The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-07-17

"Whewp' said the old man, spreading his
hands over the blaze with a look of comfort
able appreciation. "What would induce me
to go abroad on such night as this? Winds
blowing great guns from the northwest
snow falling fast from the heavens, and ris-
ing just as fast before the wind from the
ground cold as Lapland, dark as Erebus
and to comfort the cold thought, Old Hurri-
cane poured cut another glass of smoking
punch, and began to sip it.
"How thank the Lord that l am not a
coctor! Ii | were doctor, now, the sound
of that bell at this hoar of the night would
brighten me; l should think some old wo-
man had been taken with the pleurisy, and
wanted me to get mp and go out in the storm
Ito turn out of my warm bed to ride ten
miles through the snow to prescribe for her.
A doctor never can feel sure, even In the
worst of weathers, of good nights rest.
Bnt, thank Heaven, l am free from all such
annoyances, and if l am 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 re-appeared.
SHUT THE DOOR, you villain! Do you
intend to stand there holding it open on me
all n1ght?' vociferated the old man.
Wool hastily closed the offending portals,
"hN hoiAAS0 " Ills IdctCI SLUG.
well, sir, who was it rang the bell?''
PLEASE, marster, sir, it wer' de Reberend
Mr. Parson Goodwin
Goodwin? Been to make a sick call
suppose, and got caught in the snow storm.
declare, it is as bad TO be a parson as 1t is
to be doctor! Thank the Lord 4 am not
parson, either. If were now, might be
called away from my coy arm chair and
tireside to ride twelve miles to comfort some
N pf nrlfv, NnNl Lnl,~
me into bed; pile on more comforters, tuck
me up warm, put bottle of hot water to
my feet, and then go and attend to the par
son," said the old man, getting up and NOV
ing towards his inviting couch.
Sar! sar! stop, sar, If you ptedser cried
Wool going after him.
"Why, what does the old fool mean?' ex-
claimed Old Hurricane, angrily.
''Sar, de Reverend Mr.. Parson Goodwin
say how he must see you yourself, person
able, alone"
''See me, you vilain Didn't you tell him
that had retired?'
Eyes, marse, / 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 of life and DEATH"
Life and death What have to do with
life and death? Itcon't stir If the parson
wants to see me, he will have to come up
heref' exclaimed Old Hurricane, suiting
the action to the word by jumping into bed
and drawing all the comforters and blankets
up around his head and shoulders
Mus fetch his reference up, sar?''
Yes. wouldn't get up and go down to
Washington. SHUT THE DOOR, you
rascal. or IN throw the bootjack at your
wooden headr'
Wool obeyed with alacrity, and in time to
escape the threatened missile.
After an absence of few minutes he was
heard returning, attending upon the foot
steps of another. And the next minute he
entered. ushering in the Rev. MFR. Goodwin,
the parish minister of st. Mary's.
How do you dor How do you do: Glad
to see you, sir! glad to see you, though
obliged to receive you in bedl Fact is,
caught cold with this severe change of
weather, and took a warm negus aud got to
bed to sweat it off. You'll excuse me!
Wool, draw that easy chair up to my bed
side for worthy Mr.. Goodwin, and bring
him glass OF warm negus. 1t viii do him
good after his cold ride.''
II thank you, Major Warfield. I will take
tonight"
Not the negus? Oh, come now, YOU are
Joking! Why, it will keep you from catch
ing cold, and be most comfortable night
cap, disposing you to sleep and sweat like a
baby OF course you spend the night with
us?"
i thank you, no. must take the road
again in few minutes"
Take the road again tonight! Why,
man man awe i've, It is midnight, and the snow
or, s6rrS to refuse your proffered
HOSPITALITY, and leave your comfortable roof
Tonight, and sorrier still to have to take you
with me,'' said the pasN, gravely.
Take ME with you! No, no, my good
sir-no, no, that is too great joke-ha!
hap 49,
''Sir, fear that you will find it 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. l was Just saving
there might be an old woman dying But.
my dear sir, what's that to me? What can /
do?'
Humanity, sir, would prompt you.''
"But, my dear sir, how can help her? |
am not physician to prescribe"
''She is far past physicians help
"Nor am a priest to hear her confess
sion-'
''Eer confession God has already re-
ceived.'
"Well, and Pm not a lawyer to draw up
her will"
mo, sir; but you were recently appointed
one OF the justices of the peace for Alegha-
n.y."
eyes. Well, what of that? That does not
comprise the duty of getting up out of my
warm bed and going through snow-storm
70 see an old woman EXPIRE"
II regret to inconvenience you. sir; but in
this instance vnur dutv dam uo,,r OF
tendance at the bedside of this dying wo-
man.
II tell you can't go and won't. Any
thing in reason I'll do. Anything can send
she shall have-Herel Wool, look In my
breeches pocket, and take out my purse and
hand it to me. And then 60 and wake up
Mrs. Condiment, and ask her TO fill large
basket full of everything poor old dying
woman might want, and you shall carry it."
Spare your pains, sir. The poor woman
is already past all earthly, selfish wants. She
only asks your presence at her dying bed"
But can't gol II the idea of turning
out OF my warm bed and exposing myself to
snow-storm this time of nightr
Excuse me for insisting, sir; but this is
an official duty" said the parson, mildly but
firmly.
'PIl-Pll throw up my commission to-
morrow" growled the old man.
IO-mOIIOW YOU may w budt; Dub mtdU-
while, tonight, being still in the commits
sion of the peace, you are bound to get up
and 60 with me to this woman's bedside
'And what the demon is wanted of me
there?1
''To receive her dying deposition"
'To receive dying deposition! Good
Heaven! was she murdered, theng' ex-
claimed the old man, in alarm, as he started
out of bed and began to draw on his neither
garments.
"Be composed-she was not murdered"
said the pastor.
'Well, then, what is it? Dying deposit
ton 1t must concern a crinep' exclaimed
the old man, hastily drawing on his coat.
SIT does concern a crime"
"What crime, for the love of Heaven?"
81 am not at liberty to tell you. She will
do that"
"Wool, go down and rouse up Jehu, and
tell him to put Parson Goodwin's mule in
the stable for the night. And tell him to
put the black draught-horses to the close
carriage, and light both the front lanterns
for we shall have dark, stormy road
SHUT THE DOOR, you infernal-I beg your
pardon, parson, but that villain always leaves
the door ajar after him."
The good parson bowed gravely. And the
major completed his toilet by the time the
servant returned and reported the carriage