Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-05-16

or any other accident of the seasons
But Nikita was the head of the family.
His life was more precious than one of
their own. His eldest son proposed to
him to bring the midwife. Don't smile.
O sons Of cities! for the world turns
round. Our modern question about wo-
men doctors was practically settled once
upon time, was unsettled about one
hundred years since, and has now come
up for reconsideration. 1t is the mid
wife-the sage .temme-who sets the
broken bones, binds up important
wounds, gives simple remedies for human
natures various ills, in remote villages.
not only IN Russia, but in more civilized
countries, even at the present day.
"The devil take your midwife, +"
snarled the sick man. "Time enough to
send for her when am dying"
p" 1t IS not SO very far to the town"
put In the second son at length, " su D.
pose we go and get the .doctor?"
Nikita hardly let him finish his sug-
gestion before he flung wooden bowl
at him, which had contained some cruel.
The missile struck him on one side of
the head, and the poor fellow stood half
stunned and quite bewildered by the eff
feet of his kind words, wiping some drops
of the cold Cruel from his face with the
sleeve of his jacket.
"The doctor! Yes, indeed! You
must be very anxious to see my precious
money pass into other hands-my
money that / took such pains and care
to scrape together! You would not
think of paying the old thief for coming
here to see me? You would all of you
come wailing about your poverty to me,
and saying piteously, Father, we haven t
got cent-she cured you Deuce take
you, every one of you! "
Nikita fell back as he said this, and
spoke not another word that day. That
night he was no better His breathing
was 50 difficult that the family got
frightened. This time they sent for the
priest.
"Bah! he's not very sick" thought
Father Jakim, the moment he saw him.
He drew near the stove, sat down upon
a stool, and spoke to the old sinner.
"Nikita Vlassief," said he solemnly,
I've come to see you, to speak Of the
mercies of the Lord and his divine COM
passion
Good evening, good evening" groWled
out the patient savagely.
You are very sick, my poor old
friend. God has punished you at last.
[ told you you were not laying up friends
for yourself when trouble was at hand.
You see what happens when we put off
too long"
"True, true" said Nikita, in a feeble
voice, " have been great sinner. May
God have mercy on me-"
"Well, make up for lost time now,
and, to show you are in earnest, offer
some tall wax tapers to your patron
saint, and to Michael the archangel, and
the Blessed Virgin"
Nikita's face grew grim. He kept
silence. The priest repressed smile.
Has anything gone wrong with you?"
he said, changing the subject to one
more acceptable to the sick man. "Who
has been worrying you?"
his fist at his family. "They are all in
a plot to make me give up my money.
A little while ago that wretched horse
took it into his head to die; then this
morning they wanted to go and fetch the
doctor; and you, too, your reverence
excuse me if [ speak it out-you want
my money"
Not for myself, but for the Church, ="
said Father Jakim, gently.
You or the Church, it's all the same
to me-you want my money. I'll never
give it you! You can have it when Pm
dead I'll have a handsome funeral, and
you can burn as many tapers as you
please! Do you hear that, you" cried
he, shaking his clenched fist again at his
sons. even when Pm dead I'll have it
all You shall not have hopeck Of it
even when Pm gone"
"Gently, gently" said the clergyman.
"There is no use i'll exciting yourself
when nobody contradicts you. Listen
to me. When you are dead, and Satan
has cot hold of your poor soul, what
will be the use of burning tapers round
your coffin? Now is the time to bring
forth fruits meet for repentance, to do
good works, to give of your abundance
to the poor. You won't have far to 90
to find them. Your family is far from
rich, you give them a great deal of
trouble, to say nothing of bad language
and cross words. Come give them a
little of your mouey, and I'll say pray
ers for nothing for your SOUL"
"No!" cried Nikita, "no! You can
pray for me after Pm dead, and my
money shall pay for it. But till then, if
you think | need your prayers you will
have to pray for nothing. | shan't give
you any of my money. [ am tired now,
begone! Go away, all of you!'
Kind hearted Father Jakim, thus dis
missed, went home, and passing into the
church prayed gratis for the sinner.
That night Nikita went out of his
mind. He fancied every one was after
his precious lilac bank note, and hurled
defiance at imaginary robbers. His sons
sent for Father Jakim, but the old man
could not recognize him.
"You shan't have it! You shan't
have it," he cried, in piercing scream
:" No, I'd rather tear it up! I'd rather
throw it away"
And all of sudden he seized the lit
tie parcel which hung round his neck,
and tearing at it with his teeth and
nails, got out the note. He put it into
b;c month rolled If rOund for half q