Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-03-14

sexton, who was her prime counselor.
Peter was as much perplexed as herself,
for he had no great opinion OF the boy,
and thought he would never come 70
GOOD. He at one time advised her to
send him to sea--a piece OF advice only
given in the most desperate cases; but
Dame Heyliger would not listen to such
an idea; she could think of letting Dolph
90 out of her sight. She was sitting one
| day knitting by her fireside, in great per-
plexity. when the sexton entered with an
! air of unusual vivacity and briskness
| He had lust come from a funeral. 1t
had been that of boy of Dolph's years,
who had been apprentice to famous
German doctor, and had died of con-
sumption. II is true, there had been
whisper that the deceased had been
brought to his end by being made the
subject of the doctors experiments, on
which he was apt to try the effects OF
new compound, or quoting draught.
This, however, it is likely, was mere
scandal; at any rate, Peter de Groodt
did not think it worth mentioning;
though, had we time to philosophers. 1t
would be curious matter for specula-
ton, why a doctors family is apt to be
so lean and cadaverous, and butchers
so Jolly and rubicund.
Peter de Groodt. as | said before, en-
tered the house of Dame Heyliger with
unusual alacrity. He was full OF bright
idea that had popped into his head at
tn. funeral. and over which he had
chuckled as he shoveled the earth into
The grave of the doctors disciple. Ii had
IL. el...t
the deceased was vacant at the doctors,
it would be the very place for Dolph.
The boy had parts, and could pound
pestle and run an errand with any boy in
the town-and what more was wanted IN
a student?
The suggestion of the sage Peter was a
vision of glory to the mother. She al
ready saw Dolph, in her minds eye, with
cane at his nose, knocker at his door,
and an ii. ID. at the end of his name
one OF the established dignitaries of the
town.
The matter, once undertaken, was soon
Effected: the sexton had some influence
with the doctor. they having had much
dealing together in the way of their sep
arlte professions; and the very next
he called and conducted the
urchin. clad in his Sunday clothes, TO
undS-go the inspection of DIR. Kari Lodo- 4
wick knipperhausens
They found the doctor seated in an
elbow chair in one corner of his study or
with q large volume in Ger
man print before him. He was short, 1
Tat man. with a dark, square face, rem
lered more dark by black velvet cap. 4
He had u little, knobbed nose, not I'M 4
like the ace of spades, with a pair OF 4
spectacles cleaning on each side Of his /
husky countenance, like couple of bow I
windows.
Dolph felt struck with awe, on enter
ng into the presence of this learned man:
md gazed about him with boyish
wonder at the furniture of this cham
Der of knowledge, which appeared
10 him almost as the den OF a magician.
In the center stood a claw footed table,
gith pestle and mortar, phials and galli-
Dots, and pair of small. Furnished
icales. At one end was heavy clothes
press, turned into q receptacle for drugs
md compounds, against which hung the
loctor's hat and cloak and gold headed
,ane, and on the top grinned o human
kull. Along the mantelpiece were glass
'essels, IN which were snakes and lizards,
md a human foetus preserved in spirits.
closet, the doors of which were taken
81. contained three whole shelves OF
,oo.Is, and some, too, of mighty folio
collection the like of
which Dolph had never before behold
rs, however. the library did not take up
he whole OF the closet, the doctors
hrifty housekecper had occupied the
est with pots OF pickles and preserves,
nd had hung about the room, among
wful implements of the healing art.
trings of red pepper and corpulent GU
umbers. carefully preserved for seed.
Peter de Groodt and his protegc were +
eceived with great gravity and statei-
ess by the doctor, who was o very wise,
ignilicd little man, and never smiled.
Ie surveyed Dolph flom head 10 foot.
bove and under, and through his spccta-
les; and the poor lads heart quailed as
lese great glasses glarcd on him like
vo full moons. Tie doctor heard al
hal Peter de Groodt had TO say IN favor
the youthful candidate, and then,
'ctting his thumb with the end of his
)ngue. he began deliberately to turn
vcr page after page OF the great Llck
olume before him. at length. after
lany huns and haws. and stockings Of
ne chin. and al that hesitation and de-
beraion with which wise man pro-
aeds to do what he intended to 60 from
le very first, the doctor agreed to take .
le lad as :. disciple. TO give him bed I
81
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