The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-05-18

think so, and kind Of wish we had a
Protestant, But somehow Pheegie
don't seem TO think so.
But what want 10 ask you is this
What is the reason that doctors never
think that babies are sick2 They never
do unless the poor little things are far
gone with scarlet fever, cerebro- spinal
meningitis, or something dreadfully
fatal. Let the child be teething, or
have collie, orwind on its little stomach,
or anything Of that kind, and doctors
never seem TO be interested in the pa
tient's case. They say that the little
things will "ontgrow II, ," or something
Of that sort Now, that is absurd,
I put II to you, Mr.. Reader, as o man
Of feeling. Suppose you had q pain in
your person and were really suffering
great deal, and doctor should come
in and grin OF you, chuck you under
the chin, pinch your legs, and say that
you would "come out all right" or
"outgrow IT," or something Of that
kind Would you likeitP loi.course
you would not. 1t would not be
natural.
Now, / don't know why IL should,
but our baby suffered . great deal from
abdominal trouble. Mother thinks he
inherits it; she says that all her chill
dren we're that way. I think this o
very satisfactory explanation. Why
shouldn't child inherit things OF that
kind, Just the same as hair, teeth, and
things Of that sort 1t looks reasonable
to mother and me. But somehow
Pheegie don't seem to think 80.
But, upon my word, / have written
so much that I have but little space
left 10 tell you about little matter in
our own baby's tender experience,
which illustrates how little doctors
care for other. peoples children.
Mother says she thinks they get hard
ened. But one would think they
wouldn't. have been after the doc
tor good deal for our own baby, but
he never seems to come with alacrity.
Mother generally tells me when to go.
She thinks that one cannot show too
much good care for q ehild--it is such
q grave responsibility. i think SO, too.
But somehow Pheegie don't always
seem 10 think so. Iwonder il she.
really does love our own baby /? 1 spoke
TO mother about II the other night, and
she said she hoped SO, as itwas an
awful thing to throw ones own child
into the teeth OF Providence ;,and I
thought SO too. !.
hut now ] certainly must tell you
what happened the other night. Our
own baby was sick, and mother wanted
me TO go for the doctor. Pheegie didn't
think there. was any use in going for
him, but mother thought there was.
However, mother very frankly owned
up that the child was 1phigenia's. She
said that her solicitude sprang entirely
and only from love for the little one,
but II that affection was irksome TO US
we had only to find her q humble cotin
some retired spot, where she would
sher widowed days praying for her
children and their child, and thanking
God that It's death did not lie at her
door. Pheegie rolled over in bed and
said, aohl 'ood graeiousl" But 7
went for the doctor. nil
II was not q good night to 60. It was
one Of those freely kind OF nights when
the rain becomes Ice on the pavement.
1t was real hard work TO go for the doc
tor. Itwas impossible to run. Itried
to walk fast but / slid and slipped and
slipped and slid. And then / would
manage to catch hold of5a fence, and
my legs would slide from under me and
I wonid find my face in precisely the
contrary direction from that in which !
wanted TO 20. / tried the middle Of
the street, but 1t was very little better,
and when / tried 10 get back to the
pavement ! thought 1 might as well give
up going. But, then ! there was our
own baby perhaps at the pointof death,
and ] hastened, slipped up, and
hastened again.
II must have taken me q good half
hourto reach the doctors house, and 1t
Is only half a mile away from mine.
However, ] got there OF last and rang
the bell. Trang several times. Finally
somebody opened . window, and q mas
culine voice wanted TO know who the
mischief Iawas, and a feminine voice
wanted to- know II was sHorace." /" I
was amazed and bewildered. The tone
ofitle masculine voice was not familiar
to my ear, and ] could hardly account,
for the feminine voice, as the doctor is
q widower. But nevertheless asked
ifsthe doctor was at home. AT that the
masculine voice suggested that I had
better ring The doctors door-bell and
lind out. II certainly was very stupid
Of me to make the mistake, but / was
somewhat confused after my difficult
walk, and then ] was nervous as 1
thought Of baby OF home.
However, I apologized and explained,
but while was doing II the parties Of
the window slammed II down. ~ did
not feel called upon to make any further
explanation, but sprang up the doctors
steps and pulled his bell.
They seemed to be sleeping pretty |
souhdly inthat block. for 1had 70 ring
four times before ! reused the doctor.
He opened q second story-window ut
ast, and, after suggesting that II l was
frying TO jerk of his bell-pull / had
better say 50, he asked who / was. The
doctor Is getting old and peculiar and
tlienI don't suppose IL Is pleasant to
be called upon TO answer bell at two
O'clock in the morning. But, then
amt he paid for ita However, / over,
looked the reference to the bell.pull,
and said that I was tine.
!. Mel who the mischiet's me,s'
said the doctor.
i Isupposed that he know my voice ;
but ,he alleged that he did not, and 50 /
said that 'sme" was Smith. r y
"smithl what Smith n Says the