The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1873-03-13

closed, and try to drop of, knowing
they all stand waiting. 1t occurs to me
that they will have to wait longer than
they dream of,
"You must remember to open your
mouth when they tell you," says the
DOCTOR giving me new supply Of
ether. l inhale again, pondering how /
shall know enough to open my mouth,
when / am wholly insensible.
But there are no signs of that yet. /
am still wide awake and know all that
is said and done. The doctor says the
room is getting warm, and some one
opens n door. Then the fire makes such
n strange. swapping sound, 1 wonder no
one speaks of it. | think they are tired
of waiting for the ether to overpower
me, or else the lovely day is too strong
a temptation for soon, ! hardly know
at whose suggestion, We all go off for
sleigh-ride, save the dentist, who must
remain to wait on possible customers,
you know.
What u glorious ride it is the bright
blue sky, the balmy air, and the best of
sleighing all combine to make 1t pleas
ant. We are all in one great sleigh,
with such noble horses, and other
friends join us here and there, so our
company is large and merry one. We
dash through busy streets and past
lonely farm-houses, along the margin of
ice-bound rivers, and anon our bells
echo cheerily through some evergreen
forest, and all the while, with song and
Jest and merry laughter, the time speeds
along. But | am no nearer getting
asleep than ever, and have about con-
cluded it was mistaken experiment to
try to put me to sleep with ether. They
will have to try chloroform yet, safe or
unsafe.
After hours of pleasant riding, We
drive at length into the familiar home
street, to go to the dentists for another
attempt; but there 10 some kind of Il
gathering at the hall, sCswe'll stop there
first
1t is sort of mammoth sociable !;
everybody is there, all lively and happy,
and we go about through the crowd,
chatting with one and another, till am
thoroughly tired. Coming to u vacant
seat in Il retired corner, / sit down to
rest, and, leaning back my head and
closing my eyes, begin to feel drowsy,
The ether must be taking effect at last
but Just then / feel an awful wrenchinl
at my teeth, and open my eyes. Presto
L am in the dentists room in that Gam
| red velvet chair. There is the doctort
familiar face, and his finger is yet on
my pulse. "a little more ether" he
says, and I inhale again, having sense
enough to run my tongue around in my
mouth, and find several teeth are miss
ing, and then the fire makes that strange
swapping sound again. 1t seems have
been asleep once, but | shall not be
able to again, and it is quite relief to
hear the sound of many footsteps on
the stairs, and know there is to be
sort of social reunion there. The den
fists Office changes as if by magic the
horrible Instruments disappear one
door after another opens, disclosing an
elegant suite of rooms, carpeted with
soft bright colors; and there is n piano,
and there are books, and flowers, and
pictures, and pretty trihcs. The COM
pany is not large, but rather select, and
very pleasant, and have music with
beautiful singing, and conversation and
games. Then comes choice spirit |
who regales us with story upon which
we hang with breathless interest / am
waiting with eager impatience for the
denouement, when--
"Be brave, now, there's only one
more, says the doctor. A wrench, a
moments agony, and open my eyes.
"All out! !" says the dentist, cheerily,
and his wife says" You've borne it
nicely"
ct hurt you terribly, didn't it?"
asks the gudeman, showing his dear,
anxious face full of sympathy.
81 didn't feel it at all till just now,"
l managed to falter out.
"There," says the doctor, wisely, 81
told you she wasn't conscious of the
pain whom she was screaming So"
Screaming did | scream ?"
"YouH did, littie,' is all they .ell
me ; but hear afterward how the pass
ers-by in the street heard me, Us well rs
the neighbors. One particular friend
has sent me word that he thinks I'm II
premium squealer." I'll be even with
that man yet, before l die.
"Did open my mouth when you
old me ?"
"Yes, nicely" and find it is one OF
he tricks of the trade to give patients
hat charge the last thing before they
lrop off, that they may retain the i'm
,ression.
look out of the window the sun is
high in the sky and the streets are full.
Vas it yesterday that | came to the den
lists to have my teeth pulled?
"How many hours has it been?" /
sked.
"Just about 20 minutes" says the
entist, consulting his watch.
And so my teeth are all out, root and
ranch, leaving for me only few days
~ 4