ise, but--they don't pay,
an'--"

"Never give or take promises long enough to calculate interest,"
interposed Doctor Prescott, with stern pleasantry; "that's my rule,
young man, and it's the one I expect others to follow in their
business dealings with me. Don't give and don't take; then you'll
make your way in life."

Ozias Lamb had said once, in Jerome's hearing, that all the medicine
that Doctor Prescott ever gave to folks for nothing was good advice,
and he didn't know but then he sent the bill in to the Almighty.
Jerome, who had taken this in, with a sharp wink of appreciation, in
spite of his mother's promptly sending him out of the room, thinking
that such talk savored of irreverence, and was not fit for youthful
ears, remembered it now, as he heard Doctor Prescott admonishing poor
John Upham.

"Know ye've got consider'ble," mumbled John Upham, who had rough
lands enough for a village, but scarce two shillings in pocket, and a
delicate young wife and three babies; "but--thought ye hadn't--no old
apple-tree wood--old apple-tree wood--well seasoned--jest the thing
for the parlor hearth--didn't know but--"

"I should like the money next week," said the doctor, as if he had
not heard a word of poor John's entreaty.

The young man shook his head miserably. "Dun'no' as I can--nohow."

"Well," said the doctor, looking at him calmly, "I'm willing to take
a little land for the medicine and that last winter's bill, when
Johnny had the measles."

Then this poor John Upham, uncouth, and scarcely quicker-witted than
one of his own oxen, but as faithful, and living up wholly to his
humble lights, turned pale through his blushes, and stared at the
doctor as if he could not have heard aright. "Take--my land?" he
faltered.

Doctor Prescott never smiled with his eyes, but only with a
symmetrical curving and lengthening of his finely cut, thin lips. He
smiled so then. "Yes, I am willing to take some land for the debt,
since you have not the money," said he.

"But--that was--father's land."

"Yes, and your father was a good, thrifty man. He did not waste his
substance."

"It was grandfather's, too."

"Yes, it was, I believe."

"It has always been in our--family. It's the Upham--land. I can't
part with it nohow."

"I will take the money, then," said Doctor Prescott.

"I'll raise it just as soon as I can, doctor," cried John Upham,
eagerly. "I've got a man's note for twenty dollars comin' due in
three months; he