Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1899-01-12
L GJoD STORY.

A DOCTOR named Royston had sued Peter
Bennet for his bill. long overdue. for at.
tending the wife of the latter. Alexander
H. Stephens was on the Bennett side, and
Robert Toombs, then Senator of the United
States, was for DR.. Royston. The doctor
proved the number of his visits, their value
according to rural custom, and his own
authority to do medical practice. Mr.
Stephens told his client that the physician
had made out his case, and Is there was no
evidence wherewith to rebut pt of set the
claim, the only thing left to do was to pay
it. "No," said Peter. ~ hired you to
speak In my case, and now speak"
Mr.. Stephens told him there was nothing
to say he had looked on to see that 1t was
made out, and 1t was.
81 will" said Peter Bennett, elf Bobby
Toombs won't be too hard on me-"
Senator Toombs promised, and Peter
began,
"Gentlemen Of the jury You and I Is
plain farmers, and if we don't stick together
these ERE lawyers and doctors will git the
advantage Of US amt no lawyer nor doo-
tor and amt no objections to them In
their proper place; but they amt farmers,
gentlemen Of the jury. Now, this man
Royston was . new doctor, and ! went for
him to como and doctor my Wits sore leg.
And he como and put some iklte truck onto
II, and some xags, but peyer done y one BIT
Of good, gentlemen of the Jury. don't
believe he is no doctor, no way. There Is
doctors as 70 doctors, sure enough bat this
man don't earn his money; and If you send
for him, as Mrs. Sarah Atkinson did, for .
negro boy as was worth 81, 900, he just kills
him and wants pay for it."
~ don't =" thundered the doctor:
Did you cure him :" asked Peter, with
slow accents Of q Judge with the black cap
on.
The doctor was silent, and Peter pro.
oeeded:
"As was sayin', gentlemen Of the jury,
we farmers, when we sell our cotton, has
got to give vally for the money we ask, and
doctots aint none too good to be put to the
same rule. And don't believe this Sam
Royston Is doctor anyhow"
The physician again put in his oar, with
"look at my diploma If you think l am no
doctor.'
His diploma" =" exclaimed the new
fedged orator, with great contempt. " His
diploma Gentlemen, that is big word
for printed shsetskin, and it didn't made
no doctor Of the sheep as first wore it, nor
does II of the man who now carries it. A
good newspaper has more in it, and point
out to ye that he amt no doctor at all.
The man of medicine was now in fury,
and screamed out, "Ask my patients if
am not doctor
~ asked my wife" retorted Peter, Tan
she said as how she thought you wasn't"
ASK my other patients" said DR..
Royston.
This seemed to be the straw that broke
the camel's back, for Peter replied with
look and tone of unutterable sadness
s. That is hard sayin', gentlemen Of The
jury, and one that requires me to die or to
have powers as I've heard tell ceased to be
exercised since the Apostles. Does he ex-
pect me to bring the Angel Gabriel down to
toot his horn before his time, and cry aloud.
Awake, ye dead, and tell this court and
jury your opinion of Royston's practice
Am to go to the lonely churchyard and
rap on the silent tomb, and say to um as is
at last at rest from physc and doctors bills,
Git up here, you, and state if you died
natural death, or was buried up by some
doctors He says, ask your patients and
gentlemen of the jury, they are all dead
Where is Mrs. Beazly's man, Sam Go ask
the worms in the graveyard where he lies
Mr.. Peake's woman, Sarah, was attended
by him, and her funeral was appointed and
he had the corpse ready. Where is that
likely Bill as belonged to Mr.. Mitchell Now
in glory, a e1pressin' his opinion on Roys-
toms doctorin'. Where is that baby gal
of'Henry Stephens She are where doctors
cease from troublin'. and the infants are at
rest. Gentlemen of the jury, he has ct
chickens enough al my house to pay for his
salve, and furnished the rags, and don't
suppose he charges maxim Of her worse,
and even he don't pretend to Charge for
curin' of her, and I am humbly thankful
that he gave her nothing for her inwards,
as he did his other patients, for somethin'
made nm all die mighty sudden.
Here the applause made the speaker sit
down in great confusion, and in spite Of q
logical re statement Of the case by Senator
Toombs, the doctor lost and Peter Bennett
won. ..
EFFERToN TAFFY This is o favorite
Enoliah confaction To make H. take three