Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-03-20
The Little Doctor---A True Story,
BY eRANpMoTHER PENTECosT.

some children, bringing With them
gust of autumn air.
oh, Grandmother exclaimed Cla-
ra, lit is only fifteen minutes till Little
Pets bedtime. Won't you please tell
US story just so long"
The old lady, well pleased at the fa-
miliar sight of chilish forms huddled
around her lap, and childish eyes
which looked SD brightly into her
wrinkled face, smiled lovingly upon
them as she began:
Once upon time there Was little
boy and little girl
Then the children looked at each
other and Uttered; for this was the
way GRANDMOTHER always commenced
her stories to Little Pet.
did il happen in that queer town
where you used to live-the village
where the sand was so white, the riv-
er so clear, and. the grass so green on
the high, high hiiiS?' asked Clara.
Yes said Grandmother.
Where the boys did not have to go
swim all Sunday, if they felt like it?'
asked Frank.
Yes replied Grandmother.
where all de little girls sung lots Of
pretty songs, 'cept der don't sing Pull
for de shore nor Hold de fOrt?' que
ried Little Pet, herself.
The very same answered Grand.
mother once more.
'Ohi do hope,' suggested Julia lit
was in one OF those big brick houses
built by the Dutch; and that 1t was up
in the garret on a rainy day-and that
garret full OF boxes, barrels, old clothes,
and dark corners
A shade of trouble crossed the bright
face of Little Pet as she entreated.
No, indeed, my dear; the corners
were not dark at ell. 1t was only three
o'clock in the afternoon, and you re-
member the hired man had taken the
boards off the two west windows, 50
that the light streamed in quite cheer
fully even on rainy day.
TON and Bessie had been working
hard ever since the sun shcne In at the
window that morning, shelling peas,
picking cherries, tending baby, etc.,
etc. So busy had they been, they
quite forgot to plan what they would
play when they found time; 80, after
reaching the garret, they had to stop
and think about two minutes and a
half, when Bessie suggested.
We'll, let's pretend we are big folks
anyway; for that ia the best fun of ALL
Now, Bessie said Tom, let me be
something 'portant this time. I'm
tired of being baby, q cook, or sick
girl. S'bose / ain the doctor, and you
be sick
We'll; but, If am sick, who'll nurse
me? Sick folks always have mothers
or somebody to take care Of them, you
know
That's sO,' answered Tom, and his
face lost some of its happy flush for a
moment; when suddenly Bessie sprang
torwsrd, with low cry OF pleasure, to
clasp in her arms-a half-grOwn kitten,
who, in seeking the children, had poked
its little white head just above the top
step of the garret stairs.
Now, Tom, I know, she exclaimed.
i will be the mother, and Kitty shall
be my sick baby. Then you can be the
doctor
That's it zackly!' cried Tom. And
let's tend your baby had sore eyes;
cause saw DR.. Mott put somo eyews-
ter into Mrs. Hayes's child's eyes the
other day, and knew just how it's
done. But you must get spoon first'
'AlI right! And while I'm gone,
Tom ,you must make yourself look
just as much ike doctor as you can.
There are some EN- PITY medicine bottles
on that window sill, you can put some
into your medicine-case.'
Bessie went down two flights of
stairs, to the dining-roOm, for q spoon;
and when she got back ToH was all
dressed and putting some bottles into
ragged handbag, which he called his
medicine-case. As he got up and came
toward her, she declared he looked the
very picture of a doctor; for he wore an
old high hat OF his fathers, which he
had stuffed with paper to keep 1t from
falling over his eyes; cast-of coat of
his eldest brothers, which nearly touch
ed the floor; and was walking with the
| top half of broken walking-cane in
his right hand, while on his left arm
hung his medicine-case.
The little mother sat down on the
upper side Of an old-fashioned hair
trunk, AMI Tom raped on the head of
barrel for the door.
Come in, DR.. Tom,' said a childish
voice.
"Good-afternoon,' Mrs. Bessie said
Tom, Pm very sorry to hear your ba-
by has sore eyes,
He then pulled poor pussy's eye
wide open with thumb and finger, ex-
Claiming:
"Oh, dear! They are very bad in
deed. But have some splendid eye
water, which will make them we'll,
I'm sure.'
Our little doctor then fumbled in
the bag, amid the empty bottles, till
he found one filled with a liquid hav-
ing the appearance of water.
Bessie held out the spoon with one
hand while with the other she held
down pussy's paws, talking to her all
the time, as II she was baby.
Meantime Tom filed the spoon very
carefully to the top, then said:
Nov, Mrs. Bessie, you must pour
half this into one eye and hall into the
othe, right quick; and never mind II
she does cry and kick. for Mrs. Hayes's
girl followed awful
Bessie did as she was told. But be-
fore the last half was In the second
eye kitty gave such a fearful shrek
and made such u violent struggle she
let her go, and sprang to her feet in
lgreat alarm.
Both children saw instantly that