Middletown transcript., 1891-02-26
THE DOCTORS OUTING.

LAH UVuAVA
Ned Mostyn and myself were chum;
and cronies at the grammar school IL
the fine old city Of. Oul
friendship was very fervent. 1t seem
ed to us as if it could never fail ; but
on leaving the city. the many crowd
ing thoughts that press upon young
man ON his entrance into the world
if they failed to obliterate our boyish
affection, left it. as it were, faint
memories of the past.
By a strange coincidence we met
as fellow students at Guys, and our
friendship was renewed. As it hap
pened, being masters of our own des'
tinv. we decided to start together
under the title of Percival & Mostyn,
and we were fortunate enough to se-
cure the practice of the late DR..
Wooley in the thriving town of n
Our practice was success, and we
were fast securing an excellent posi-
tion. We had been much occupied
an6 had worked hard, but, by one Of
those changes which sometimes occur,
we were suddenly left with little or
nothing to do. | was employing my
unwonted leisure in looking over
some of those formidable items of
which our ledgers presented numer.
GUS and gloomy record. / had been
especially footing up one account
which had been almost our earliest
certain Mr.. Graves, which had
been marked doubtful y in the
second year, very 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, 81 have come
to pay you that ERE bill o. mine.
The figures are vastly big 'uns, but if
they were ever so much bigger [ amt
the kind O man to grudge the amount
for l have never forgot the many bit
ter journeys you have had to see me
and mine all across the common and
now I've got the money together and
you shall have it doctor. There it is,
$235, every half penny of which you
thoroughly deserve, and ought to
have had long ago." And emptying
his canvas bag on the table, he dis
played the full amount in shining
metal to the uttermost farthing.
Now, l 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. Whenever 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,
doctor?'
Well, I must confess, Graves,
our faith had somewhat began 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 second
tankard-he started off triumphant-
y.
| couldn't help thinking Of the
laborious honesty with which these
people must have amassed this money,
and with what one sided view one is
apt to look upon the items Of a ledger.
The money still lay on the table,
when Ned came il accompanied by
our friend, Captain WiIloughby, our
nearest and best neighbor.
Esprit of Flutus, and shade of
Cresus r. exclaimed he; "the treas
ure cave Of Ali Baba and the forty
thieves exhibited Sesame is the
word, I believe, and hope I shan't
forget it and be hanged, drawn and
quartered ! But how is this, old
boy?'
Four.year-old Graves" said T.;
" what do you think of that, old fell
low. And 1 was thinking, Ned, as
things are dull, the case-book very
light, and yourself full of business
energy, | would take turn this very
night and hear Ap Thomas, the harp.
ist, of whom have heard a good ac-
count"
Capital idea, old boy, SO you
shall. But what night you have
chosen! 1t SHOWS and it sleets, it
rains and it blows, and does all
imaginable bad things in the way of
weather. I"
Yes," said Willoughby, it must
not be Tonight, doctor, for the ride
in your trap to Ms worth
much more than you can expect to
get for it."
" Oh, as for that, don't mind
weather"
l dare say not, but-happy
thought-you shall have my brough-
am and the grsys, and Reeve shall
drive you. He'll run you over in
style. Don't say no, for I insist upon
it. They have done nothing lately,
and | know it will enhance your COM
fort at any rate
81 second the kind proposal" said
Ned and the thing seemed so pleas
ant that I could not refuse.
"Well, my dear fellow, it is settled
then, that | am to be swell tonight.
But can you not be my companion,
Willoughby2 The grays will travel
none the worse for having their own
kind master behind them"
" No, no; you shall have them all
alone, and l feel it comfort to think
you will have them"
In dne time q snlendid nair of nraus