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generally did。 Galen was still the only medical authority recognized in
Missouri； his practice was the only practice known to the Missouri
doctors； and his prescriptions were the only ammunition they carried when
they went out for game。
By and by Dr。 Claypool laid down his pen and read the result of his
labors aloud； carefully and deliberately； for this battery must be
constructed on the premises by the family； and mistakes could occur；
for he wrote a doctor's hand the hand which from the beginning of time
has been so disastrous to the apothecary and so profitable to the
undertaker：
〃Take of afarabocca； henbane； corpobalsamum； each two drams and a half：
of cloves； opium； myrrh； cyperus； each two drams； of opobalsamum； Indian
leaf； cinnamon； zedoary； ginger； coftus； coral； cassia； euphorbium； gum
tragacanth； frankincense； styrax calamita； Celtic； nard； spignel；
hartwort； mustard； saxifrage； dill； anise； each one dram； of xylaloes；
rheum ponticum； alipta； moschata； castor； spikenard； galangals； opoponax；
anacardium； mastich； brimstone； peony； eringo； pulp of dates； red and
white hermodactyls； roses； thyme； acorns； pennyroyal； gentian； the bark
of the root of mandrake； germander； valerian； bishop's…weed； bayberries；
long and white pepper； xylobalsamum； carnabadium； macedonian； parsley
seeds； lovage； the seeds of rue； and sinon； of each a dram and a half； of
pure gold； pure silver； pearls not perforated； the blatta byzantina； the
bone of the stag's heart； of each the quantity of fourteen grains of
wheat； of sapphire； emerald and jasper stones； each one dram； of hazel…
nuts； two drams； of pellitory of Spain； shavings of ivory； calamus
odoratus； each the quantity of twenty…nine grains of wheat； of honey or
sugar a sufficient quantity。 Boil down and skim off。〃
〃There；〃 he said； 〃that will fix the patient； give his brother a
dipperful every three…quarters of an hour〃
〃while he survives；〃 muttered Luigi
〃and see that the room is kept wholesomely hot； and the doors and
windows closed tight。 Keep Count Angelo nicely covered up with six or
seven blankets； and when he is thirstywhich will be frequentlymoisten
a 'rag in the vapor of the tea kettle and let his brother suck it。 When
he is hungrywhich will also be frequently he must not be humored
oftener than every seven or eight hours； then toast part of a cracker
until it begins to brown； and give it to his brother。〃
〃That is all very well； as far as Angelo is concerned；〃 said Luigi； 〃but
what am I to eat？〃
〃I do not see that there is anything the matter with you；〃 the doctor
answered； 〃you may； of course； eat what you please。〃
〃And also drink what I please； I suppose？〃
〃Oh； certainlyat present。 When the violent and continuous perspiring
has reduced your strength； I shall have to reduce your diet； of course；
and also bleed you； but there is no occasion for that yet awhile。〃 He
turned to Aunt Patsy and said： 〃He must be put to bed； and sat up with；
and tended with the greatest care； and not allowed to stir for several
days and nights。〃
〃For one； I'm sacredly thankful for that；〃 said Luigi； 〃it postpones the
funeralI'm not to be drowned to…day； anyhow。〃
Angelo said quietly to the doctor：
〃I will cheerfully submit to all your requirements； sir； up to two
o'clock this afternoon； and will resume them after three； but cannot be
confined to the house during that intermediate hour。〃
〃Why； may I ask？〃
〃Because I have entered the Baptist communion； and by appointment am to
be baptised in the river at that hour。〃
〃Oh； insanity！it cannot be allowed！〃
Angelo answered with placid firmness：
〃Nothing shall prevent it； if I am alive。〃
〃Why； consider； my dear sir； in your condition it might prove fatal。〃
A tender and ecstatic smile beamed from Angelo's eyes； and he broke forth
in a tone of joyous fervency：
〃Ah； how blessed it would be to die for such a causeit would be
martyrdom！〃
〃But your brotherconsider your brother； you would be risking his life；
too。〃
〃He risked mine an hour ago；〃 responded Angelo； gloomily； 〃did he
consider me？〃 A thought swept through his mind that made him shudder。
〃If I had not run； I might have been killed in a duel on the Sabbath day；
and my soul would have been lostlost。〃
〃Oh； don't fret； it wasn't in any danger；〃 said Luigi； irritably； 〃they
wouldn't waste it for a little thing like that； there's a glass case all
ready for it in the heavenly museum； and a pin to stick it up with。〃
Aunt Patsy was shocked； and said：
〃Looy； Looy！don't talk so； dear！〃
Rowena's soft heart was pierced by Luigi's unfeeling words； and she
murmured to herself； 〃Oh； if I but had the dear privilege of protecting
and defending him with my weak voice！but alas！ this sweet boon is
denied me by the cruel conventions of social intercourse。〃
〃Get their bed ready；〃 said Aunt Patsy to Nancy； 〃and shut up the windows
and doors； and light their candles； and see that you drive all the
mosquitoes out of their bar； and make up a good fire in their stove； and
carry up some bags of hot ashes to lay to his feet〃
〃and a shovel of fire for his head； and a mustard plaster for his neck；
and some gum shoes for his ears；〃 Luigi interrupted； with temper； and
added； to himself； 〃Damnation； I'm going to be roasted alive； I just know
it！〃
〃Why； Looy！ Do be quiet； I never saw such a fractious thing。 A body
would think you didn't care for your brother。〃
〃I don'tto that extent； Aunt Patsy。 I was glad the drowning was
postponed a minute ago； but I'm not now。 No； that is all gone by； I want
to be drowned。〃
〃You'll bring a judgment on yourself just as sure as you live； if you go
on like that。 Why； I never heard the beat of it。 Now； therethere！
you've said enough。 Not another word out of youI won't have it！〃
〃But； Aunt Patsy〃
〃Luigi！ Didn't you hear what I told you？〃
〃But； Aunt Patsy； Iwhy； I'm not going to set my heart and lungs afloat
in that pail of sewage which this criminal here has been prescri〃
〃Yes； you are； too。 You are going to be good； and do everything I tell
you； like a dear；〃 and she tapped his cheek affectionately with her
finger。 〃Rowena； take the prescription and go in the kitchen and hunt up
the things and lay them out for me。 I'll sit up with my patient the rest
of the night； doctor； I can't trust Nancy； she couldn't make Luigi take
the medicine。 Of course； you'll drop in again during the day。 Have you
got any more directions？〃
〃No； I believe not； Aunt Patsy。 If I don't get in earlier； I'll be along
by early candle…light； anyway。 Meantime； don't allow him to get out of
his bed。〃
Angelo said； with calm determination：
〃I shall be baptized at two o'clock。 Nothing but death shall prevent
me。〃
The doctor said nothing aloud； but to himself he said：
〃Why； this chap's got a manly side； after all！ Physically he's a coward；
but morally he's a lion。 I'll go and tell the others about this； it will
raise him a good deal in their estimationand the public will follow
their lead； of course。〃
Privately； Aunt Patsy applauded too； and was proud of Angelo's courage in
the moral field as she was of Luigi's in the field of h