"How much am I indebted, doctor?" inquired the gentleman, as he slipped the little piece of paper into his vest pocket.
"Five dollars for the consultation and prescription," replied the doctor, bowing.
"Cheap enough, if I am saved from an attack of cholera," said the patient as he drew forth his pocket-book and abstracted from its folds the required fee. He then returned to the hotel, and, going to one of the clerks, or bar-keeper, in the office, said to him—
"I wish you would send out and get me this prescription."
"Prescription! Why, Mr.—, are you sick?" returned the bar-keeper.
"I'm not very well," was answered.
"What's the matter?"
"Symptoms of the prevailing epidemic."
"Oh! Ah! And you've been to see a doctor?"
"Yes."