By way of resting myself,I crossed the Common,for the third time,bespoke the carriage,got some lunch,packed my purchases,smoothed my plumage,and was back again,as the clock struck two.The Doctor hadn't come yet;and I was morally certain that he would not,till,having waited till the last minute,I was driven to buy a ticket,and,five minutes after the irrevocable deed was done,he would be at my service,with all manner of helpful documents and directions.Everything goes by contraries with me;so,having made up my mind to be disappointed,of course I wasn't;for,presently,in walked Dr.H.,and no sooner had he heard my errand,and glanced at my credentials,than he said,with the most engaging readiness:
"I will give you the order,with pleasure,madam."Words cannot express how soothing and delightful it was to find,at last,somebody who could do what I wanted,without sending me from Dan to Beersheba,for a dozen other bodies
to do something else first.Peace descended,like oil,upon the ruffled waters of my being,as I sat listening to the busy scratch of his pen;and,when he turned about,giving me not only the order,but a paper of directions wherewith to smooth away all difficulties between Boston and Washington,I felt as did poor Christian when the Evangelist gave him the scroll,on the safe side of the Slough of Despond.I've no doubt many dismal nurses have inflicted themselves upon the worthy gentleman since then;but I am sure none have been more kindly helped,or are more grateful,than T.P.;for that short interview added another to the many pleasant associations that already surround his name.
Feeling myself no longer a "Martha Struggles,"but a comfortable young woman,with plain sailing before her,and the worst of the voyage well over,I once more presented myself to the valuable Mc K.The order was read,and certain printed papers,necessary to be filled out,were given a young gentlemanno,I prefer to say Boy,with a scornful emphasis upon the word,as the only means of revenge now left me.This Boy,instead of doing his duty with the diligence so charming in the young,loitered and lounged,in a manner which proved his education to have been sadly neglected in the"How doth the little busy bee,"direction.He stared at me,gaped out of the window,ate peanuts,and gossiped with his neighborsBoys,like himself,and all penned in a row,like colts at a Cattle Show.I don't imagine he knew the anguish he was inflicting;for it was nearly three,the train left at five,and Ihad my ticket to get,my dinner to eat,my blessed sister to see,and the depot to reach,if I didn't die of apoplexy.Meanwhile,Patience certainly had her perfect work that day,and I hope she enjoyed the job more than I did.Having waited some twenty minutes,it pleased this reprehensible Boy to make various marks and blots on my documents,toss them to a venerable creature of sixteen,who delivered them to me with such paternal directions,that it only needed a pat on the head and an encouraging"Now run home to your Ma,little girl,and mind the crossings,my dear,"to make the illusion quite perfect.
Why I was sent to a steamboat office for car tickets,is not for me to say,though I went as meekly as I should have gone to the Probate Court,if sent.A fat,easy gentleman gave me several bits of paper,with coupons attached,with a warning not to separate them,which instantly inspired me with a yearning to pluck them apart,and see what came of it.But,remembering through what fear and tribulation I had obtained them,I curbed Satan's promptings,and,clutching my prize,as if it were my pass to the Elysian Fields,I hurried home.Dinner was rapidly consumed;Joan enlightened,comforted,and kissed;the dearest of apple-faced cousins hugged;the kindest of apple-faced cousins'fathers subjected to the same process;and I mounted the ambulance,baggage-wagon,or anything you please but hack,and drove away,too tired to feel excited,sorry,or glad.
