The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-11-09
SELECT STORY.
TIE DOCTORS PRESCRIPTION.
BY q. MAGILvEE pgNN.

and the sooner the better A young
vicar who is a bachelor is almost as
awkwardly placed as a young doctor.
Marriage, sir, marriage, that's your
plan"
Every good advice, doctor, / have
no doubt answered John layton,
Vicar of Stoke Minim, in the Lincoln
Marshes, "but then you know the old
saying, "Marry in haste, repent at lei
sure"
"Then don't marry in haste" re-
turned the doctor, beating his boot
with his riding whip as he sat side
ways upon his cob. "Take your time
over it. What made you come here to
lodge7'
"They told me that Mrs Dredge
was such a clean woman" said the
young vicar, looking back into the gar
den rather dolefully, as he stood Just
outside the gate, talking to the doctor,
who was going his round.
And certainly the prospect was not
pleasant, for Mrs. Dredge was very
industrious widow by the way, was
having what she called "a good clean !
and as it was fine day, the whole of
the parlor furniture had been removed
out into the garden, where chairs were
piled up as if engaged in acrobatic
tricks, the table was straddling over
the flower bed, the carpet lay on the
tiny grass.plot, the shred hearth rug
hung over the fence, and there came
from within lively sound of scrub
bing and the washing of water in q
pail.
"Wby, what are you doing now this
is going on?"
"Oh, am obliged to make shift in
the bedroom till it is DONE" remarked
the vicar dolefully.
"Ah! l shall have to find you a
WIFE,"
"Better find me new vicarage."
"Ah don't see much chance of
that" said the doctor. "We are too
poor over here. Why don't you come
and have a walk? Freshen you up
"Well, l think l will, said the
vicar "Wait till get my hat"
He ran in for his soft felt and came
back to find the doctor dismounted,
and tying his cob's reins in knot, SC
that they could not trail.
"Tck, Jacob y he cried, as the, vical
Joined him, and the cob went steadily
on in front, while its master walked
with the youg clergyman behind.
"Ah!" said the doctor, 81 must gel
you a wife. Let me see"
''Don't you think my income ough
to preclude all matrimonial ideas ?
said John Layton, smiling.
"Pooh nonsense what's enough fol
one is enough for two," cried th'
doctor. "Come, sir, none of your cell
bate ideas How am to live if peo
pie don't marry, and have children t.
be vaccinated and have the measle
and scarlatina and rashes and all tha
sort of thing? Look here, marry
woman with money. What do yo,
say to Miss Johnson, at Copley Farm
She has been to church regularly eve
since you came. There's strappel
Dark hair, dark eyes, good points
but she's so plump you can't talk Q
pollIS' w al idiltcu SOuiiu.
"Are you talking of d lady or
horse, doctor?'
LADY, sir, lady. Then, there's Mis-
Wardman slim, gentee, hundred
year in the three per cents. Her nos
is rather red, certainly, but matrimon
may take that away. What are yo
shaking your head about? She ism
15O."
wont do, doctor, won't do"
"Oh, bless us and save us !" said tn
hearty little doctor, with mock su
prise. "He,s particular and dainty,
he? Well, what do you say to Doll
Belts, the shop-keeper's daughter? 2
nice pink and white, good teeth, waco
mated her myself, had measles, croul
scarlet fever, chicken.pox and thrust
Regularly salted, you see, and the ol
man will leave her round sum whe
he can't stick to it any longer"
"Try again" said the vicar, laugI
ing, while they trudged sturdily o
with Jacob stopping every now an
then to browse and being left fe
hundred yards behind; but the doctc
took no heed, and at the end of fe
minutes Jacob came trotting aft,
them, went on in front, and kept the
till he saw something else toothsome.
"Try again, ell Why you are pa
ticular! What do you say to Lac
Laura Peignton, at the Towers p
"No, thank you"
"Well then, Sir John Taunton
daughter Bridget? All there's G
for you, see her follow hounds WI
she leads the field, sir, and stops
nothing"
"Ah, now you are talking sem
doctor" said John Layton .mockingl
"that's just the woman to share a pc
clergyman's house, and see his 81,
She'll darn his stockings, and sew
buttons and help him to spread out
small income SO that there might
enough to spare for charity. A v
man who would share with him |
counsel and advice when trouble ca
upon him, and his spirit was low
woman who would be helpmeet
him. Would your galloping Bird
Taunton be that ."
"No, I'll be blessed if she would,
lad. She drives me mad with
horsey slang and groom-like ways"
: "Then wen leave her out of
question" said the vicar, laughin
humoring the doctor in his prescril
fit.
"That's the sort of woman you W
, then, Ell? one of that button sewi
. stocking-darning sort p
"Yes."
"Full of sympathy and all that k
of thing?'
0 "Of course
Saving and ministering and
tle?"
"Yes,"
"Sort of nineteenth century ange
!. petticoats p
"Yes."
- "No objection to good looks
Irish need apply, eh :"
"Place of birth no object, doct