National Republican., 1883-07-16

you hcar3'
"Yos, sir" said the darkey, rctreating
As Wool took shaded taper and opened
the door leading from his masters chamber,
tho wind was heard bowling through the long
passages ready to burst into tho cozy bod
room.
SHUT THE DOOR, you scoundrel' roarcd
Old Hurricane, folding the skirt of his warm
dressiug-gown across his knees, and lowering
closer to the fire.
Wool quickly obeycd. and was heard re-
treating down the steps.
"WhewW said the old man, spreading his
hands over the blaze with n look of comrorta-
BILE appreciation. "What would induce nc t.
go abroad on such night rs this? Winds
blowing great guns from the northwest
snow falling fast from the heavens, and rising
just as fast before the wind from the ground
cold as Lapland dark rs Erobus! No tell
ing tho earth from the sky. Wheww and TO
comfort the cold thought, Old Hurricane
poured out another glass of smoking punch,
and began TO sip it.
How | thank the Lord that am not "A
doctor! IT were a doctor now, the sound of
that bell at this hour of the night would
nghten me; should think some old woman
had been taken with the pleurisy, and wanted
me TO get up and go out in tho storm-.to turn
out ofmy warm bed To ride ten miles through
the snow TO prescribe for her. A doctor mover
can feel sure, oven in the worst of woathcrs,
OF good nights res. But, thank Heaven, |
anu free from all such aunoyancos, and if |
anu sure of anything in this world it is of my
comfortable sleep, said Old Hurricane, as he
slipped his punch, smacked his lips and toasted
his feet.
AT this moment Wool reappearod
SHUT THE DOOR, you villain! DO you in
tend to stand there holding IL open on mo all
night?" vocifcrated tho old man.
Wool hastily closed the offending portals,
and hurried to his masters side.
well, sir, who was it rang the bell?
Please, marster, sir, il wor' dc R5borcnd
Mr. Parson Goodwin"
Goodwin? Been to mako sick-cal, /
suppose, aud got caught in the snow.storm.
declare, it is rs bad 10 be parson as it is to
be doctor Thank the Lord | am not par
son, either If wero, now, might be called
away from my co2y arm chair and fre-side to
ride twelve miles to comfort some old man
dying of qui insy. Wool. hcrc-help mo into
bed; pile on more comfOrters, tuck mo up
warm, put bottle of hot water to my feet
and then so and attend to the parson," said
the old man, getting up aud moving towards
his inviting couch
"Sar! sar stop, sar, if you please" cried
Wool, going after him.
"Why, what does the old fool meanP ex-
claimed Old Hurricane, angrily.
"Sar, de Reverend Mr.. Parson Goodwin
say how he must see you yourself personablc,
alone"
"Soe me, you villain Didn't you tell him
that / had retired?"
Yes, mars, tell him how you wer' gone
to bed and asleep mOre'n an hour ago, and he
ordered me to come wake you up, and say
how it were a matter o. life and death"
Life and death What have to do with
life and death l cont stir! If the parson
wants to see me, he will havo to come up
herew exclaimed Old Hurricane suiting the
action to the word by jumping into bed and
drawing all the comtorters and blankets up
around his head aud shoulders.
" Mus | fetch his reference up, sar?"
Yes. wouldn't get up and go down to
see -Washington-sHUT THE DOOR, you ras-
CAL or I'll throw the bootjack at your
WOO den head ~
Wool obeyed with alacrity, and in time to
escape the threatened missile.
After an absence Of a few minutes, he was
heard returning, attending upon the footsteps
of another And the next minute he en-
tered, ushering in the Rev. Mr.. Goodwin, the
parish minister of st. Mary's.
How do you do? How do you do? Glad
to sec you, sir! glad to ses you, though
Obliged to receive you in bed! Fact is, |
caught u cold with this severe change of
weather, and took a warm negus and got to
bed to sweat it Off You'll excuse me- Wool,
draw that easy-chair up to my bedside for
Of warm negus. 1t will do him good after his
cold ride"
II thank you, Major Warfed. will take
tho seat, but not the negus, if you please. to-
night.
"Not the negus? Oh, come now, you are
joking Why, will keep you from catching
cold, and be n most comfortable night-ca
disposing you to sleep and sweat like n baby
Of course you spend the night with us2"
| | mn fnl ln h,A
again in Il few minutes"
Take the road again tonight Why, man
alive, it is midnight, and the snow driving
like all Lapland."
Sir, | am sorry to refuse your profIered
hospitality, and leave your comfortable roof
tonight, and sorrier still to have to take yOu
with me- said the pastor, gravely.
"Take ME with you No, no, my good
sir-no, no, that is too great Il joke-ha la ="
Sir, | fear that you will find it a very Sc
rious one! Your servant told you that my
errand was one of imminent urgency?"
"Yes, something like life and death"
Exactly. Down in the cabin near the
Punch Bowl there is an old woman dying"
There! | knew it. | was Just SAYING
there might be an old woman dying But,
my dear sir, what's that TO mo ? What can |
do?"
Humanity, sir would prompt you"
But, my dear sir. how can / help her =? /
am not n physician to prescribe"
"She is far past n physcau's help"
"Nor am | priest to hear her conies-
sion"
Her confession God has already received"
"Well, and Pm not a lawyer to draw up
her will"
No, sir; but you were recently appointed
one of the justices of the peace for Allie
ghany?"
"Ye5. Woll, what of that? That does not
comprise the duty of getting up out of my
warm bed and going through q snow-storIn to
sec an old woman expire"
81 regret to inconvenience you SIR but
in this instance your duty demands your at
tendance at the bedside of this dying
woman"
"I tell you l can't go, and won't. Any
thing in reason I'll do Anything l can send
she shall haye.--Here! Wool, look in my
breeches pocket, ana take out my purse and
hand it to me. And then 20 and wake up
Mrs Condiment, and ask her TO fill a large
basket full Of everything poor old dying
woman might want, and you shall carry it,"
"Spare you pains, sir. The poor woman is
already past all earthly, selfish wants. She
only asks your presence at her dying bed"
but | can't go |! tho idea OF turning
out of my warm bed and exposing myself TO
q snow-storm this time of night !"
Excuse me for insisting, sir; but this is
an o0iciaL duty said the parson, mildly but
firmly.
"Pll-Ill throw up my commission to-
mOrrowW growled tho old man.