the doctor on
his next visit, after she had broached the subject to him.

The time for which I waited impatiently at length arrived.
Never before had I met so charming a man. He was decidedly what we
should now call magnetic. There was an intellectual flavor in his
talk which was quite new to me. What fascinated me most of all was
his speaking of the difficulties he encountered in supplying himself
with sufficient "reading matter." He said it as if mental food was
as much a necessity as his daily bread. He was evidently a denizen
of that world of light which I had so long wished to see. He said
that my aunt was quite right in her impression, and our interview
terminated in the following liberal proposition on his part:--

S. N. to live with the doctor, rendering him all the assistance in
his power in preparing medicines, attending to business, and doing
generally whatever might be required of him in the way of help.

The doctor, on his part, to supply S. N.'s bodily needs in food
and clothing, and teach him medical botany and the botanic system
of medicine. The contract to terminate when the other party should
attain the age of twenty-one.

After mentioning the teaching clause, he corrected himself a moment,
and added: "At least all I know about it."

All he knows about it! What more could heart desire or brain hold?

The brilliancy of the offer was dimmed by only a single consideration;
I had never felt the slightest taste for studying medicine or caring
for the sick. That my attainments in the line could ever equal
those of my preceptor seemed a result too hopeless to expect. But,
after all, something must be done, and this was better than being
a carpenter.

Before entering upon the new arrangement, a ratification was required
on both sides. The doctor had to make the necessary household
arrangements, and secure the consent of his wife. I had to ask the
approval of my father, which I did by letter. Like General Grant
and many great men, he was a man of exceptional sagacity in matters
outside the range of his daily concerns. He threw much cold water on
the scheme, but consented to my accepting the arrangement temporarily,
as there was nothing better to be done.

I awaited the doctor's next visit with glowing anticipation. In due
course of time I stepped with him into his gig for the long drive,
expecting nothing less on the journey than a complete outline of the
botanic system of medicine and