The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1876-05-10
Stephens Pericardium.

ANONt a eih SoiiE W bSAi 1bu Juob
what my husband said to me this morn
ing, doctor, word for word" said the
invalid, Mrs. Stephens, laying back on
the sofa pillow, the very picture Of
misery. The family physician, who
was called on an average to the Steph
ems mansion $50 times year, drew
chair to the coach and waited quietly
for his patient to open her book of
complaints.
"Last night, you see, doctor. l had
an i'll turn, and be wanted to come for
you, but when l got so he dared to
leave me, concluded that we'd better
let you sleep"
"Much obliged to him." said the
doctor, with sarcastic emphasis on the
personal pronoun. Last night was
the first undsturbed nights rest have
enjoyed for a week" -
Mrs. Stephens continued: "The
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 is. mighty hard to
bear; but let. me tef1 you what my
husband said, first, doctor, before we
go into the symptoms. When he was
going down to breakfast, he says to
me, Kate, what shall | send you upT
"Says |, Il don't want anything 10
this world but good strong cup of
tea Tell Bridget to send it up in
little teapot
II saw, doctor, that he didn't move
after | said this, so l turned and look.
ed up at him, and such a picture Of
rage end disgust | never saw in my
life. Finally, says be, Tea ! tea tea
it is nothing but tea from morning till
night, Kate; you are the color of
Chinaman now. Why don't you or
der good beefsteak, and cup of
chocoIate' That would be q sensible
breakfast
"'But John, says I, you forget
that I am sick and have no appetite
Il was ready to cry, but l was de-
termi2ed that he should not have the
satisfaction of seeing the tears fall.
Forget says he, 'forget l wish
to Heaven l could forget. It's moth
ing but sigh and groan from one years
end to another. am out of patience
with you. When we lived in a part
of house, and you did your own
house work, you were as well and as
happy as anybody, and no man had a
pleassnler little home than John
Stephens, but what have / now to
leave or come back tor And this,
doctor, is what he ended up with:
"'Kato,' 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, because the majority OF
these poor scamps have some SOFT of
an excuse for their conduct, 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, ana yet you will persist in
guzzling tea, and making me as misera-
Die wretch as walks The earth Yes
doctor, guzzling was the word he used
boo! hool hoo! o dear me! to
think ! should ever have lived to have
heard such dreadful language out o.
my husbands MOUTH p
"Pretty plain talkl" interrupted
the doctor, with shrug of his broad
shoulders.
"Oh, yes" sobbed the victim; "and
so awfully coarse and unkind. If
had had a spell and died there befor,
his very face, l don't believe he would
have cared the snap of his finger
tell you, DR.. Ellis, there is such {
thing as q mans getting hardened"
Evidently" replied the physician
with laconcism absolutely painful.
"But my husband has nothing il
the world to trouble him bot just ny
poor health and | am sure can
help that"
This remark was more in answer t.
her companions tone and manner thar
the one single word that had acciden
tally escaped his lips, and this th
: doctor felt.
Anybody would think by the wa,
he goes on" continued the irate wo
man, "tbat 1 enjoyed myself wit
: spasms and pains and fainting fits
: Anybody would think it pleasure t
g me to feel every time / see q funera
procession as if the hearse was goin
i to stop at our door next. o. yes sue
life is enjoyable; very, indeed"
> DIR. Ellis took no Iutice to thes
last words; the mans eyes grew lun
inous, aud his whole face declare
that he considered himself master {
the situation and if Mrs. Stephen
had not been so entirely taken u