Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-09-26
"DOCTOR JOHN.n

A doctors life is a strange o-ci'
muttered DIR. John Hessman, as he
jumped into his carriage, taking the
reins from the hands of the grinning
Ethiopian who, for the last twenty
minutes, had been cherishing the fond
delusion that he was to accompany his
master on his round of professional in
quiry.
Not this time, Ebony" said the
doctor, with a good.natured shrug of
his broad shoulders. You shall come
tomorrow, noting the look of disap-
pointment in the boys face. DR.. John
was more tender of his servants than
some are of their wives
"Oh, never mind, massa, never
mind r' replied Ebony, like the aver
age human, quite forgetful OF his an
noyance when the subject of considera-
ton was distasteful. 81 knows what
tits. / just knows what it's" added
Ebony, as he watched the carriage out
of sight. "He's got one of his spells,
and wants to talk to hisself; l knows
him of old. If twas any body but DIR.
John I should say, Ebony, that man
has got softening of the SKULL but no
such nonsense can be laid on him.
DR.. John did want to be alone, or as
much alone as a man could be in the
streets of crowded city, and he did
want to talk to himself. Most men
who are in the habit of communing
with their own souls. do it in audible
language; SO in this respect, whatever
he might be in others, DIR. John did
not differ from his brethren. A mans
own opinion is not unfrequently his
best and safest companion. 1t will
keep its owners secrets, and, when the
companionship is frequent, will in all
cases properly guide and admonish.
Selfcommunism in its highest form is
the avenue which leads directly to the
heart of gold. @
eyes," continued the doctor-"yes
SIR" (Sometimes DR.. John was very re-
spectful to himself.) A doctors life is
no joke. Easy, my beauty, easyl Now,
John, look at that horse. You are only
just a little more of a man than he is.
It's fun for him TO travel where there's
another horse close by that he can out
run. Exactly the case with you, John
If it hadn't been for another horse in
the shape of a doctor you were deter
mined to get little the start of,
where wouiu you have been to-day?
That's the point. Worthy ambition,
eh to pass a poor devil on the road of
lfel Upon my word, believe should
be a better man if l had a wife. 1
hard to understand how a fellow man
ages with a woman tied to him morn
ing, noon, and night. That's what takes
men. Then 1 am not sure that any
body'd have me that was any way suita-
BILE. OF course l should want intelli-
gence and intellectually, too, by
Georgel and I never could endure a
plain woman, or woman with a loud
voice, or-yes, sir, that question is IN
order," continued the doctor, stroking
his long, silky, black beard. "That is
what l call driving the nail in. What
have you got, John Hessman, to give
in exchange for those royal treasures of
mind and body? A good name? Yes.
An unexceptionable position, unim-
peachable integrity? Yes, sir. These
are somethipg;" and here our NJ. d.
reigned up before an elegant brown
stone mansion, where one of his best
(pecuniarily speaking) and most fash
lonable patients resided. Here DR..
John was employed by the year; and
although the position was no sinecure,
on account of the amount of patience
required to battle with the nervous fam
cies of the principal invalid of the es-
tablishment, still, DR.. John, to use his
own telling Vernacular, considered it
"an exceedingly soft thing" and, soft
it was, in more senses than one.
DR.. John. walked right up into the
invalid's chamber.
"Oh, good morning, doctor. A little
late, aren't you? Seems to me l have
been waiting an unusual length of
time," drawled the lady from her luxu-
rious couch.
"About the usual hour" replied DR..
John, with no special show of defer
ence. "What seems to be the matter
this morning?"
"Now, really, doctor, this is too cruel
Matter this morningl Do you remem
Der what was the matter yesterday
Please don't be so blunt. You shock
my nerves terribly"