Athothis : a satire on modern medicine / by Thomas C. Minor.

exhausted. While this was occurring, a puny three-year old child sat on the floor nursing a shabby rag doll, her baby eyes filled with tears of sympathy and infantile wonder. Presently the woman, in a coy, half-hesitating manner, remarked: " Charley, I went after a doctor this morning; you must neglect yourself no longer. I am so afraid that this cough may affect your lungs." The sick man turned his head, and said in a petulant, chiding voice: "Why did you do this, Maggie? You know we have no money to buy bread, much less medicine; be- sides, the doctor will expect his fee." " Yes ! but I have obtained a little money," answered the woman with sud- den eagerness. " I went to the pawnbroker's this morn- ing, and he advanced three dollars on my—" Here her voice faltered, and she raised a coarse cotton apron to her eyes. " Why ! " exclaimed the husband, in a tone of surprise and bitterness, " I thought we had nothing left valuable enough to pawn or sell." "'Twas my wedding ring," murmured the wife, bursting into tears. " Oh! Maggie, how could you ? " groaned the man, pulling the woman's head against his breast, and fondly caressing her. " My cup of sorrow is now filled to overflowing." " This is too much! " cried Paulus Androcydes, drop- ping his spiritual hand in a vain search for a material pocket-book. At this instant a loud knock was heard at the door, and the woman, hurriedly wiping her eyes, arose and lifted the catch. A heavy-set man, with round bullet-like head and closely-cropped black whiskers, made his entrance, cap in hand, his dark eyes fairly sparkling as he cast a quick, keen glance around the room. This individual was attired in a threadbare suit of clothing, cut in the fashion of ten years previous. Without a word of salutation, the