In a country town in Maine the writer knew an elderly physician, who had
married a wife much younger than himself, whose aristocratic notions
hardly coincided with those of this democratic people, though she had now
lived here several years. Finally a young physician came into the place
and commenced practice. Among the patients that he obtained from the old
doctor's former practice was one named Higgins.
Mrs. Higgins, whose daughter had just recovered from a fever, gave a
party, to which the families of both doctors, with the two ministers, and
others, were invited.
"Will you go to Mrs. Higgins's party?" asked a neighbor of the old
doctor's wife.
"Yes, I intend to go, by all means, for I want to see old Mother Higgins
and her new doctor spread themselves."