CORA AND THE DOCTOR;
OR,
REVELATIONS OF A PHYSICIAN'S WIFE.
FOURTH THOUSAND.
BOSTON:
PUBLISHED BY JOHN P. JEWETT & CO.
CLEVELAND, OHIO: JEWETT, PROCTOR & WORTHINGTON.
NEW YORK: SHELDON, LAMPORT & BLAKEMAN.
LONDON: TRÜBNER & CO.
1855.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, by
JOHN P. JEWETT & CO.
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of
the District of Massachusetts.
ANDOVER: W. F. DRAPER,
STEREOTYPER AND PRINTER.
TO
DOCTOR JOHN JEFFRIES,
MY HIGHLY ESTEEMED PHYSICIAN,
THIS VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED,
IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF HIS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES,
BUT WITHOUT HIS CONSENT,
FROM A DESIRE OF THE AUTHOR
TO REMAIN STRICTLY
INCOGNITO.
CORA AND THE DOCTOR.
CHAPTER I.
"Dear Mother--between friend and friend,
Prose answers every common end;
Serves in a plain and homely way,
To express the occurrence of the day,
Our health, the weather, and the news,
What walks we take, what books we choose,
And all the floating thoughts we find
Upon the surface of the mind." SOUTHEY'S COWPER.
_Ship Castor and Pollux, off Staten Island, 9 o'clock, Monday morning,
June 1st, 1835._
DEAREST MOTHER,--We are fast nearing land. The pilot is already on
board; and I shall soon set my foot upon the new world which is
henceforth to be my home.
In fulfilment of my promise, I begin thus early my journal of daily
events, which I shall transmit to you from time to time as opportunity
shall offer.
A torrent of emotion rushes through my mind, pleasure mingled with
pain--pleasure at the prospect of the happiness, I may reasonably expect
in the society of a beloved husband--and pain at the thought of the long
time which will probably intervene before I shall see the loved members
of our home-circle, and also from the assurance that when I set my foot
upon the shores of the Western continent, the broad Atlantic will roll
between us.
But I must turn from these sad musings to the scene around me. The
passengers are all wide awake; Some are hurrying to and fro in search
of baggage, while others, having succeeded in getting their trunks
brought on deck, are sitting upon them and awaiting their search by the
Custom House officers. But by far the greater part are standing in
groups, leaning over the railing of the ship, eagerly gazing at the
shore, talking earnestly of friends whom they expect to meet, or
expressing curiosity at the sight of America, the birth place of the
immortal WASHINGTON.
My dear Frank pointed out to me the harbor with the skiffs flying in
every direction--the forest of masts with their national flags--the
lofty spires pointing heaven-ward--and the stately domes looming up to
view, while directly before us are the wharves lined with extensive
ware-rooms and store-houses. But I must close the first page in my
journal.
_Crawford, Tuesday, June 2d._
We reached New York in season for dinner at the Astor House, and for the
evening boat to Providence, from which place we took the stage-coach for
Crawford; and arrived here about noon. At the public house, which I
should judge was a mile distant, we alighted; and I saw a
broad-shouldered, well-dressed colored man come eagerly forward and
seize the Doctor by the hand, while he cast a glance of curiosity at me.
"This is your young Mistress, Cæsar," said Frank.
Cæsar took off his hat, bowing and scraping in the most approved style;
and when I gave him my hand, he exhibited a splendid set of ivory,
extending almost from ear to ear.
My husband went with me into the public house, where I remained until he
and Cæsar had attended to the baggage. I spent the interim in picturing
to myself a rural cottage with a luxuriant vine running over the door.
This same vine had always figured largely in my imaginary home, but my
fancy had not advanced to the interior, when Frank came to call me.
I cannot account for the impression I had formed, that the Doctor was
not a man of wealth; I had even pleased myself vastly with plans of
industry, prudence and economy, by which I intended to provide
necessaries and even luxuries for the family. The Doctor had carefully
avoided all description of our future home, answering me only by smiles,
if I ventured to point out a pretty cottage, and to ask whether it
resembled ours.
During the drive, Cæsar was eager to tell all the news. He said, "I'se
driven de carriage down to meet Mass'r Frank ebery time de stage hab
come in for two days. I told Missus," he continued, "better go ebery day
for a month, than have young Missus come, and nobody pear dere to
welcome her to dis yer home."
Frank laughed heartily as he said, "Your young Mistress will be obliged
to you for sustaining the honor of the family."
I was so much interested in looking about me, and in listening to
Cæsar's talk with his master, that I had no time to reconcile the idea
of a handsome carriage, span of horses, and colored driver with my
husband's supposed circumstances--a train of thought which had been
started before I left the Inn. But now we were drawing near my new home;
and my heart began to beat very fast. I put my hand into Frank's, who
pressed it tightly in his.
I was about to go through a very trying scene, to meet a mother and
sister, while yet a perfect stranger to them, I feared they would deem
me unworthy of their son and brother. My color came and went, if I can
judge from the burning of my cheeks. It was with great difficulty, I
could keep from weeping. I am sure Frank understood my feelings, for he
very gently kissed my forehead, and whispered, "Cora, you will love my
mother, and I am very sure she will love you."
I forced back my tears, and tried to show him that I meant to deserve
their love. I gave such a start of surprise, when the carriage stopped
at the door of a noble mansion that Frank laughing asked, "What?"
"Surely, this is not your house," said I.
"It is _our_ house," he replied in a low tone, as he handed me from the
carriage. I had hardly reached the ground, before I was caught in the
arms of one of the loveliest girls I ever saw. She kissed me repeatedly;
and then sprang to her brother, saying, "now, Frank, that's just like
you, not to tell us what a darling she was!"
By this time we had ascended the steps leading from the front entrance,
where stood a fine looking woman, (of course she is, for Frank is the
image of her), who folded her arms about her new daughter with such a
motherly embrace that my heart was at rest. The tears filled my eyes at
the melting tone in which she said, as she held our hands joined in
hers; "Welcome, my dear son and daughter!"--as if she would fain have
blessed our union. She evidently restrained her feelings, and taking my
hand under her arm, led me into a large parlor, where there had been a
fire on the hearth.
"We hardly expected you to-day," she said, after we were seated; "but
Emily would not rest until we came over here from the cottage."
"Don't you reside here?" I asked in surprise.
Mrs. Lenox smiled, and looked at her son, who said pleasantly, "You see,
mother, there is very little of Eve about her."
"More than you imagine," I replied; "but I was constrained to suppress
my curiosity, as I received such indefinite replies to my questions."
"After to-morrow," added he, "I will answer as many as you please; till
then I see one who is ready to answer before she is asked."
Just then, Emily had stolen beside me, and putting her arm around my
waist said, "Come with me, if you are not too tired; and I will show you
your room."
I went with her; and, my dear mother, I ought to be very happy, and
grateful to God for casting my lot in such a pleasant place, and among
such kind friends. As soon as we were alone, Emily again embraced me,
and said, "I shall love Frank better than ever, for bringing me so dear
a sister; now he will be contented to remain at home, instead of roving
all over creation." She spoke of her brother with great affection, and
said with enthusiasm, "Everybody loves Frank!"
She then pointed out one thing after another, each dear to me as an
expression of his love, and his desire to render me happy in my new
home. To-morrow I hope to give you a description of the house and
grounds, over which, after dinner, I was duly installed mistress.
I have written a long time; but my heart is full, and I find it a relief
to tell you how kind my Heavenly Father has been to me.