C H A P. XIII.

  ---- BLESS my soul ! ---- my poor
mistress is ready to faint, ----
and her pains are gone, ---- and the drops
are done, ---- and the bottle of julap is
broke, -- and the nurse has cut her arm,
---- (and I, my thumb, cried Dr. Slop)
                          and




[ 65 ]

and the child is where it was, continued
Susannah, ---- and the midwife has fallen
backwards upon the edge of the fender,
and bruised her hip as black as your hat.
---- I'll look at it, quoth Dr. Slop. ----
There is no need of that, replied Susan-
nah
, ---- you had better look at my mis-
tress, ---- but the midwife would gladly
first give you an account how things are,
so desires you would go up stairs and
speak to her this moment.

  Human nature is the same in all pro-
fessions.

  The midwife had just before been put
over Dr. Slop's head. -- He had not di-
gested it. -- No, replied Dr. Slop, 'twould
be full as proper, if the midwife came
down to me . -- I like subordination,
quoth my uncle Toby, -- and but for it,
  VOL.        E            after




[ 66 ]

after the reduction of Lisle, I know not
what might have become of the garrison
of Ghent, in the mutiny for bread, in the
year Ten. ------ Nor, replied Dr. Slop
(parodying my uncle Toby's hobby-horsi-
cal reflection, though full as hobby-hor-
sically himself) -- do l know, Captain
Shandy, what might have become of the
garrison above stairs, in the mutiny and
confusion I find all things are in at pre-
sent, but for the subordination of fingers
and thumbs to * * * * * * ---- the appli-
cation of which, Sir, under this accident
of mine, comes in so a propos, that with-
out it, the cut upon my thumb might
have been felt by the Shandy family, as
long as the Shandy family had a name.



                          C H A P.


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