Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-03-28
The Doctors Experience.

'If you please, uncle said Nanny
Juniper, II would like to speak to
you"
Old Doctor Juniper dropped his
newspaper in dismay; the spectacles
fell Imply off his nose.
"You don't mean to tell me-" said
he, 'that them cider-bar'ls sprung a
leak ag'in"
"No, uncle said Mamie, nervously,
pleating the frill of her apron, and
changing color as she spoke.
"Then the red COW is got astray,"
groaned the doctor. at does beat all
how careless the neighbors are about
their bars
"The red COW is all right, uncle"
said Nanny. "It's about myself that l
wanted to speak"
Doctor Juniper drew long breath
Of relief.
ooh" said he, "about yourself? :?
Well, if it is new dress, you've had
two already since Thanksgiving Day;
and if you want to take lessons Of the
wax-hower woman, l think it's all
stuff and nonsense. So there. Just
hand me up the paper, Nanny, there's
good girl, and see what nice blue
berry dumpling you'll make me for
dinner"
"Uncle," persisted Nanny. 81 don't
think you understand. II am not
satisfied
Not satisfed?" repeated the doctor,
opening his small, blue eyes to their
utmost capacity.
81 should like you to pay me wages" !"
went on Nanny; "because. uncle
don't you see?-I'm doing all the work
of the house, and saving you the eX-
pense Of hired girl, and haven't a
penny that l can call my own; and if
its ever so small an allowance, uncle,
don't you see that it would save me the
modification of coming to you for ev-
cry yard of tape and paper of needles
that / want?"
Nonsense" roared the doctor.
Il shouldn't ask for it, uncle, if /
didn't feel l deserved it" pleaded Nan
ny.
"Rubbishw said her uncle.
"Six dollars a month isn't such a
great deal of money" urged Nanny.
"And l have lived here eight years al
ready for nothing, you know"
"For nothing, eh ?" said Doctor Ju-
niper, severely. 81 s'pose your board
and lodging don't count; nor yet your
clothes. All, the parson was right
when he preached, last Sunday week,
about the rank ingratitude Of the hui
man race. There never was anything
like it--never"
"Of course I'm very much obliged
for all that you have done for me, un-
cle," said Nanny, "But I'm two-and-
twenty now, and | really feel that l
can earn a little money of my own.
And if you think six dollars is too
much, | shall be very thankful for
five"
"Ah, indeed" said Doctor Juniper,
satirically. "Quite moderate, I'm sure.
But, you see, our ideas don't ezackly
agree. If you amt satisfied with
things as they be, you're welcome to
better yourself"
"Uncle" cried Nanny, her blue eyes
brimming over with tears.
"What l say l mean," said Doctor
Juniper, resuming the study of his
newspaper. "And now I'd like the
chance to read spell afore l 60 out
into the maple-pasture"
And, surreptitiously eyeing her de-
parting figure over the rims of his
glasses, the old man chuckled to him
self:
81 calc'late I've settled that bust
ness. Wages, indeed! Times.has come
to pretty pass, when my own niece
wants wages for doing my house
work"
As for Nanny, she went quietly into
the kitchen, where she prepared the
fowl for roasting, made little bread
sauce forit, concocted her uncles favo-
rite blueberry-pudding, and then re-
treated up stairs, where she packed
the little trunk, which had once be-
longed to her mother, and whose sur
face was decorated with "a. J."--Gor
Antoinetta Juniper-in brass nails.
81 can't live sov' said Nanny "My