The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-07-22
MRS. MINTaN,s PRE- ExT

valise in hand, about to start for weeks
travel
Upon reaching her room, she seized
a bottle from drawer in bureau, and
then, as her face lit with smile at
happy thought, she seated herself and
wrote few lines upon a sheet OF paper,
which she placed in the bottle above
the powder it contained. Recorking it,
she again rushed to her husband. and
said -
1T is time you paid attention to that
cold of yours. 1t is becoming chronic
catarrh. This may be patert medi-
cine, but everybody recommends it, and
I bought it for you yesterday. Now you
will use it, won't you? The directions
are within"
Certainly, love-certainly. Thanks!
Good-by!'
Giving his wife hurried but ardent
embrace, Mr.. Minton put the bottle in
his oyercoat pocket and departed.
'"The silly darling" he smilingly MUIR
INJURED, as be turned the corner of the
street IF L should cut myself shaving,
she'd wish to send for surgeon; and
sneezed at breakfast. I must rid myself
As he thus communed with himself,
against the legs of a gentleman before
bina, and raising his head to apologize,
saw an aged neighbor.
.'Ah, Mr.. Jobson, beg pardon! Am in
a hurry to catch the train"
ugh. ughl 1t's-ugh!-no conse-
quence.
That's bad cough of yours. Think
I've something that will help you.
Highly recommended. Take it.
The old gentleman mechanically ex-
tended his hand, and as he received the
bottle, Mr.. Minton bowed and passed
on. The gift was scrutinized with a
doubtful sneer.
"Ugh! um ha! SO Minton has gone
into the quack medicine business, has
he? I'm too old bird to be caught with
chaff He shan't poison me with drugs.
I'll stop it right here. Stop? No-ughi
um! ba! I'll give it to my housekeeper;
she believes in such stuff"
Mr.. Jobson pocketed the bottle, and
slowly shuffied toward his home. His
housekeeper was profuse in her thanks
as she was presented with the "perfect
cure"
"I'm sure I'm much obleeged to ye,
sor! It's the very thing for me sister
cough. Has it made yer own betther,
sor?"
II experience relief from it," said Mr.
Jobson, with cynical smile, cat this
moment"
I'm expectin' me sister this very
mornin. We are both so much 'bleeged
to We p
But the housekeeper's sister proved,
on arrival, to have well-nigh recovered
from her trouble, and was ayerse to try
ing new remedy. Being, however, q
provident person, she accepted the gift,
saying that it would be good thing to
have in the house.
It was not destined to remain long
there. The husbands notice was at
tracted to it as he ate his lunch, the
mantelpiece upon which it bad been
placed being opposite his seat at the
table.
'sMore purchases!'' ne growled. sWhat
have you got there? What's the use oi
throwing money away like that Who's
sick now p
You're altogether too quick to find
fault 1t was given to me, responded
the wife.
sWhat is it, anyway? Let's see it."
"a mere cure for catarrh.
The man read the label and then put il
into his pocket, saying
s'I'll take it to the shop. It hasn't
cost us anything, and I'll give it to the
boss. 1t may do us some good in tha
way"
.'Unless you're sure he wants it, yoT
had better leave it where it is.
'I know what I'm about" replied the
man, as he arose to put on his coat.
"Mr. Dennis, I've heard you say there
was no cure for catarrh. Now here's 6
remedy that's warranted perfect. Il
you'll try it I wish you'd take it from
me-"
Thanks It's the very medicine I'm
using now, Got bottles of it. Keep it
or give it to some one who has need oil
it. Thanks, all the same"
'sI'll take it /" cried fellow-workman,
with jocose eagerness.
To him the bottle was handed.
'tAnd now you've got it, what are you
going to do with it ?" asked the giyer
"You haven't got any catarrh."
mo; but I've got children"
pretty nearly as bad, suppose
t'Does he want to get rid of 'em p
asked third.
Into the midst of the jesting party
now came small boy, carrying tin
pail.
Sorry Tn so late. father" he said tc
the possessor OF the bottle.
'tAll right, Jimmy; take this home
the men here are afraid of it"
The boy took the medicine gingerly to
his mother, with his fathers words
That good woman thought, if there was
any joke in the matter, it was joke
upon her, and seeing the medicine,
flung it ont of the window with an angry
frown.
The bottle fell upon sofc ground, and
was unbroken. As it shone in the sun il
attracted the attention of little girl
passing down the street, who directed
her grown sisters eyes to it, and was
thereupon requested to pick it up.
The young lady recognized it asa we'll
advertised compound, and deemed il
worthy of being deposited in the reticule
she carried. As she laughinglv exhib-
tied the prize upon her return home, q
favorite servant begged for it. She
knew person who suffered greatly from
the complaint it would cure, she said
and the medicine was given to her.
The person for whom she intended
it was good looking coachman, who
paid her considerable attention. He was,
in fact, expected at the garden-gate that
very afternoon.
He came and was given the bottle.