Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-02-14

those poor devils have some sort of an
excuse for theirconduct & you haven't
the slightest. You have a luxurious
home, a husband doing his level best
to make you happy-every thing uu-
der the light of the sun to please you,
and yet you will persist in swilIng
tea Yes, Doctor, swilling was the
word he used--bo hoo hoo! Oh
dear me to think | should ever have
lived to have heard such dreadful
language out Of my husbands mouth !;
and then he says-'and making me
as miserable u wretch as walks the
earth"
"Pretty PLAIN talk" interrupted the
Doctor, with shrug Of his broad
shoulders.
"Oh, yes" sobbed the victim, land
so aTfully coarse and unkind Ii I
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 laconism absolutely painful.
'But my husband has nothing IN
the world to trouble him but just my
poor health ; and | am sure | cant
help that.' This remark was more in
answer to her companions tone and
manner, than the one single word that
had accidentally escaped his lips, and
this the Doctor felt
"Anybody would think by the way
he goes on" continued the irate wo-
man, "that | enjoyed myself with
spasms, and cramps, and tainting fits
Anybody would think it was pleas
ure to me to feel, every time | see a
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
luminous, and his whole face declared
that he considered himself master of
the situation and if Mrs. Stephens
had been so entirnly taken up with
her own ailments, mental and phys:-
cll, that honest countenance would
have betrayed him.
"You say" he began, settling him
self in the large easy chair, and as,
sumins strictly professional air,
"that your husband has nothing to
trouble him but your health how do
you know that, Mrs. Stephens %
"How ? Why how do I know any
thing? BY the evidences OF my
senses. Don't l know that John
Stephens has 4 splendid business that
looks after itself, a magnificent in
come, anu money enough to live on
the bare interest. as well as family
need to live, if he never entered his
office again while he has breath.'"
"But money isn't everything, Mrs.
Stephens proceeded the physician,
with calmness almost Mephistopel.
ian. 'There are other troubles be-
sides money troubles. How about
health, madame q
"Elealth 2" repeated the lady with a
smile she intended to be sarcastic to
the last degree.
Health Doctor Ellis Why, |
there isn't healthier or n sounder
man than my husband in the United
States. He eats more In one meal
than | do in three months.
"There is nothing the matter with
your husbands stomach, Mrs Steph-
ems Doctor Ellis shaded his face
with his hand waited further de-
velopments. Mrs. Stephens mistook
this attempt at forced concealment
for emotion, and Immediately assum-
ing a sitting posture, brushed her eyes,
and looked pierclngly into her com.
panion's face.
"Why do you accent the word
stomach so strongly, Doctor Ellis ."
she inquired in anxious tones. Mrs
Stephens was forgetting herself, and
this the Doctor hailed as an excellent
omen.
"Only that I might make you under
stand that mans digestion could be
most unexceptionable, and yet, he be
far from sound in other directions.
"Then you mean to tell me that my
husband is sick"
81 do"
"Perhaps you will go still further,
and say dangerously 7?
you do desire it"