The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-09-29
A QUEER CASE.

DIR. Pillogus shook his head. Ger
tain symptoms in the case had mani
tested themselves, and were declared
bad. DR.. Pillogus therefore shook his
head, and felt that lie was justified in
that somewhat ususual exhibition Of
professional alarm. 1tis only on the
stage that doctors make practice Of
shaking their heads.
Dr. Pillogus' patient had made his
will in a calm and rational mood. With
the customory liberality OF dying man
who has money to eaye-because he
can't take 1t with him-ho had remem-
bered host OF poor relations, who,
without any intention on their part, en-
tirely slipped his memory till now.
Let me explain.
Mr.. Wexford was man OF about
forty.iive years. He was habitually
sedate, like pulpit; and, in other re-
spects, heavy and amiable, like IN ele-
plant. he was q man who had noth-
ing in the world 10 do but eat, drink,
sleep and get stupefed over books. For
forty.fiye years he had tried to make
his life interesting to himself, but only
with Indifferent success. A painful
consciousness OF utter uselessness OPP
pressed him. Now aman may be used
up, and incapable OF new impressions,
and yet have large stock OF philosophy
on hand fer the dull days OF life. Every
thing depends on the haterinl that Is
used up. Men are not like gun. cotton,
what consumes and leaves no trace be-
hind. Mr.. Wexford vas exhausted
rather than used up. was not that
his mind had been filed to overflow
ing, but that there was no mind worth
speaking about to Gil. Every thing
crowded and inconveuiehccd him and
an idea would, I am sure, have occa-
stoned him painful death.
So he planted himself Id large gar-
den on the shore Of q beautiful lake in
Western New York, and enjoyed soli-
tude with wretched appetite for its
gloomiest features.
One fine spring morning-and how
glorious are our spring mornings, burst
ing on the sober face Of mature like
the coquettisll laugh Of beautiful wo.
man, short but delicious-one fine
spring morning he made.a remarkable
discovery In his natural history; TO wit,
that the birds went in pairs. He brood
ed over this curious fact forIthrce years,
renewing his observations with each re-
turning spring. At the end OF that
time he formed resolution He would
marry, and did so. The wife he select.
cd was pretty, and strongly addicted TO
true love. AT first she respected Mr..
Wexford, then she admired, then she
loved him. Finally, she fell down and
worshiped him. She made up her
mind that he was the bestman in the
world, and she the happiest woman.
After which she abandoned herself to
inconsolable grief.
Having exhausted Ills life with matri.
mony, he tried medicine Ias step to
the grave. DIR. Pillogus poked him in
the ribs, and told him hel was we'll /;
drummed on his chest, and told him he
was well; looked at his tongue, and
told him lie was we'll !; felt at6is pulse,
md told him lie was we'll! But Mr..
Wexford had made up his mind that he
was not we'll, and the doctor failed 70
satisfy the patient. Doctors should
minister TO minds diseased, whether
the remedy be in their pharmacop@ia
OF their bread.baskets. II the con-
scientious .Pillogus had doctored Mr..
VaItord IN nd II have male him sick.