and
see her"
Dr. John knew that something must be
administered. or his professional reputa-
'lon would be irretrievably damaged, so
WIN quiet smile playing round his large
mouth-(Dr. Johns mouth was really
very large, and truth compels us to state
that ne had an under Jaw to match,
though the rows of unexceptionally white
and even teeth, and the silken chin-cover-
ing, glossy and soft as woman's hair, en-
-irely redeemed the lower part of his face
from ugliness) the physician wrote the
few necessary Latin words, among which
aqua seem really the most conspicuous,
and then passed into the other room. The
ioctor knew what awaited him. This
little game had been tried more than once
before.
Good morning, Miss Estelle,' said DR..
John, approaching the sofa, where the