The Placer herald., 1874-12-12

HoIsTED BY HIS OWN PETARD.-Dr. Martin. OF
better, perhaps, Senator Martin, is most III
veterate jester and has perpetrated some re-
markably good jokes on almost every one OF
his friends from Governor Booth down to his
most humble acquaintance. For years he has
laughed and grown fat at the outcroppings OF
his wit, ut the expense of his wide circle OF as
sociates. But, one day last week. he became
the victim OF joke that very clearly verifes the
adage, that retributive justice will sooner OF
later overtake the guilty. Called to attend
patient at Shady Run, the Doctor prescribed
a powerful emetic, and delivering the powde S
INTO the hands of the SICK mans wife, with Ill
structions to administer them Immediately he
re-entered his buggy and gathered up the reins
Tor u homeward drive, when he was hailed by
the gude-wlfe with pressing invitation to re-
turn and take nice cup O. tay." The Doc
tor is man remarkably quick and decided III
all his thoughts and actions, and his stomach
yearning for the proffeIed beverage, he sprang
from the buggy, re-entered the dwelling, re-
ceived the cup of tea, rich with sugar and cream
from the gude-wife's hands, and, with a courte-
Gus thank you, madam" draine, the cont nts
at single draught. Suddenly relinquishlns
the Severn ware from his grasp, without regard
for its great rarity and costllness. the Doctor.
with hands convulsively locked, spasmodlca.ly
grabbed The lower region of his stomach AN +,
assuming the posture of a springing kangaroo
Missed, IN accusing tones: MADAM, you have
| got that internal emetic into me!'' 'Och! fuht
is that ye are tellin' me, Docther, dear?" fran
ticaly cried the wife, bustling about and peer
| ing INTO the cups upon the table. "Besse..
Virgin! but the powthers are gone intrelyr'
| 'Gone! snarled the Doctor, who, amidst h $
stomach fearful retchngs, could not repress
ms ruling passion to perpetrate jest. "Gone!
IL am Judge OF symptoms in case of this
klnd' should say the powders We're coming
Bound TO leave them with you, maiam; but tl,'s
time have no particular instructions to give
Inake whatever disposition of them you please
erercise yonr own ex-excellent jud dgment, mad
madam! gisped the Doctor, rs the throes of
approaching dissolution seemed to seize upon
and wreste with both his outward and inner
man. ''Worra, worra but it meself that made
the mishtake It's meself that has plzened the
| Docther! But yez was lookin bilious. Docther
dear, and pray the Saints it may do yez good
Och. now! be alsy! Be asy whilst l how'd yer
head, Docther. dear, and mind the shlop-buck
ct, there's a darlint!''
a nelghboring ranchman, and intimate friend
Of the Doctors says tnat on the evening of the
occurrence of this frightiul anecdote, while re-
turning homeward, he met buggy, containing
IA w-.ite and ghostly- Hooking parsonage, proceed-
ing at fune al pace towards Dutch Flat; that
he soon identified the turnout as belonging tc
DIR. Martin, but that, to the best of his knowl
edge and belief, he had never before encountered
the pallid phantom who held the ribbons and
who, in reply to deponents sautation of good
evening, stranger, gave utterance to sepul
chral laugh, and in hollow and derisve tones
advised and recommended deponent to go tt
Beelzebub.''