Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-03-01

very loudly after he left her, and it did
him good to think he could afford people
that much pleasure.
Well, the doctor discovered his family
at last, and in due course of time the
dinner was served, and many of their
friends, after the old fashion of the
country, shared the meal with them,
and contributed their own to the COM
mon stock. erybody was cheerful,
and the doctor was telling his best anec-
dotes-rhe ones that he had frequently
put to the test and knew to be good ones
land the dinner was good, and the day
was fine, and everything above and be-
low was delightful. But the doctor had
hardly finished his fifth anecdote when
bis oldest daughter drew him lightly
aside and whispered:
"Father, Mrs. Simmons says she
wants to see you a little while about her
baby. 1t hasn't been well for several
There was Mrs. Simmons, sure
enough, with the sick baby wrapped up
in green cloak. The baby looked I'M
usually well for a sick baby. But what
has medical science to do with such
things at these? The doctor looked very
grave: suggested peritonitis, and even
cynonche troche0lis. But after while
he cheered the afflicted mother with thu
assurance that he could discover NJ
serious symptoms, and that dose o
catnip tea would probably set the infan1
right. Then the doctor kissed the baby
and chuckled it under the chin, an(
called it "a pretty little thing, just lik'
!, its mother" which made Mrs. Simmons
so proud that she burst into roar O.
laughter that shook the leaves for yar(
! around her.
The doctor did not like icing treated
with so much levity, even by his bes
friends. but he took off his hat to tn
: lady with the best grace. and said b.
was happy to be of service to her. Thel
2 he returned to his family and friend
7 and their dinner, which was still pro
crossing.
Twice more during the meal the doc
: tor was interrupted during his anecdote
: by an exactly similar professional sum
mons. One of the times the sick chile
was borne in the arms of a colore'
nurse, and was clad in scarlet sscque
the other time it was brought to him b.
Mrs. Pentecost, a neighbor, who hat
o protected her offspring from the wealth
er by casting over him an orange hood
4 sick babies generally are; and the col
ored nurse seemed more hilarious an,
showed more of her teeth than Is allow
= ed to the happiest negro i'll the heigh
x of the corn shocking; and Mrs. Pente
3 cost appeared to enjoy her baby's Hines
y as if it were one of the choicest jokes c
= the season.
In fact, everybody seemed to the doc
>, tor to be in splendid humor. Whe
y he went back to his friends, all of theI
had their handkerchiefs stuffed int
their mouths, and his wife in particuls
= appeared to be on the eve of havip
y Mysteries. The doctor, absent minde
!, as he was, saw that there was some jok
y af1oat, and he was keen to discover j
IL and to enjoy the laugh at the expense {
+ some worthy friend.
So he demanded an explanation. An
}, be got it.
: To this effect, namely: that his ow
.e baby, one Luke, two years of age, ha
been palmed off on him six times thS
morning by as many as six 'differer
:, people. as their several babies, and ha
~ been duly prescribed for as such
u whereas, the own dear father of the poo
~ little creature never once recognized b
own features in those of the mysterior
" infants that were presented to him.
y Luke did not take any Of the phys
10 prescribed for him, and hence grew u
to he remarkably fine and healthy boy
= He was well grown before people cease
!. to tell and laugh over joke they ha
) practiced on his father at the Old SID
u Association. I saw Luke only the 9th
y er day, and found him great big mar
y with grizzled whiskers and little bal
u spot, like priests tonsure, on the to
{ of his head. He has been brave car
= I tain and is now leading lawyer in til
= distant county ip which he lives; an
le ne has as many children around b
own knees and fireside as he represent
- ed in his own person on that long II
membered day at the Association.