Page:William Wells Brown - The Escape Or, A Leap for Freedom; a Drama in Five Acts.pdf/17

 Enter ,

Cato. Mr. Campbell is at de door, massa.

Dr. G. Ask him in, Cato.

Enter ,

Dr. G. Good morning, Mr. Campbell. Be seated.

Mr. Campbell. Good morning, doctor. The same to you, Mrs. Gaines. Fine morning, this.

Mrs. G. Yes, sir; beautiful day.

Mr. C. Well, doctor, I've come to engage you for my family physician. I am tired of Dr. Jones. I've lost another very valuable nigger under his treatment; and, as my old mother used to say, "change of pastures makes fat calves."

Dr. G. I shall be most happy to become your doctor. Of course, you want me to attend to your niggers, as well as to your family?

Mr. C. Certainly, sir. I have twenty-three servants. What will you charge me by the year?

Dr. G. Of course, you'll do as my other patients do, send your servants to me when they are sick, if able to walk?

Mr. C. Oh, yes; I always do that.

Dr. G. Then I suppose I'll have to lump it, and say $500 per annum.

Mr. C. Well, then, we'll consider that matter settled; and as two of the boys are sick, I'll send them over. So I'll bid you good day, doctor. I would be glad if you would come over some time, and bring Mrs. Gaines with you.

Dr. G. Yes, I will; and shall be glad if you will pay us a visit, and bring with you Mrs. Campbell. Come over and spend the day.

Mr. C. I will. Good morning, doctor.

[Exit ,

Dr. G. There, my dear, what do you think of that? Five hundred dollars more added to our income. That's patronage worth having! And I am glad to get all the negroes I can to doctor, for Cato is becoming very useful to me in the shop. He can bleed, pull teeth, and do almost