Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-02-04
SCENE IN OUR VILLAGE.
BY MISS AMELIA THRoPP.

His fcSlucuttY uOWtfGI, WIS nearly TWO
miles from that place. The house stood
little distance from the public road; il
was a two storied one, which had at one
time been n pretty color, but like the
green blinds and shutters, had so faded
0ut that the original tints were only
known to those who possessed good
memories.
The Doctors front-yard was grass
grown. boosting of neither tree nor flow
er, whilst his pumu Can old-fashioned
wooden one) stood for convenience di-
rccty in front Of the door, Doctor Sol
onion was bachelor He was tall and
stout. not handsome, well preserved
gentleman, who at the time / became
acquainted with him was in his sixty
third year. He was noted for his Pc
culiaritieS, or might say eccentricities.
The villagers laughed at his ways and
had many joke at his expense, vet
they loved him withal for his many good
qualities. He was very bashful, which
misfortune appeared to increase with
his years. The knowledge of his diff
fdence made him very awkward. He
was a good physician, honest and up
right in his dealings, and noted for his
kindness of heart.
Mrs. Melinda Jane Simpkins the viii
Iage grocers wife. declared he was "the
singularist man that she ever seed, for
laws-a-me, when he came to see my
Julie Ann when she was sick AIDED with
fever he nigh skeart my life out, for he
knocked over the stoye in the bed room,
and com nigh scttm the house attire
But. replied her neighbor, who was
the recipient Of this item of news "he's
Just so clever that you can't help but
like him, and is awful smart, fur my
old man says so, and that's why we
named the twins arter him Solomon
Noodle, and Freshcorn Noodle, grand
names You see, and we lost nothing by
it neither, fur he give each NV the young
ones twenty dollar gold piece, and
we've put it inter the bank fur EN- till
they grows up
The boys Of N, were truly mis-
chieyious, and would, although con-
stanty admonished to the contrary,
persist in calling the Doctor Green
corn" instead Of giving him his proper
name.
Doctor Freshcorn was remarkable for
the popularity of his dress, and in sum-
mer, would be attired generally in a
light-gray roundabout entirely too
short in the sleeves, and very small for
his 1lcshy body, making him look like
an inflated toad whilst his large red
face was made conspicuous by the small
velvet cap which adorned his head,
causing the mischievious village maid
ems to compare it to the rising sun, or
full moon. He frequently wore an old
fashioned coat with long tails and three
collars piled one on top of the other in
the style Of Queen Elizabeth days, which
looked so ancient that many declared
that it must have come out Of the ark,
and been worn by father Noah HIM
self.
Perhaps one Of the most amusing cir
cumstauccs narrated to me was of the
Doctor being in love. He had vowed
in his youth never to marry, and until
he passed if, with the mi l.summer and
autumn which followed, he remained
true 10 his determination, and it was
not until he was looking forward to the
sunset Of life, that the alarming event
took place,
Mrs Thornton one of the residents Of
the village, had at this time a beautiful
young widow stopping with her. Being
poor and DESTROYS of replacing her de-
parted lord, and thinking the doctor so
situated that he could support wife
comfortably, she determined to captiyate
him. She became apparently very ILL,
and her intended victim was summoned,
and as her sickness was not very alarm
ing, she was able to make herself very
attractive, His visits were frequent and
continued long after her conYalesccncc.
He was captivated and began to think
1t would be pleasant thing to have an
agreeable partner for the rest OF his
days, some nice person to take care OF
him in his declining years. He resolved
10 make himself agreeable. The task
was difficult for his awkwardness and
diilidence were against him. On one
occasion as he was bowling himself out
Of her sick room and being too polite to
turn his back on agreeable company,
went backwards, regardless of the steps
that descended to the vestibule at the
~ Va 50 AOiiE III VI cAttAAHs tAlt AVE-
INC his balance went blowing, scramb-
ling and revolving from the top to the
bottom, to the alarm of the widow, and
the amusement Of the little Thorntons.
He raised up, and almost flew to his
carriage, smarting and bruised, and
followed by the children, who called
loudly after him to know "if he was
hurt He was noted for driving the
slowest horse in the neighborhood,
This did not suit Squire Bellows, for one
time when he went after him TO attend
his little son, who was very i'll, and be-
ing DESTROYS Of getting the good man
there on time, urged him to mount his
colt called Telegraph. He reluctantly
consented. Mrs. Roselind (thc widow
almost tainted with fright when She saw
him dart through the village with such
speed that, she thought, Telegraph must
have been charged with electricity.
DR. Freshcorn's singular misfortunes
did not deter Mrs Rosclind from her
purpose. She was true philosopher
and saw beyond his peculiarites the
prospect Of q kind husband. and a good
home The situation had now become
serious, the doctor could endure it no
longer, and was determined to know his