Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-05-11
John Stevens Pericardium


The family physician, who was called
on an average to the Stevens mansion
three hundred and sixty times year,
drew chair close to the couch, and
waited quietly for his patient to open
her book of complaints.
Last night, you see, Doctor, [ had
an Ill turn, and he wanted to come for
you but when I got so he dared to
leave me, he concluded then we'd better
let you sleep
much obliged to him, said the Doe
tor-sarcastic emphasis on the personal
pronoun. Last night was the first un-
disturbed nights rest l have enjoyed for
a week"
Mrs. Stevens 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
@Well, it don't make any difference
what you call it, it was mighty hard to
bear but let me tell you what my hus-
band said first, Doctor, before we go in
to symptoms. When he was going down
to breakfast, he says to me, Kate, what
shall l send you up ?'''
Says I, 4 don't want anything in
the world but good strong cup Of tea.
Tell Bridget to send it up in the little
tea pot l saw, Doctor, that he didn't
move after said this, so I turned and
looked up at him, and such a picture of
rage and disgust l never saw in my life.
Finally, says he, Tea ! tea tea it's
nothing but tea from morning till night.
Kate, says he, you are the color of a
Chinaman now. Why don't you order
good piece of beefsteak, and slice of
brown bread, and a cup of chocolate +;
that would be a sensible breakfast y
"But john" says I. '.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," >" says he, forget? ? I wish
to Heaven 1 could forget Its nothing
but grunt and groan from one years end
ros r1IU- OUi4UI.--I IIoro- ioso~N-al r--..----
with you" says he. ''When We lived in
a part of house. and you did your OWL
housework, you were as well and happy
as anybody, and no man ever had {
pleasanter little home than John Ste.
vens but what have | now to love, o.
to come back to p and this, Doctor, i;
what he ended up with
kate. says he, you are nothin!
more nor less than drunkard, and il
the sight of God, more culpable thai
most of the men who stagger throug
the streets because the majority Q
those poor devils have some sort of a
excuse for their conduct, and you hav
not the slightest. You have luxurlou
home, husband doing his level best t
make you happy-eVerything under tn
: light of the sun to please you, and "
5 you will persist in swilling tea 1e
Doctor, swilling was the word he use
boo hoo hoo Oh dear me |
: think 1 should ever have lived to ha,
! heard such dreadful language out of II
{ husbands mouth and then he says
e and making me as miserable a wrete
IL as walks the earth. -
pretty plain talk, I" interrupted tt
Doctor, with shrug of his broad shou
Il ders.
! "oh, yes sobbed the victim, sal
ot so awfully coarse and unkind- If | h;
l. had spell. and died there before b
'e very face don't believe he would ha
cared snap Of his finger. l tell yo
Doctor Ellis. there is such a thing as
/. mans getting hardened. >
d, Evidently" replied the physicia
K with laconism absolutely painful.
'u "But my husband has nothing in
= world to trouble him but just my pc
e. health and [ am sure l can not he
that" This remark was more in ansV
70 to her companions tone and mann
en- than the one single word that had &C
ke dentally escaped his lips, and this I
~ ~ Doctor felt.
X Anybody would think by the "
ch he goes OF" continued the irate WON;
al, '.that I enjoyed myself with spasr
Ill and cramps, and fainting fits. Anybc
would think it was pleasure to me
'a- feel, every time see a funeral proc
m 'lo sion, as if the hearse was going to S
IL at our door next. Oh, yes such a
rly is very enjoyable. very. indeed.
de Doctor Ellis took no notice of th
last words the mans eyes grew lum
- - Gus, and his whole face declared that
bo. considered himself master of the sit
ing ton and if Mrs Stevens had not b
lge so entirely taken up with her own
IN ments, mental and physical, that hor
- countenance would have betrayed hi
one '.You say he began. settling b
tia self in the large easy chair. and ass
ing a strictly professional air, Il
Icie your husband has nothing TO tror
him but your health ; how do you kI
leIe that, Mrs. Stevens p