Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1882-09-07
HIS ONLY RELATIVE.

HIS ONLY RELATIVE.
The whole population Of the village
was going down the street, but DR.
Hicks was going up. His black coat
was buttoned more tightly than usual
about his spare form, his eyes glarcd
rebukingly through his spectacles up
on his ncighbors hurrying by to the
circus.
The doctor, in his quiet house on the
hill, had dozen boys, who, under his
teaching, were preparing for college.
He knew that they were hard at work
now, with the windows closed to keep
out the sound of the band and the
cheering under the big tent. He had
attended to that before going out.
By dint of controlling boys twenty
years, the doctor had begun to look
upon all mankind as his pupils. He
would have liked to tweak the ears of
the squire or set him down TO ninety
lines of vigil when he saw him going
under the canvas cover.
The next moment the good old man
stopped, appalled,. There was his
senior class--thc three boys who were
reading the Iliad-standing at The ticket
oilicc-high hats, downy upper lips,
canes and all.
Young men, thought better of you
than this"
"WGhad a half-holiday, you rcmem-
her, DOCTOR
''But to spend ii in this scene Of fol-
ly! You intend to become physician,
Mr.. Maury. What confidence would a
dying patient have in you, who had
seen you staring at these painted
creatures and human monstrositics? |
do not exercise my authority. only
ask You to consider your own scif-re-
spect.n
The boys grew red and angry, They
mad planned this visit for days. The
doctor stood looking anxiously into
their faces. Maury laughed
"Wc'll not go, sir. But out of re-
spect to you; not to ourselves. Come,
boys"
Mauray, who was always spokesman
and leader, had not the least doubt that
the boys would follow him. The doctor
looked after him with friendly eyes.
Judge Lloyd came up at the moment
and said,--
at is easy to see who is your fayorte
scholar
"No, no. Charley is not my best
Grecian, andis deficient in mathematics.
But he is an independent, high-spirited
lad. Good blood. / knew his father
well-James Maury."
"An orphan, eh?"
"Yes. His guardian sent him to me
ten years ago. There was property,
enough, it seems, to educate him, and
no more. The boy has had lonely
life enough. He has no kinsfolks nor
friends. The other boys have letters,
boxes, visits from their friends, and 20
home in the holidays; but Maury has
nothing to give interest to his lifc-ex-
cept, indeed, the wish not to disgrace
the Maury name"
"If you please, sir, this is for you,"
said u queer-looking boy, running
against the doctors legs and handing
him q note.
"DEAR SIR:''-thc note ran--"I am the uncle
and only living kinsman Of yourpupil, Charles
Maury. As wish to confer with you in
reference to the boy, and cannot come to YOU,
/ shall feel myself greatly indebted to you II
you will accompany the bearer, who will lead
YOU to me. Respectfully,
"WM X. SPERRY.n
"UncleN 'Mauryn Most extraordi-
nary coincidence All! here is post
script:
"You will oblige me by keeping this
communication secret, especially from
my nephew"
"And where is Mr.. Sperry?" de-
manded the doctor, turning to the boy
"Tll take you to him." he said, and
he began to dodge through the crowd,
the doctor following him, Finally he
entered house with windows looking
TO the circus.
The doctor sat down, bewildered by
the sudden summons, the beating of
drums, and the clangor of cymbals.
"Mr. Sperry, being stranger, has
doubtles blundered into lodgings in
this place 1t must be exceedingly un-
pleasant for man of refinement to be
within hearing of all this vulgarity. /
shall take him home with me at once.
'SperryP' Yes, Charley's father did
marry aSperry. Old Maryland family.
Very strange | never heard of him be-
fore, though"
The Doctors eyes, as he meditated,
wandered to the window. Opposite
was large opening in the canvas tent
The interior was in direct view. The
doctor was human. He looked, rose,
walked to the window,
The county had emptied itself into
the circus. The massed heads rose,
tier upon tier, from tan-bark TO the
roof. The ring master strutted into the
centre of the circle, whip in hand.
II have tho pleasure, ladies and
gentleman, of introducing to you the
world-renowned giant, Magog, meas
uring seven feet five inches from head
to 5eel. Step out, Magog'
Magog entered the arena, clothed in
scarlet, with nodding plumes in an i'm
mense chapeau.
Zone of a family of giants" shouted
the Snowman. Father and mother
both giants. Magog. Feel his arms,
gentlemen. Solid flesh. No deception. p"
The great creature stools till while
crowd of men and boys pinched and
fingered his limbs. The doctor turned
away with a sudden feeling of nausea.
If this monstrosity had any human
feeling what tortures he must undergo
to be thus exhibited as beast "But
is it possible" thought the doctor