ars of age. For this daughter, in particular, more than for the son
Samuel, the good matrons of the neighborhood had their thousand
remedies; and they regarded them all as infallible. With these, their
favorite notions and doses, they were continually filling the ears of
Mrs. ----.

One day, when I had been the usual round of the family, and given all
needful directions for the day, Mrs. ---- came to me and said: "Doctor,
what do you think would be the effect of a little pumpkin-seed tea on my
daughter Eunice? Do you think it would hurt her?"

"Why, no; I suppose not," I said. "But for what purpose would you give
her pumpkin-seed tea? Is she not doing as well as could be expected? And
if so, is it not desirable to let well enough alone?"

"To be sure she is doing very well," said Mrs. ----; "and I do not know
but every thing is just as it should be. We certainly have great
confidence in your treatment. But she is so feeble it seems as if
something might be given which would make her gain strength faster. Why,
she is very weak, doctor! Mrs. Gay and several others have thought a
little pumpkin-seed tea might give her strength; but I do not like to
order any thing new without first consulting you."

I did not object to the pumpkin-seed tea, _administered in great
moderation_. I did not say as I ought boldly to have said: "I shall be
obliged, as your physician, at least till you choose to dismiss me, to
pursue the course I have marked out for myself, since I shall have to
bear the responsibility." In my modesty and even diffidence, I preferred
to let the ignorant friends of the young woman dabble with this
comparatively inoffensive article, rather than with something worse.
Besides, I wished to have no clandestine movements, and had already
rejected so many proposals to give this or that medicament, that I dared
not do it longer. "Oh, yes," said I, "you may give her pumpkin-seed tea;
but give it in moderation."

The pumpkin-seed tea was given for the next twenty-four hours, I
believe, with great exactness. But as there was no obvious or immediate
advantage from using it during that time, it shared the fate which might
have been expected. Like the wad in the child's pop-gun, which some new
wad soon and effectually expels, the pumpkin-seed tea was thrown aside,
and some other infallible cure proposed in its stead.

Now, reader, do not suppose I deemed it at all derogatory to medical
authority that pumpkin-seed tea shoul