The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-02-07
Select gturg.
THE DOCTORS OUTING.

Ned Mostyn and myself were chums
and cronies at the grammar school in the
fine old city of -. Our friendship was
very fervent. 1t seemed to us as if it
could never fail; but, on leaving the city,
the many crowding thoughts that press
upon young man on his entrance into the
world. if they failed to obliterate our boy
ish affection, left it, as it were, faint memo
ries of the past.
By strange coincidence we met as
fellow students at Guys, and our friend
ship was renewed. As it happened, being
masters of our own destiny, we resolved to
start together under the title of Percival
& Mostyn, and We were fortunate enough
to secure the practice of the late DIR. Wool
ley in the thriving town of N.
Our practice was success, and we were
fast securing an excellent position. We
had been much occupied and hard worked,
but, by one of those changes which some
times occur, we were suddenly left with
little or nothing to do. | was employing
this unwonted leisure in looking over some
of those formidable items of which our
ledgers presented a numerous and gloomy
record. [ had been especially footing up
one account which had been almost our
eariest-a certain Mr. Graves, which had
been marked "doubtfull' in the second
year, every doubtful in the third, and
''bad' in the fourth-when who should
present himself in our little consulting room
but the veritable Graves himself.
"Doctor," said he, "I have come to pay
you that ere bill o mine. The figures are
vastly big 'uns, but if they were ever so
much bigger l amt the kind o man to
grudge the amount, for have never for
got the many bitter journeys you have had
to see me and mine all across that common;
and now I've got the money together and
you shall have it, doctor. There tis, S235,
every half penny of which you thoroughly
deserve, and ought to have had long ago. -
And emptying his canvas bag on the table,
he displayed the full amount in shining
metal to the uttermost farthing.
''Now, dare say, doctor, you had given
this up as a bad job before now, but we
had to save it, and here it is at last When
ever we've made a sale, my wife claimed
something for the doctor; and when once
she got hold of it there was no getting it
back Now, didn't you give us up, doc
tor?"
"Well, | must confess, Graves, our faith
had somewhat begun to waver but we
won't say anything more about that" and
after trying the merits of our old ale
''wetting both eyes, as he called the sec.
ond tankard-he started off triumphantly
l couldn't help thinking of the laborious
honesty with which these people mus
have amased this money, and with what ;
one-sided view one is apt to look upon tn,
items of ledger. The money still lay OF
the table, when Ned came in accompanied
by our friend, Captain Willoughby, oul
nearest and best neighbor.
Esprit of Flutus, and shade of Cresusr
exclaimed he; "the treasure cave of Al
Baba and the forty thieves exhibited
Sesame is the word, I believe, and hop,
shant't forget it and be hanged, draw
and quartered But how is this, old boyl'
"Four-year-old Graves" said I; ''wha
do you think of that, old fellow And
was thinking, Ned, as things are dull, tn
case-book very light, and yourself full o
business energy, would take a turn my
self this very night and hear Ap Thomas
the harpist, of whom have heard goo,
account"
"Capital idea, old boy; so you shall
But what a night you have chosen! I
SHOWS and it sleets, it rains and it blows
and does all imaginable bad things in tn
way of weather"
eyes" said Willoughby, dit mustn't b
tonight, doctor, for the ride in your trap
N is worth much more than you ca
expect to get for it."
20, as for that, don't mind weather.
81 dare say not, but-happy thought
you shall have my brougham and the grays
and Reeve shall drive you. He'll run 20
over in style. Don't say no, for insis
upon it. They have done nothing lately
, and know it will enhance your comfol
at any rate"
81 second the kind proposal" /" said Net
and the thing seemed so pleasant that
could not refuse.
"Weil, my dear fellow, it is settled, the
that I am 10 he swell faniohf Rut "a