Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-08-12
Mrs. Stephens's Pericardium

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Now ] am going TO tell you just what
ny husband said to me this morning, Doc.
or, word for word and the invalid, Mrs.
stephens, lay back on the sofa pillow, the
very picture Of misery. The family physi.
ian, who was called on an average to the
Stephens mansion three hundred and sixty
lines a year, drew chair close to the
,ouch, and waited quietly for his patient to
1pen her book Of complaints
" Last night, you see, Doctor, had an
N turn, and be wanted to come for you;
but when got SO he dared to leave me,
nc concluded then we'd better LET you sleep"
" Much obliged to him. said the Doc
tor, with sarcastic emphasis on the pronoun.
Last night was the first undisturbed nights
rest enjoyed for a week"
Mrs. Stephens continued:
"This spell is the same as | had the last
time you were sent for, Doctor"
A slight nervous attack broke in the
physician; "nothing more"
Wen, it don't make any difference what
you call it, it was mighty hard to bear ;
but let me tell you what my husband said
first, Doctor, before we go into symptoms.
When he was going down to breakfast, he
says to me, Kate, what shall send up2"
"Says |, | don't want anything in the
world but a good strong cup of tea. Tell
Bridget to send it up in little teapot. |
saw, Doctor, that he didn't move after said
this, so | turned and looked up at him, and
such picture Of rage aud disgust | never
saw in my life. Finally, says he, Tea !
tea tea ! it's nothing but tea from morn
ing till night, Kate, says he; you are the
color Of a Chinaman now. Why don't you
order a good piece of beefsteak and a slice
of brown bread and a cup Of chocolate ?
That would be sensible breakfast"
"' But, John, says l, you forget that l
am sick and have no appetite was all
ready to cry, but | was determined that he
shouldn't have the satisfaction of seeing the
tears fall
Forget, said he, forget? wish to
uNafSu SVuth lOIBct. IL uOtulup Out
grunt and groan from one years. end to
the other. | have lost all patience with
you, says be. "When We lived 10 a part
of house, and you did your own house.
work, you were as well and happy as any.
body, and no man ever had a pleasanter
little home than John Stephens but what
have | now to leave or to come back TO ~
and this, doctor, is what he ended up with
Kate says he, you are nothing more
nor less than a drunkard, and in the sight
Of God more culpable than most of the
men who stagger through the streets, be.
cause the majority Of those poor devils
have some sort Of an excuse for their con.
duet, and you haven't the slightest. You
have a luxurious home, husband doing
his level best to make you happy-every.
thing under the light of the sun to please
you, and yet you will persist in swiling
tea Yes, doctor, sioiliRg was the word
he used-boo hoo hoo O dear me
to think | should ever have lived to have
heard such dreadful language out of my
husbands mouth aud then he says, 'and
making me as miserable a wretch as walk,
the earth"
pretty plain talk" interrupted the doc
tor, with a shrug Of his broad shoulders.
90, yes" sobbed the victim, land Sc
awiuly coarse and unkind. If | had haC
spell and died there before his very face
| don't believe he would have cared a snay
Of his finger. | tell you, DR.. Ellis, ther'
is such thing as a mans getting hardened.
Evidently" replied the physician, with
q laconicism absolutely painful.
"But my husband has nothing in tn,
world to trouble him but just my poo
health; and am sure | can't help that.
This remark was more in answer to be-
companions tone and manner, than the on,
single word that had accidentally escaped
his lips, and this the doctor felt.
Anybody would think by the way h,
goes on" continued the irate woman, "tha
| enjoyed myself with spasms and cramps
and fainting fits. Anybody would think i
was a pleasure to me to feel, every time
see funeral procession, as if the hears,
was going to stop at our door next. 0
yes such life is very enjoyable, very
indeed
DR.. Ellis took no notice Of these las
words; the mans eyes grew luminous, an,
his whole face declared that he considere,
himself master Of the situation and if Mrs
Stephens had not been SO entirely taken ul
with her own ailments, mental and physi
cal, that honest countenance would hay
betrayed him.
You say" he began, settling himsel
in the large easy chair, and assuming
strictly professional air, that you
husband has nothing to trouble him bu
your health ; how do you know that Mrs
Stephens2"
How 7 Why, how do l know any thing
By the evidence of my senses Don't
know that John Stephens has a speudi,
business that looks after itself, magnifi
cent income, and money enough to live OIL
the interest, as well as a family need Il
live, if he never entered his Office agail
while he has breath ?"
81 But money isn't everything, Mrs
Stephens" proceeded the physician, with
calmness almost mephistophelan. Z" Hoy
about health, madam 2"
Health 2" repeated the lady with
smile she intended to be sarcastic to tn
last degree. HEALTH Dr. Ellis! VII,
there is not healthier or sounder maj
than my husband in the United States
He eats more in one meal than | do in thre
months"
There is nothing the matter with you
husbands stomach, Mrs. Stephens" DR.
Ellis shaded his face with his hand, an
waited further developments. Mrs, Ste
phens mistook this attempt at forced con
cealment for emotion, and Immediately as
suming sitting posture, brushed her eyes
and looked Piercingly into her companion
face.
Why do you accent the word stomach
so strongly, DR.. Ellis?" she inquired, i
anxious tones. Mrs. Stephens was forget
ting herself, and this the doctor hailed q
an excellent omen.