The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-03-12
John Stephens Pericardium.


"NoW 1 am going to tell you just
what my husband said to me this
morning, Doctor, word for word"
And the invalid, Mrs. Stephens, lay
back again ola the sofa pillows, the
very picture of misery. The family
physician, who was called on an aver
age to the Stephens 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, l had
an ill turn, and he wanted to come for
you; but when | got so that he dared
to leave me, he concluded then we'd
better let you Sleep"
stMuch obliged to lkssssss, kssssssss ''5iidi said the Doc
tor, with a little sarcastic emphasis on
the personal prOnoun. "Last night
was the first undisturbed nights rest l
have enjoyed for a week"
Mrs. Stephens continued "ThIs
spell was the same as l had the last
time you were sent for, Doctor"
ga slight nervous attack" broke in
the physician, ''DothiDg more"
'sWell. 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
90 into symptoms. When he was
going down TO breakfast, he says to
me, Kate what shall l send you up 2"
sSays l, 4 don't want anything in
the world but a good, strong cup of
tea. Tell Bridget to send it up in the
fi,oF he
didn't move after said this, so turn
ed and looked at him, and such q pic
ture of rage and disgust l never saw
in my life. Finally, says he, Tea! +! tea !!
tea it's nothing bat tea from morning
till night. Kate says he. you are
the color of Chinaman now. Why
steak, and slice of brown bread, and
a cup of chocolate; that would be a
sensible breakfast Z
But, John" says /, "you forget that
/ am sick and have no appitite. Twas
all ready to cry, but [ was determined
that he shouldn't haYe the satisfaction
of seeing the tears fall.
"Forget," says he; tsforget? wish
to Heaven could forget! It's moth
ing but grunt and groan from one
year , C4A ~ luO OlAOA AldNO 1Ool
all patience with you, says he. "When
we lived in part of house, and you
did your own houseword, you we've
as well and as happy as anybody, and
no man ever had a pleasanter little
home than John Stephens; but what
have I now to leave, or come back
to p and this, Doctor, is what he end
ed up with
ssKate," saws he, "you are nothing.
more nor less than drunkard and in
the sight of God, more culpable than
most of the men who stagger through
the streets because the majority of
those poor devils have some sort of an
excuse for their conduct, and you
haven't the slightest. You have a
luxurious home, a 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 swillinR Tea" Yes, Doctor, slcflL-
ing was the word he used-bool heol I
hooi Oh, dear LIE to think / should
ever have lived to have heard such
language out of my husbands mouth !;
and then says he-"and making me as
miserable wretch as walks the earth" !"
"Pretty plain talk" interrupted the
Doctor, with shrug of his broad
shoulders.
'Oh, yes," soDbed the victim, ''and
so awfully coarse and unkind. If 1
had had spell, and died there before
his very face, don't believe he would
have cared snap of his finger. tell
you, Doctor Ellis, there is such a
thing as mans getting hardened"
"Evidently," replied the physician
with q laconicism absolutely painful,
eBut my husband has nothing in the
world to trouble him but just my poor
health; and l am sure l can't help
/ that"
This remark was more in answer to
her companions tone and manner,
than the one single word that had ac-
cidentally escaped his lips, and this
the Doctor felt.
"Anybody would think, by the way
he goes on" continued the irate wo-
man. '1hat I enjoyed myself with
| spasms and cramps, and fainting fits.
Anybody would think it was pleas
ure to me to feel, every time l see 8
funeral procession, as if the hearse
was going to stop at our door next
Oh, yes such a life is very enjoyable
very indeed"
Doctor Ellis took no notice of these
last words the mans eyes grew lumi
nous, and his whole face declared thai
he considered himself master of the
situation and if Mrs. Stephens had
not been so entirely takeu up with rel
own ailments, mental and PHYSICAL,
that honest countenance would hav'
betrayed him.
You say" he began, settling him
self in the large easy chair, and assnm
ing strictly professional air, 'sthat
your husband has nothing to trouble
him but your health how do yoI
know that, Mrs. Stephens !"
"How why how do know any
: thing2 BY the evidence of my senses
Don't I know that John Stephens hal
splended business that looks after it
. self, magnificent income, and none,
enough to live on the bare interest, a
well as a family need to live, if b
never entered his office again Will
he has breath ?"
q "But money isn't everything. Mr.
!. Stephens" proceeded the physician
4 with a calmness almost mephistophe
d lian. '"There are other troubles be
7; side money troubles. How abou
health, madam ?"
/ "Health 2" repeated the lady with
smile, she intended to be sarcastic, t
!, the last degree. sHealth? Docto
Ellisl Why, there isn't healthier {
a sounder man than my husband !
the whole United States. He eai
more in one meal than l do in thre
months
"rhere is nothing the matter wit
N your husbands stomach, Mrs. ST,
phens." DR.. Ellis shaded his faS