Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-07-26
The Rector.s ca,,.

"Good morning, Mrs. Minty y OBJ
served the Rector, as the door opened
to his knock.
The door seemed to have surly
way with it,and opened scarcely wide
enough to let the Rector in, although
Mrs. Minty invited him to enter, and
brushing some invisible dust from a
chair with her apron, asked him to sit
down.
The Rector saw at a glance that
Mrs. Minty was not pleased, but he
could not surmise what was the mat
ter. He had accidentally heard that
day of the sickness of her daughter,
and at the first opportunity had called
to see the young girl. Not seeming
to notice the mothers manner, he
said: ~ hear that Miss Maria is
sick.'
eyes! and. she might ha' died for
all she's seen of youw replied Mrs.
Minty with an energy that almost
shook the good Rector out of his seat.
The Rector was q meek man, and
overlooking the readiness of her re-
ply, he asked: "How long has she
been sick ?"
1.-TWO weeks and over" said the
mother.
"Have you had physician ?" in
quired the Rector.
"Had a physician what a question
Why, the girl has been almost dead
wonder you got here before she
was dead! Had a physician 2" these
last words Mrs. Minty fairly ground
out between her teeth with ill-sup.
pressed scorn.
II now became evident that Mrs.
Minty on each day of her daughters
sickness. and the Rcctor's delay in
calling, had added to her wrath, and
it had now reached degree of in
tensity that suggested strategy OF
flight. The Rector resolved to try the
former first.
"Ah! you have had physician p
he observed. "How did he happen to
call p
allow did he happen to call ? Well
did anyone ever hear such question
as that! y
"Perhaps some one told him Miss
Maria was sick or perhaps he was
passing and dropped in,' interjected
the Rector.
"Do you suppose I'd let my own
daughter lie sick in the house and not
send for the Doctor 7" fairly screeched
Mrs. Minty.
80, you sent for him," said the Rec.
tor.
"Do you think he'd come if we
didn't send for him? How d he know
Maria was sick 2" replied the mother
looking at the Rector rs though sb,
pitied his stupidity.
"Do you always send for the physi
clan when you want him!' asked thu
Rector with provoking mildness.
"Well, declare !" exclaimed Mrs
Minty. "What do yon ask such .
question as that for!"
~ did not know" said the Rector
s.but tha as you expected the clergy
man to find out as best he could tina
your daughter was sick, without send
ing for him, you might do the sam
with the physician"
Something had gradually beel
dawning upon Mrs. Minty's mind
which the last words Of the Rector
uttered with inimitable good-natnre
resolved into full intellectual sur
mise. Her severe face relaxed into
broad smile. go, seep she ex
claimed. 81 thought them was might
queer questions. Well, guess l ha
ought to ha' sent for you too, seein
as how | sent for the Doctor. An
you didn't know Maria was sick ?
NO" observed the Rector. 'If
had l should certainly have called be
fore this. I accidentally heard of he
illness this morning Tor the fir;
time
"Well, really, I hope you will e,
cuse me! Step this way, Maria's
the back room; she'll be all sorts {
glad to see you st Johns Chrop
, ic{e.