The Doctor's Story
Good folks ever will have their way
Good folks ever for it must pay.
But we, who are here and everywhere,
The burden of their faults must bear.
We must shoulder others' shame,
Fight their follies, and take their blame:
Purge the body, and humor the mind;
Doctor the eyes when the soul is blind;
Build the column of health erect
On the quicksands of neglect:
Always shouldering others' shame-
Bearing their faults and taking the blame!
Deacon Rogers, he came to me;
"Wife is a-goin' to die," said he.
'Doctors great, an' doctors small,
Haven't improved her any at all.
'Physic and blister, powders and pills,
And nothing sure but the doctors' bills!
"Twenty women, with remedies new,
Bother my wife the whole day through.
'Sweet as honey, or bitter as gall
Poor old woman, she takes 'em all.
'Sour or sweet, whatever they choose;
Poor old woman, she daren't refuse.
'So she pleases whoe'er may call,
An' Death is suited the best of all.
'Physic and blister, powder an' pill
Bound to conquer, and sure to kill!"
Mrs. Rogers lay in her bed,
Bandaged and blistered from foot to head.
Blistered and bandaged from head to toe,
Mrs. Rogers was very low.
Bottle and saucer, spoon and cup,
On the table stood bravely up;
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poem by Will Carleton
Added by Veronica Serbanoiu
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