Year: 1861

Miss Strickland was a maiden lady of five and
forty, who had wearied the Doctors patience by
her reiterated attempts at dying at most unreason


able hours, at least so far as regarded the comfort
of her medical attendants. One cold, stormy night
the Doctor had been called to Miss Sally, and
had succeeded as usual in pacifying her fears, aud
left her enjoying sound and refreshing sleep. He
had hardly arrived at home, drenched through with
the rain which falling in torrents, and got into
warm and comfortable bed, when he
awakened BY loud rap at the door, and voice
without, begging him to get up in a moment, as
one of his neighbors was dying and needed his as
sistance. Half asleep and half awake, he ran to
the door and inquired which of his neighbors was
in so dangerous condition. On opening the door
he was surprised and chagrined to fud that his
dying neghbor was Miss Sally Strckland-that
after he had left her, an hour or two BEFORE she
was taken suddenly down again, and had sent a
messenger to hasten his return, and tell him if he
did not come quick, he would not find her alive.
The messenger urged him to get ready as soon as
possible, and in the meantime he would get his
horse and sulky up, and have them at the door


The Doctor, worn out with the repeated calls, and


tatigued with his previous visit, hestated; but
finally decided on going, determined to make an
end of the job by either killing or curing.


On his arrival he put on gloomy and CHASTITY
countenance, said but very little and very gloom
lily, and in every respect appeared more like q
stranger from another world than the humorous
and agreeable physician. On his entering the
room of Sally she noticed the countenance of the
Doctor, and discovered that something prey
ing upon his spirits. as he did not appear with his
wonted cheerfulness. She inquired OF him the
cause of his gloom and DEPRESSION and begged


him to unbosom himself fully and freely, as it
would probably be the last opportunity he should
have.


He told her it would be improper, under existing
circumstances that, as the time of her dissolution
was approaching, it might terrfy her and hasten
her departure. She entreated him to keep nothing


from her though it might relate to herself for she
was desirous of knowing the worst of the case


and was Drepared to meet it, be it what it might
He still declined disclosing the cause of his meian-


choly and insisted that her remaining strength was


insufficient to sustain the shock which it must
necessarily produce, and begged her to turn her
| thoughts to other and more appropriate subjects
| Though Sally supposed herself dying, yet she


was unwilling to die without her curiosity gratifed
| and she therefore the more strongly importuned
| the Doctor to keep her no longer in suspense.
After getting her curiosity and imagination on tip.
| toe he consented He said when the messenger
| came last for him he in q sound sleep, and was
dreaming that he in the land of woe-that
| Beezebub conducting him to the various
rooms of the prison of despair, for the purpose OF
| showing him their arrangement-that in passing
! the door of room in which some Satans lodged
| he saw them jumping and skipping about apparent
ly in high glee-that BeelZebub, noticing it, tolt
| them to go bed and be quiet-that, on their moi
| obeying his orders, cheerfully and readily, he


stamped tremendously on the floor, adding, witt


true Satanic emphasis, " Go to bed say, and ge


some sleep, for old Sal Strickland is coming to


morrow, and therell be no sleep in h-ll for fort
| night!n Miss Sally sprang for the broom, but thu


Doctor, catching up his saddle bags, made his es
| cape. The cure was etfeCtual.