The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1872-04-06
A Night in a E;spensary.

The snow lay thickly over the grouh nd
and upon the house-tops-,couM be n
very MGR way 70 c"mmcnce my thirst
mas story. { But as 6ction must have !.
coloring of truth, it would be absurd of
me to utter so false statement as the
above--at least as far as our town is
concerned. We have seen very little OF
the article for some time past, and then
only i'll diluted form, which would hot
be pleasant to introduce into story. 1t
would seem as if old King Christmas
had sold large quantity to theater
managers. aud had butsa small pile lett,
which he must use economically How
ever, this subject of the saow is open to
discussion. Meanwhile, shall 20 on
to state that on last Christmas day it
fell to my lot to be on dutyat the North
east Dispebsary, lin the good Old tow n of
=. l was then surgeon TO that
institution, having two muse agreeable
gentlemen us MY collcaSuesa Nhristnas
moruingl The sky was blue, the sun was
bright, air was keen, the gound was
hardin fact, the weather was beauti-
full for the time of year.
+ just the morning cried Dobbs, for
"a nice long, walk, which will brace ds
up, and give us an appetite for the goose
on Jack Doose's table" y
yes said Burshaaad, throwing him
self into-a military attitude, to;9ihch he
was. partial. and putting up his rimless
eyeglass to look al Ihes aa6dI hops Alf
Adams won't have too much work while
we are away i3t4 9W S.
ALI Adams, the readers humble ser
want, smiled . smile seldom to be observ-
ed. Silently he watched his comppu.
ions muff1e themselves in overcoats of
alarming dimensions, aud being ready,
disappear for the remainder of the day
and evening. Lstood- at the-.window,
watching the stream of human beings
gaily troopiug along. The bells of the
various churches pealed forth: but their
merry music, instead of making my he rt
full of joy, only drove me half wild to
think was fastened mp in that gloomy
place, while my own family were living
aQ} making merry not quite half mile
from me, and I dare not go to see them
No surgeon could be got for love or mpn.
ey to take my place for half an hdur.
One thing might have enlivencds the
hours: had present of turkey, sent
me from the Green Isle, which, with a
small plum pudding, was to be my dinner
So | had invited Jack Byrden 10 help
me to eat it. But. alas! my bosom friend
aud school fellow coul d not muster cour
age to enter my den on such day Sc
l sat down to my solitary meal, railing
at the whole world, and particularly a,
that smart young man, Jack Bayden, I
believe ! was very ill-tem-n-ea H"e- ~
dinner. The turkey was pretty good
but the servant had look on her face
of pity for me and satisfaction for her.
self as to the good things in the kitchen
therefore concluded shte had ttevu
drinking. ia.
The pudding was brought in, bu,
what was my horror to find it smelt OF
brandy Fully half glass sof brandy
mad been put upon it! Now, L ask Any
one, had that girl any right to act thus
to me, when she knew very wellsthat
was perfect teetotaller2 Her reason
was found out atterwards-I blamed the
poor girl for half a glass--wlen in
three dajs bill Tor 81 glasses was pre-.
sented from neighboring public opse
OF course the servant declared she had
put all the brandy on the pudding
which was about the size OF my Two
fists !; and assure you, ladies'. they are
but small. After my lonely dinner
drew the large arm chair to the fire,
which l stirred into d blaze, and light.
ing my pipe (for I smoke,iif'b don't
driuk) l began gazing abstfactedly at