Elizabeth Eliza agreed with this. She thought the family
occasionally made mistakes, and had come near disgracing
themselves. Now was their chance to avoid this in future by giving
the little boys a proper education.
Solomon John was almost determined to become a doctor. From
earliest childhood he had practiced writing recipes on little slips
of paper. Mrs. Peterkin, to be sure, was afraid of infection. She
could not bear the idea of his bringing one disease after the other
into the family circle. Solomon John, too, did not like sick people.
He thought he might manage it if he should not have to see his
patients while they were sick. If he could only visit them when
they were recovering, and when the danger of infection was over,
he would really enjoy making calls.
He should have a comfortable doctor's chaise, and take one of the
little boys to hold his horse while he went in, and he thought he
could get through the conversational part very well, and feeling
the pulse, perhaps looking at the tongue. He should take and read
all the newspapers, and so be thoroughly acquainted with the
news of the day to talk of. But he should not like to be waked up
at night to visit. Mr. Peterkin thought that would not be necessary.
He had seen signs on doors of "Night Doctor," and certainly it
would be as convenient to have a sign of "Not a Night Doctor."
Solomon John thought he might write his advice to those of his
patients who were dangerously ill, from whom there was danger
of infection.
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