Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-09-27
"A Prescription
For Two.
I; 4; 4:
. r. GILMAN raped brlskly on

J lar OF his fur coat higher to
shut out the sharp north
wind. Inside the house there was a
moments confusion, and then Mrs.
Green, assisted by six little Greens,
opened the door,
why, DOCTOR" she cried in surprise.
The little Greens lined up and held
their mouths open.
Tile ,gOyerness, hear, is ILL.," DR..
Gilman announced the fact deliberate
~. He stepped into the hail. holding
his medicine case with one hand while
with the other he made an opening in
the line Of little Greens.
Mrs. Green closed the door and pro-
tested. 1.-The governess is here but
she isn't i'll. That is, no more'n usual.
She's always ailing," in a disparaging
voice. did she send for you?"
The doctor ignored her question. He
threw off his fur coat, picked VI his
medicine case again and asked calmly:
"Where is she?"
J. In the sitting ROOM" replied Mrs.
Green, her arms akimbo. Instantly
six small voices cried, "In here" ard
the noisy troop made dash for a
weary.looking figure lying on a couch
near the fireplace.
Doctor Gilman paid no attention to
the figure on the couch. He blocked
the entrance against Mrs. Green and
said firmly: Come, children, I'm here
to visit the sick only"
The Greens, unused to obeying,
looked sulky.
Hurry up" came the doctors strong,
cheerful voice, and rs they filed slowly
past him. casting longing glances be-
hind he added: "Now don't let ne
see any Of you back here again until
my visit ends" His glance included
both mother and children.
Then he closed the door, drew a chair
In front Of the couch and sat down.
II have come to prescribe for you,
Miss Eggy," he said. looking for tie
first time at the girl ON the couch.
At his abrupt entrance Becky EgCy
had sat up. She leaned an elbow
against the back Of the couch ard
rested her throbbing head on her hand.
She, was perplexed at this unasked
call from DR.. Gilman.
Life was always offering perplexities
to Becky Eggy. The first had been
her queer little name, and the last and
greatest was what to do with her
queer little self. fug
At least Becky Eggy had thought SIZE
must be queer little self because ev-
erything she loved had been taken
away and so many things she did not
love had been substituted, while she
stood by, powerless to shape her life
In the midst Of such great perple1ities
DR.. Gilman's visit was the least.
II am not Ill, DOCTOR" she said, in
wondering tone. EI7gE
DR.. Gilman smiled inscrutably at
the fire and held his palms up to the
warmth. Then he turned suddenly and
looked keenly at Becky Eggy. She
Adgeted nervously with her black dress
with one transparent hand. What was
going to happen? Had he come to
tell her she must give up her little
school? Poor little Becky Eggy! What
would become of her then?
AL her faults swept in order before
her; she could not make the big boys
mind. How was that possible when
she had not strength enough even to
shake the little ones? Her head ached
so badly she often had to rest 1t on the
desk; perhaps he had heard how, only
a few days before, she was so tired
she had insisted that six times eight
are fiftyfour. Sitting there before Dr.
Gilman she felt painfully ignorant and
weak.
She looked at the doctors hand lying
IN his knee. Once, when she had been
so Ill that even she was obliged to ad-
init the fact, he had taken her head
between his hands and pressed the
ache out and she had slept.
AS If in response to the memory the
doctor leaned forward and laid his
hand a moment, In his most profess
sional manner, on her hot forehead.
Then he settled back in his chair and
said In most unprofessional tone,
Tired little Becky Eggy." a-
She rested her head against the high
back Of the couch and hastily closed
her eyes, but not until the doctor saw
the gathering tears. He scanned the
thin face and the shabby black dress
with a curious expression on his face.
Then he said abruptly. $50 you are not
MP .-F $3.50 -.
Becky shook her head. She could
not trust herself to speak after the
sympathy in the doctors voice as he
said, Tired little Becky Eggy."
But his voice was not sympathetic
now. 1t was brusque. People who