The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His WifeFirebaugh, Ellen M.
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The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife
Firebaugh, Ellen M.
Physicians -- Anecdotes; Wit and humor
Mary's face was a study. Jim and his sister had not seen the deaf old
man in the wagon, as a low-branched pine stood between the wagon and the
house. And this was the way her politeness was interpreted!
The comicality of the situation was too much. She laughed merrily and
explained things to the tall girl who seemed much relieved.
"I ought to 'a' brought a knife, but I was in such a hurry I forgot it."
Eating peaches with the fuzz on was quite too much for Mary so she said,
"Thank you, but we'll be starting home in a moment, I'll not have time
to eat them. But I am very thirsty, might I have a glass of water?" The
girl went up the walk and disappeared into the house. Mary did so want
her to come out and draw the water, dripping and cool, from the old well
yonder. She came out, went to the well, stooped and filled the glass
from the bucket sitting inside the curb. Mary sighed. The tall girl took
a step. Then, to the watcher's delight, she threw the water out, pulled
the bucket up and emptied it into the trough, and one end of the
creaking well-sweep started downward while the other started upward. The
bucket was on its way to the cool depths and Mary grew thirstier every
second.
The doctor appeared at the door and looked out. Then he came, case in
hand, with swift strides down the walk. The gate banged behind him and
he untied the horse in hot haste, looking savagely at his wife as he did
so.
"I suppose you've asked that girl to bring you a drink."
"Yes, I did. I'm very thirsty."
"You ought to have more sense than to want to drink where people have
typhoid fever."
The girl started down the walk with the brimming glass. The doctor
climbed into the buggy and turned around.
"For pity's sake! what will she think?"
A vigorous cut from the whip and the horse dashed off down the road.
Mary cast a longing, lingering look behind. The girl stood looking after
them with open mouth.
"That girl has had enough today to astonish her out of a year's growth,"
thought Mary as the buggy bumped against a projecting plank and tore
over the bridge at the foot of the hill.
"John, one of the rules of good driving is never to drive fast down
hill." Her spouse answered never a word.
After a little he said, "I didn't mean to be cross, Mary, but I didn't
want you to drink there."
"You should have warned me beforehand, then," she said chillingly.
"I couldn't sit in the buggy and _divine_ there was typhoid fever
there," she continued. "'A woman's intuitions are safe guides' but she
has to have _something_ to go on before she can _have_ intuitions."
"Hadn't you better put your ulster on, dear?" inquired the doctor in
such meaning tones, that Mary turned quickly and looked off across the
fields. A Black-eyed Susan by the roadside caught the smile in her eyes
and nodded its yellow head and smiled mischievously back at her. It was
a feminine flower and they understood each other.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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