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

of a very clever clerk, a client of mine at times, who is a sober, honest, industrious man, and who would make her a good husband." " Exactly !" remarked Athothis, with a grim smile. " Yet, the advice of the demon, now playing the role of affectionate mother, will be duly followed by this poor girl, who may marry some wretched scamp, and lead a horrible existence. But, see ! another shadow has ap- peared, and is standing in front of your sceptical friend, the dark-eyed young journalist. He evidently believes now, as he is weeping." " 'T is the living likeness of his mother !" exclaimed Paulus Androcydes. " She was my patient once, and died of chronic asthma. She was a gentle, kindly old lady, who read her Bible daily, but worshiped that boy. Listen to the words the wicked medium is putting in her mouth: " Dear boy, your mother is ever near you. Keep on in your present path, and you will acquire fame and for- tune. Ah! my child, things on this heavenly side of life are not what we were taught on earth. All here is beauty and divine love. I no longer am blinded by religious prejudices. Ah! my son, your mother was obliged to unlearn much that she was taught in the physical state. All now is light where formerly there was darkness. But I can say no more at present; I feel weak to-night." And with this the apparition disappeared. " The base deceiver!" growled Paulus Androcydes, in a passion. " The demon who has assumed to represent this young man's mother, and thus mislead the youth, deserves severe punishment. I can now see the perni- cious influences exerted by these destroyers of human happiness and reason; these crowders and pushers for