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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1889)
THE WEST SHORE. Ml " First, I will demand what is the meanin' of these here perceedin's." " And where," Baid Mr. Tibbits, " is Betsy Cor nelia?" The woman who had piloted them in now spoke or the first time: " This, as you are doubtless aware, is the house of a Christian science doctor, and we, as the disciples, are administering to these women, who are so unfortunate as to harbor a belief in disease." " Marier, look me in the eye," demanded Ebene zer, " an' tell me what's a ailin' of ye." " Oh, Ebenezer dear, I've had a wicked belief in a carbuncle," and the last word died away in a pro longed wail. " Ye hain't never hed no kind o' sickness sense ye was took in a swooned at the cattle fair, an' ye hain't a-goin' to." Said the disoiple: " She is just beginning to know there is no such thing as disease. All disease comes from thought For centuries the material mind has been taught to believe in its existence, and behold there is not one good thing in them. The influence of mind over matter, sir." " That be durn nonsense," said Ebenezer. " That be astonishin'," said Hozia. "An' air ye a-claimin' to perform meraoles? " " If you call doing away with belief in bodily af fliction a miracle, yes." " Well," said Hozia, "ef we ain't sick we ain't a-goin' to die, 'ceptin' them as dies by accidonts." " Exactly so, and in time, when our good deeds are sown broadoast over the land, tarrow, indoed, will be the mind still believing in corruption, disease and death." " I believe the hull thing is a whoppin' lie, but ef ye cures my wife of believin' in sicknesses ye will be blest with my eternal gratitude, ef not my evorlastin' respects an' admiration. Say, what'll ye jake for a cure? Makin' it ft Bure one, mind ye now." " One dollar a treatment are our terms, but it is sad to see the carnal mind so stubborn." " I Bee ye ain't above takin' pay, air ye, fer them meracles o' your'n?" " We must live," was the laconic and unanswera ble reply. - An' livin' high, I calls it, too. Ef I'd '' a dollar a prayer every Sunday, Deacon Tib uu wouldn't be in only middlin' circumstances now. Hut where be Betsy T.? I've got a big belief n bo.n hungry, fer I hain't hed no supper yet to-nigbl "Oh, the flesh pots of Egypt, the flesh vf Egypt," groaned the female disciple. - Bu let u. go and boo how the cure progress"," and, motuming U Hozia, they left the room together. They went on still farther down the hall and .top. ped at another door, in all respects exactly like the one they had loft They went straight in, without knocking, and closed the door behind them. What a sight met Mr. Tibbits' eye! There sat Betsy Corne lia in a large arm chair, her eyes were closed, in front of her sat a man, his eyes closed, and ho was clasping Betsy's hand in his own. Hernia forgot all caution, and the disoiple was rudely awakoned from his prayer ful attitude by a sounding whack on the side of his head from Horn's fist " There, take that, ye sneakin' humbug! Love makin' to Betsy, was ye? I'll give ye a belief er two that '11 make ye a considerable trouble, mind that," and he sat down, mopping his brow, while the inno cent and discomfited victim of his wrath, the doctor, scrambled to his foot not yot recovered from his wrath and proper indignation at the unmerited as sault " I'll have this out of yon, sir, for battery, sir, see if I don't, sir. And bo so good as to explain your rascally conduct sir," said the physician. " Hozia, what hov yo done? Ye've broke np the treatment an' it cost me a dollar. Hozia, yo air greener an' foolisher than I hiv give yo credit for." " He was a-holdin' of yer hand, Betsy, an'-an' ye seemed to like it That', 'oountin' fer my feoliu's." " That," interposed the female disciple, M i. the troatment attitude. Communion i. thereby estab. lished between patient and physioian, whereby tho patient is brought into harmony with spiritual law." " Oh! " said Hozia, sheepishly, for ho understood there had been a mistake .omowhero, and that tho homily was intended as a rebuke, M I'm fer hoggin' yer pardon, mister, shake," The doctor was agreed, for ho saw a possiblo re munerative patient in Mrs. Tibbits, and peace wa. re. itored once more. " Hozia, yo airn't angry with me, air yo?" Mrs. Tibbits asked, imploringly. " No, no, Betsy, yo kin go right on a-trealln , with a wiuk at tho disciple to remind hnr of hi. bar. gain, " ye can go right on a-treatin' an' I'm yer man for footin' np tho bills." It was nearly ten when tho two families finally took their leao and departed to tholr home. 1 n tho Hinks family thoro was a revolution of things. In the Tibbits family thero was a scheme. BeUy Tib bit continued to tko treatment regularly for mo time, and gradually Ut her old habit of complaining of sicknea all tho time, and appeared to look per Mly well. Her husband chuckled to himself and congratulated himself daily on what he wa. wont to term his " investment" fr tho plan ws working amaiingly welL When tho winter camo on, however,