"Mis' Simpkins," said Mrs. Kittridge to her pastor, as they were seated at the tea-table, "told me that she wished when you were going home that you would call in to see Mary Jane; she couldn't come out to the funeral on account of a dreffle sore throat. I was tellin' on her to gargle it with blackberry-root tea--don't you think that is a good gargle, Mr. Sewell?"
"Yes, I think it a very good gargle," replied the minister, gravely.
"Ma'sh rosemary is the gargle that I always use," said Miss Roxy; "it cleans out your throat so."
"Marsh rosemary is a very excellent gargle," said Mr. Sewell.
"Why, brother, don't you think that rose leaves and vitriol is a good gargle?" said little Miss Emily; "I always thought that you liked rose leaves and vitriol for a gargle."
"So I do," said the imperturbable Mr. Sewell, drinking his tea with the air of a sphinx.
"Well, now, you'll have to tell which on 'em will be most likely to cure Mary Jane," said Captain Kittridge, "or there'll be a pullin' of caps, I'm thinkin'; or else the poor girl will have to drink them all, which is generally the way."
"There won't any of them cure Mary Jane's throat," said the minister, quietly.
"Why, brother!" "Why, Mr. Sewell!" "Why, you don't!" burst in different tones from each of the women.
"I thought you said that blackberry-root tea was good," said Mrs. Kittridge.
"I understood that you 'proved of ma'sh rosemary," said Miss Roxy, touched in her professional pride.
"And I am sure, brother, that I have heard you say, often and often, that there wasn't a better gargle than rose leaves and vitriol," said Miss Emily.
"You are quite right, ladies, all of you. I think these are all good gargles--excellent ones."
"But I thought you said that they didn't do any good?" said all the ladies in a breath.
"No, they don't--not the least in the world," said Mr. Sewell; "but they are all excellent gargles, and as long as people must have gargles, I think one is about as good as another."
"Now you have got it," said Captain Kittridge.
"Brother, you do say the strangest things," said Miss Emily.
"Well, I must say," said Miss Roxy, "it is a new idea to me, long as I've been nussin', and I nussed through one season of scarlet fever when sometimes there was five died in one house; and if ma'sh rosemary didn't do good then, I should like to know what did."