“I found him eatin' dinner——
“Come quick,” says I, “to old Keziah Onthank's. He's dyin', as sure as my name is Jehoshaphat.”
“Well,” said the doctor, “die or no die, I can't come till I've eaten my dinner.”
“But he's dyin', doctor.”
“Oh, nonsense. Talk of old Keziah Onthank's dyin'. He'll live longer than I shall.”
“I recollect I thought the doctor very unfeelin' to talk so of a fellow creetur, just stepping into eternity, as a body may say. However, it's no use drivin' a horse that's made up his mind he won't go, so although I did think the doctor dreadful deliberate about eatin' his dinner (he always would take half an hour for it), I didn't dare to say a word for fear he wouldn't come at all. You see the doctor was dreadful independent, and was bent on havin' his own way, pretty much, though for that matter I think it's the case with most folks. However, to come back to my story, I didn't feel particularly comfortable while I was waitin' his motions.
“After a long while the doctor got ready. I was in such a hurry that I actilly pulled him along, he walked so slow; but he only laughed, and I couldn't help thinkin' that doctorin' had a hardinin' effect on the heart. I was determined if ever I fell sick I wouldn't send for him.
“At last we got there. I went in all of a tremble, and crept to the bed, thinkin' I should see his dead body. But he wasn't there at all. I felt a little bothered you'd better believe.”
“Well,” said the doctor, turning to me with a smile, “what do you think now?”
“I don't know what to think,” said I.