The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-03-19
THE RIDE WITH THE DOCTOR.


'1d ike to change with any one" said
Patty Hill, as she hung out the last garment
Of the wash upon the clothes-lines. and sat
down for moment on the grass 70 rest
It's work, work, work, from dawn unit
dusk, and 1 get nothing FOR it but a few
clothes and my living. Jack and viii just
work ourselves into our graves, and leave
nothing behind us but a couple Of poor
children. Yes, I'd change with any one
this moment"
Would you 90 said a voice at her ear.
'fWell, if you viii you may. III show you
hOw-but be certain you are right sbou:
your choice"
Patty looked up and saw sitting beside her
a queer old man who went about the country
selling herbs and medicines Of his own
manufacture, and whom the country folks
called doctor-though the faculty assured
y did not recognize him.
ooh, You heard me. did YOU o." said Patty
'Wel, Doctor, perhaps You don't believe
me, out it's true. Why shouldn't I look
over there at the fine houses on the hill and
look at my shanty and see the difference.
and see the ladies in their silks, and with
their parasols over their heads, and me
baking my brains in the sun to wash, and
weed the few turnips."
still they are worse of. You've your
husband and children" said the doctor
a poor laborer, and couple Of bare
footed brats, said Patty, who was in her
worst mood.
''Very well. said the doctor, "come and
take a ride with me then, and well visit
some Of these people, and If you want 70
change with one Of them after that, why, III
give you spell and potion as cheap as
you can get them anywhere, and then youu
be in any ones shoes YOU prefer"
Il ride with YOU 20 said Patty. 'Weu J
didn't know You kept your carriage or any
horses but Shlnk's mare
" But do I've just set one up, said the
doctor
Then all OF a sudden there vas u sort OF
soft clatter, and .here was a little carriage
and two horses standing near.
Jump in, " said the doctor
"In my old washing dress o" asked Patty
'I'U give you a wrap" said tie doctor;
and be threw over her a sort of gray cloak
with a hood. In q moment horses, carriage,
and the doctor and Patty herself, seemed to
weigh nothing, and to be made Of something
as delicate as c0bweb and away they went
through the air as it seemed TO Patty, and at
last through the houses, not over the roads.
Squire Burke's place" said the doctor
Now, 1 don't doubt that you'd like 10 bs
Squire Burke's lady"
Indeed I would, " said Patty
You must take all her troubles with all
her happiness" " said the doctor
Few troubles viii she have" said Patty.
The little invisible carriage and its two
invisible riders were in the room where the
squire's lady sat She was dressed in =
beautiful robe, and there were pearls in her
ears, but drops brighter than they were on
her lashes, and her face was distorted with
grief and anger. 4 gentleman stood near
her He had papers, bound with red tape,
in his hand. His face was very grave.
Yes, Mr Grote, the lady was saying
YES, I must do it. ! know all the truth
now. have intercepted his letters have
watched him. He is false to me, as he has
always been cruel to me. must have d.
vorce. I viii 90 home to my fa.her-poOr
father who loves me so, and who thought ]
had made good match"
"Wen. " whispered the doctor, "wil YOU
be Mrs. Burke %
NO, not for worlds, " said Patty. Think
of Jack He's as fond Of me rs the day lie
COurted me, this minute"
Away went the horses.
This is Miss Alinton's, said the doctor.
''Oh, what fairy palace 90 said Patty.
And, indeed, it was. Nothing rare and
beautiful was missing. There We're crowds
/ Of servants and troops Of guests. They
were playing croquet on the lawn, singing
in the parlors, eating fruit under the shade
Of the trees, but where was Miss Min;on9
Come this way, said the doctor
Miss Mint9n was in her room; with her
was her physician.
Il am a woman Of sense, the lady was
saying, tell me the truth
My dear madame, " answered the physi-
clan, ''there are few women as brave as YOU
are but ! dare tell you that though you may
live a year, you may die suddenly at any
moment %
''You VIII not be Miss NIinton?'' said the
doctor to Patty.
"No, no, 10; I'm the healthiest woman !
know, " said Patty
Here is the Weatherby House" said the
doctor
"Why, what is the matter here o." ked
over bed in darkened room weeping bit
teTiy. Are the children sick
The children are dead. Scarlet fever
carried them OF, % said the doctor. "Wn
YOU be Mrs. Weatherbye''
with my two fine boys?'' cried Patty
'No, doctor: drive ms home. I've got my
health good husband who loves me, and
two darlings that might make any woman
proud. What IS money in comparison .
Drive me home, and thank you, doctor"
In 4 moment more Patty was sitting on
the grass near her own cottage door. with
her elbow in the clothes-basket and her
head on her arm, and Jack, with the babies
on his shoulders stood by her laughing and
. CRYING out:
Why, here's poor mamma, tired 70 death,
sound asleep, and 10 tea ready
'JaclZ, " said Patty, getting up, "you arc
The best natured man living to make joke
of it, when you come home hungry after
: your work, and wouldn't be any one but
; Patty Hin for a kingdom"
! ITEMS WORTH kSOTISC.-CabhaCes grow