The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-04-13
BlGGs GETS IN THE WRONG HOUSE.

The burglar scare il our neighborhood has
not fairly subsidized yet, and now an addition
al worry comes in the shape of an epidemic
among the children-the smaller ones partlc-
ularly. Arthur Wellesley had an attack,
and when I asked our family physician, DR..
Doubledose, what the matter was, he answer
ed me in terms so difuse, and composed 50
largely of what I took to be Latin, that |
came to the conclusion that he knew scarcely
more about it than | did. It is not necessary
that I should describe the symptoms OF the
disease. Suffice it to say that my boy recov-
cred, MacHoulikin's young ones pulled
through, and I believed the trouble to be
over in our vicinity, when one evening at
supper Mrs. Biggs remarked that Rarefry's
little girl was still sick.
"Sorry to hear it, I'm sure" said l between
two m%outhfuls Of tea.
"You ought to go over there with me after
supper, Amos, and see the poor little angel
"I? Why, what good could I do, Lucre-
tia Do you take the butter and eggs bust
ness for an eclectic college Of medicine?
Don't they have q doctorY
"Oh, yes; old Epsomsaltz attends them,
believe. I wanted you to go over to Rare
fry's because it would be an act of n%eighbor-
" kindness, that is all, answered Mrs. Biggs.
"But my dear Lucretia, if I do, Mrs. Rare
fry will infallibly ask me to hold the baby.
an operation that | heartily hate. For when
/ have an infant il my lap, I am ii constant
fear that it will fall and come to pieces like q
glass vase. I'd rather carry six boxes OF
we'll packed eggs from the express wagon to
the store than to hold one baby for fifteen
minutes. Still, if you think the Rarefrys
would regard our call as q compliment and
expression Of sympathy, I'll go, of course"
Immediately after supper we went. Mr..
Rsrefry's business called him away that
evening and Mrs. r. was down in the base
lnent with her children. She was holding
in her arms the little invalid, who was fast
asleep.
ssThe doctor left q prescription here this
afternoon, but | have no one to send to have
it put up. L don't like to trust such an errand
to Euclid Cher oldest son, aged about seven)
and so I am p%erplexed. Dr. Epsomsaltz said
that the sooner the medicine is administered
the BETTER"
OF course, you know what I did then.
Moved by the sight of the sick child and its
anxious mother, I thought: 'Amos Biggs,
you are morally, mentally and physically
competent to 60 after that medicine. This
woman evidently believes that Epsomsaltz's
prescription will benefit her child. Whether
you agree with her or not has nothing to do
with the question. In these circumstance
you are under a solmn obligation as a man
and q Christian to go straight to Thumpmor-
tar's drug store, have that mess, whatever it
be, compounded, and bring it back here"
But before I could give expression to my
benevolent resolve Mrs. Biggs, with the
cheerful promitude with which she always
volunteers my services in a good cause, said:
sThe precious little darling shall have its
medicine right away. Mr.. Biggs will do
your errand, Mrs. Rarefry."
"Oh, no" began Mrs. Rarefry, ':t would
be too much"
sNot at ALL said I, rising. "Where is
the prescription 7"
Our neighbours anxiety for her baby over
came her polite scruples, and she handed
me a piece of paper covered with scrawls
that looked like the inscription on a tea chest.
AS I moved towards the door heard a piano
in the next house. II should think that
noise would disturb you, Mrs. Rarefry?
1T does, indeed, but what can we do?
Our next door neighbor regards his house
as his castle, and no considerations Of cour-
tesy, not to say humanity, restrain him and
his family from making all the racket they
choose"
I left the house, and q few moments brisk
walk brought me to the drug store. Trump
mortar, the proprietor, is q short man, with
9 long moustache, who carries himself with
the air Of stern dignity, SO common and 50
amusing in men less than five feet high
After scowling, first at me and then at DR..
Epsomsaltz's hieroglyphics (if that word is
not spelled right, fix it please, Mr.. Trump