The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-05-10
THE DOCTOR,S ELDEST DAUGH.
TIED

doctor dunnlng tOlkSE
Well, and who suppOses a countr
doctor IS going to slave year-in an
year-out, riding over the country in a
| kinds of weather in gig as worn out &
himself getting up at unearthly hour
and dosing fidgety old women an
cranky babies, all for the sake of col
Thank you-say? demanded the girl in
heat.
Who supposes? Why, every body sal
, her mother, with a short, unpleasar
, laugh. It's always been so, and it al
ways will be. The doctor is the last on
paid, if he ever is; then he's lucky if b
don't have to take off a lot from his bill
And act like beggar glad of penn
thrown to him, exploded the doctor
daughter. wouldn't answer their call
and be at their beck and nod.
Oh, you can't do that, said her mOthe
with the easy resignation of one VIII
long ago has given up struggling will
fate. You cant pick and choose be
tween your patients, for its the riches
ones that don'tpay till they're obliged to
Folks forget, Phrony, that they've beel
sick, when they're up and around. IT
natural. I've been all over it time ant
asdihs WIN 1Oui poi ahh hOh oSC l'
help for it; no more do |.
Pa is so easy, said Sophronia. He'C
laugh and tell stories with old Judg,
Bennett just the same as if he hadn'
waited year to see his money. AnC
just think how he carried the judge al
through that fever, when everyone sale
he must die
Your pas thorough doctor, and he's
got conscience, too, said her mother
with commendable pride, l dino but
what Id as lief have him be that way,
as to carry the name the old judge does
with all his money.
Well, | sh'd like more money, declar-
ed SophrOnia, walking off discontentedly
to the window and gazing out.
I'm free to confess that should too,
said her mother, and the round face
heightened to allow anxious lines to
come on it's surface, but it's for your pa
that | want it Phrony and as she spoke
she abruptly thrust her needle in the
sheet she was turning, land ii on the ia
BILE, and deserting it, come over to So
phronia at the window.
dino but what he's breaking down,
she whispered, as if afraid to hear her
own voice. He's got so he don't sleep
nights.
Oh, ma, cried the girl, with a chill at
her heart.
Yes-and he worries cause, you know
there the mortgage and some other
things that we owe-the blue eyes look
ed anxiousIy into the younger brown
ones.
There wouldn't be. cried Sophronia,
passionately and turning away from the
window, if he was only paid what is his
due.
Well, but he isn't; so what's the use
in talking: broke in the older woman.
And your pa worries over his cases,
too, and because he hadn't Land up any
thing for his famiIy-and | don't know
what he don't worry oTer. I'm most as
nervous as he is. And then the next
morning, up he has to fly, and work like
a dog till night again.
Sophrona stood quite still. The doc
tors wife went on
Sometimes | don't know but what l
ought to take summer boarders, and
help him out,
Mother
Yes; tisnt pleasant thing to do, to
be sure, city folks are so stuck up, and
The 1pewaRd lrsRS s5dfG drfSG9Eggs, and they don't
death every day of my life, s'pose--
for all that, | don't know but what's it's
my duty TO do it. She heaved sigh, as
as if it were a drop too much, and lapsed
into silence.
Sophronia rushed from the room, feel
ing as if every prospective su mer
boarder were after her, and never stop
ping TIL her own room was reached, ,nev-
ertheless had ample time during the
flight over the stairs to be stung into
new misery by the thoughts Why
don't |, the doctors eldest daughter, do
something to help my father
What can do, pray tell? She turned
on herself when, with the door closed
and locked she could be alone with heT
fright and grief into which the mere
mention of her fathers failing health
had plunged her.
Not the least thing in the world am
good for, she cried, her brown eyes filled
with angry tears Teach school, l guess
so. The idea /! I've never touched t
piano, 50 | can't exactly give music les
sons. OF course | don't know how lt
emhroider, nor to paint. II Id been
city girl, there might be chance no"
to help save pa; but country girls can
do any thing. Oh, oh, oh to think JUS
an hour ago was fretting because
couldn't make presents at Christmas
Just like other girls and now-oh, pa
The girl flung herself in an agony o.
tears down by her little white bed, t
sob out remore, sorrow. shame and thu
other namely emotions that ovefburden
ed her young heart.
Phrony, called shrill, childish treble
| want to come in.
This last being emphasized by smar
rapplng of small boot heels on the bas'
Of the door, the eldest daughter jumped
up from her knees, and made haste Il
turn the key.
You needn't break the door down, sh,
said bit Grossly.
WHY. | didn't break the door, said
small child in dingy brown hair t
match. and a thin sallow face; AM
dropping to her knees, she examined tn
door carefully where the boots had beel
appIied. Now, not single, weest, teen
tlesL break has it got, Oh, Sophronl
Tucker, YOU told an awful big lie
Where dye s'pose you 20 when yo'
diel
She got up from her knees, and rub
bing her hands, which were also brow
and grimy, on her long suffering dress
surveyed her sister in virtuous silence
You ridiculous child exclaimed SO
phronia. Well, what doyou want com
IN and shut the door.
I'm coming. Abby advanced ant
carefully closing the door, suddenl.
whirled around and walked up to tn
eldest daughter. I'm all tored up, sh
said.
| should think you were, cried Sophro
MIA, sezing the Tapping end of the slacl
breadth thus presented TO her. No neeC
to tell of it. Mercy ! what sight, q
the gown seemed to shrink away from
her examining fingers, into a multitud
of little catacornered, zigzag rents, as /
each were saying, don't scold me, In
very small. Now, Abby Tucker, yol
ought to be ashamed Of yourself Wh'
do you suppose is going to mend thi
horrible dress-say
Why, you, said Abby, turning aroun'
to survey her sister out of astonishet
eyes. Don't feel bad, Phrony, you Cal
do it real good she added, pleasantly.
/? of course I've got to do it, said SO
phronia, with a twich that sent Abb!
back again. Do stand still.
You asked who'd do il? said Abby. .
Well never mind; oh, dear me, 1t viii
take a whole morning to make this dres
decent; a whole morning, Abby Tucker
How did you tear 1t I
was over at Jimmy Illness, and W
were looking at his pigs, and-and-l
tore, said Abby, bringing up suddenly
Tore? Well, the pigs couldn't haV
tore it. What were you doing aske
SOphronia, getting up for her wor
basket.