The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-12-20

grew worse and now gave daily in
structions as to how her funeral should
be conducted and what Pliny should
do when she was gone These details
always left Pliny very much detected.
and one day he said, desperately and
tearfully:
You shan't go long as any thing
kin be done fer you that amt been done
An there's got to be a consultation
over you. Becky"
lit won't do no good" said Mrs
Moll, firmly; "all the doctors in crea-
ton couldn't tell what's the matter
of me. It's one of them cases the
medical perfession amt got up to yet
and there ain I no cure for it"
Nevertheless, Mr.. Moll determined
to have a consultation. particularly as
old DR. Philbrick thought it advisable
TO do So
live done all can do. Mr. Moll,"
he said; I've bled her and blistered
her and poulticed her. and given her
a great deal and q great variety of
medicine, and yet she is no better. /
really think there should be a con-
sultation-'
DIR. Philbriclx belonged to a class OF
rural physicians fast becoming ex-
tinct. He failed to keep pace with
the age, and sneered at all the dis
coveries of modern medical science
His remedies were mostly of his own
manufacture, and he bled and blistered
his patients until nothing but their
iron constitutions and the tenacity
with which they clung to life kept
.1s rrf \
treatment
DIR. Peevy and DIR. Hobbson lived in
adjoining villages. They were elderly
doctors In full sympathy with the
Phiibrick methods of treatment. and
Mrs Molrs situation certainly seemed
dangerous when these three wise
acres came together in consultation
over her case
You've bled her. I reckon?" said
DR.. Peevy. while tying his horse in
front OF Mr.. Molrs house.
"Yes. half a dozen times" replied
. DR.. Philbrick, who had come out of
the house to meet his conferrees-
''And blistered herr" asked DR..
Hobbson. who had ridden up with DIR.
! Peevy.
"Yes, yes; time and again." replied
DR.. Philbrick.
1t was now June. and Mrs. Mol had
kept her bed steadily for so long a
time that even the uncharitable
neighbors began to think that there
freely was something the matter of
Becky Moll," and great interest was
felt in the case throughout the neigh
borhood.
Mrs. Mol seemed TO enjoy the pros
pect of consultation over her case.
1t was a distinction and privilege she
had never yet enjoyed. even though
she had lived with one foot in the
grave most of her life. But she
was firm in the conviction that the
consultation would amount to nothing
so far as her recovery was concerned
Its mostly to please Pliny. poor
man, that I've consented to the con-
sultation," she said. II know that
forty dozen consultations wouldn't
cure me- I've had so many diseases
my system is all wore out and amt
a mite o. stren'th left I've eudoored
all one pore human frame kin endoor,
and m convinced that I've got an in
durable complaint now. My grand
mothers aunt lay in bed two years,
just as I'm doin'. fore she died. and
Pliny had a second cousin go off jist
as I'm goin'. and nobody knowed
what aided him 1t runs in the
family and there's no use fightin'
ag' in it If l live through the consul
tation It's bout all expect to do"
She received the three doctors with
stOical calmness, and replied to all
their questions in a meek and feeble
voice.
please put out your tongue.
ma am" said DIR. Peevy, while DIR.
Hoboson felt her pulse. with his eyes
fixed on his immense silver watch.
Then Mrs Moll was put through
such long catechism of questions.
and subjected to such a humping of
the chest and pounding of the back
that her feeble stren'th'' was subject
ed to a severe strain. The examina-
ton OF the patient lasted for a full
hour, and then the trio of physicians
withdrew TO consult together.
''Supposing we walk out into the
orchard. Brother Peevy." suggested
DIR. Philbrick- I'm afraid the muir
mur OF our voices will make the pa
tient nervous. as she's In the next
room 1t pears to me like a mighty
serious case"
''She does seem to be pretty bad Of"
acquiesced DIR. Peevy. as he put on
his hat in accordance with DR.. Phil
bricks suggestion that the consulta-
tion be held in the GOODNESS and still
ness OF the old orchard. a short dis
tance In the rear of the house. No
sooner were the doctors out OF the
house than Mrs. Moll called Aunt
'Cindy. And Aunt 'Cindy appeared.
where's Pliny?" asked Mrs. MoIl.
81 see him goin' out toward the
medder lot when the doctors come"
replied Aunt 'Cindy. '.He seemed To
be too worried and Uneasy to stay in
the house while this here powwow was
goin' on He's been like fish out of
water ever sence he knew it was goin'
to be-"
Pore man. pore manr' said Mrs.
Mol- 1T II be hard on him to give
me up, but he's got to do it. My
stren'th is goin' faster and faster
every day. | wisht you'd tell Pliny
/ want him, and then I'd like you to
mako me some billed apple dumplin's
and bile me piece of cabbage I'm
so tagged out I've got to have some
thin nourishin' for dinner"
There stood in the meadow lot SOL
itary oak tree, to the shade of which \
Pliny always withdrew when he was
in the mood for solitary reflection.
and he always came thither in his
hours OF deepest detection. He
seemed to find sympathy and strength !