Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-11-29

you may get well; if not it is impossible"
replied the doctor. If you think | am
exaggerating, or don't know what am
talking about, send for any reputable
physician you please, and ask him to tell
you the truth"
"Oh, Mary. There isn't any way of
doing the things you speak Of. Clarke
feels awfully poor this summer, and l
have been trying harder than ever to
make the ends lap over"
"Where is Clarke = inquired the doc
tor.
"He's down at the creek, haying."
II will drive down and have talk
with him right away" said my friend.
making ready TO leave.
"Oh, Mary! Don't YOU think there is
any other way
The poor woman had broken down
completely now. and the doctor held her
for a moment in her strong arms and ca
ressed her fondly.
NO other way, SIS" she replied, but
we will do the best we can. There's no
telling what good rest and careful nurs-
ing will do for your poor, tired body, my
dear"
Il was going to :ake you to some
other places, the doctor remarked, as we
drove away, "but it would have been
the old story--work, work, work, with
ou; rest or change, from years end TO
years end. Ny mother kilel herself by
her attempts to get ahead Of time. Two
sisters have Travelled the same road that
Anna has started on; one Of them abso-
luiely dropped dead in her kitchen, in the
midst Of her work. This is the kind OF
thing could not endure to see go on. !
knew it was al! wrong as soon as knew
ANYTHING, and as soon as became old
enough TO have a voice in my own edu-
cation persisted in taking different
course. Ny sister Anna bas tried so
hard Il get ahead of time and make
things lap over that she has abusel and
probably killed herself, besides criminally
neglec,ing and mismanaging her children.
don't suppose she has averaged over five
hours sleep out OF the twenty-four during
the five years and think OF that amount
of rest for woman whose brain and
muscle are forever in use Every year |
come up here and find things going from
bad to worse among my relatives and
most OF my friends, and the horrible par:
Of it is nothing one can say or do will
have the sligh:es; effect.
"DJn't you think your very natural
anxiety about your sister may have col
orcd your diagnosis little :" inquired.
MT in the least my companion an
wercd. "Anna's pulse was one hundred
and twelve. The respiration was labored
and oninously frequent. There i no
mis:akjng such signs.'
"H)w could she keep q. work with
such pulse Us that" | asked.
- BY the exercise OF will-power," said
the doctor. In our family will-power
is direc: inheritance. Ii 1t could only
have been pat to good use, how much
might have been accomplished Ny dear,
this will-power eats salt pork when good
beef and the most nutritious food are ab-
solute necessities. 1t makes all It's cream
INTO butter that the cash may lap over.
It drin ks skim-milk and works nineteen
hours out of twenty-four."
Soon after this the doctor dropped me
at my boarding house.
NOW you know all about ii, she re-
marked in parting, and ii any one ever
asks YOU why Mary Stedman did not re-
main among her relatives, yol can say
she declined to live among criminals anu
suicides.
Five months after the above incident
sister Anna died and one year from that
date the widower married again. The
second wife is duplicate OF the first,
working night and day and laying up
for future which it it more than likely
she never will enjoy.-ChristiD tn'on.