Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-01-08


10 do so.
"I've 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 a great variety OF
medicine, and yet she is no better.
really think there should be- a con-
sultation."
Dr. Philbrick belonged to a class OF
rural physicians fast becoming ex-
tinct. He failed to keep pace with
the age, and sneered at all tho dis
coveries of modern medical science.
His remedies were mostly of his own
manufacture, and he blsd and blistered
his patients until nothing but their
iron constitutions and the tenacity
with which they chung to life kept
them alive through course of his
treatment
DR.. Peevy and DIR. Hobbson lived in
adjoining villages. They were elderly
doctors in full sympathy with the
Philbrick methods of treatment, and
Mrs. Molls situation certainly seemed
dangerous when these three wise
acres came together in consultation
over her case.
you've bled her, l reckonp" said
DR.. Peevy, while tying his horse in
front Of Mr.. Molls house.
Eyes, half a dozen times" replied
DR.. Philbrick, who had come out of
the house to meet his conferrees.
"And blistered herPn asked Dr.
Hobbson, who had ridden up with DR..
Peevy.
Eyes, 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
"reely was something the matter of
Becky Moll," and great interest was
felt in the case throughout the neigh
borhood.
Mrs. Moll seemed TO enjoy the pros
pect of consultation over her case.
1t was 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.
''lt's mostly to please Pliny, poor
man, that I've consented to the con-
sultation," she said. II know that
forty do1an consultations xun,,ldni 4
cure me. I've had so many diseases
my system is all wore out and amt
a mite o stren'th left. Eve endoored
all one pore human frame kin endoor,
and Pm convinced that I've got an in
durable complaint now. My grand
mothers aunt lay in bed two years,
just as I'm dom, fore she died, and
Pliny had 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 fghtin'
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 meek and feeble
voice.
'Please put out your tongue,
ma am" said DR.. Peevy, while Dr.
Hobbson felt her pulse, with his eyes
fixed on his immense silver watch.
Then Mrs. Mol was put through
such long catechism of questions,
and subjected to such n 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 full
hour, and then the trio of physicians
withdrew to consult together.
"Supposing we walk out into the
orchard, Brother Peevy," suggested
Dr. Philbrick. I'm afraid the MUIR
muir of our voices will make the pa
tient nervous, as she's in the next
room. 1t pears to me like mighty
serious case"
"She does seem to be pretty bad of,
acquiesced Dr. Peevy, as he put on
his hat in accordance with DR.. Phil
bricks suggestion that the consulta-
ton be held in the GOODNESS and still
ness OF the old orchard, 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 Plinyp" asked Mrs. Moll
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 man. said Mrs.
Mol. 'It'll be hard on him to give
me up, but he's got to do it. My
is goin' faster and faster
every day. 1 wisht you'd tell Pliny
i want him, and then I'd like you to
make 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 a 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
in the sheltering arms of the oak tree,
and it had been told all the joys and
sorrows of his life.
The good man was almost beside
himself on this bright and peaceful
June day. There was something so
ominous in the presence OF those three
grave and gloomy-faced doctofs that
Mr. Moll could not stay under the
same roof with them, and he had fled
TO the oak tree to remain there until
they had gonc. Never had he been
more depressed in regard TO Mrs.
Moll.