with favor upon them. Yours is a mischievous profession, the members
of which are always seeking the demolition of useful sciences.' This
the parson said in so angry a tone that it excited the pugnacity of
the doctor, who was scrupulous of his profession, and declared he
would not stand by and hear it slandered.

"They had now staggered among some laurel bushes at the side of the
road, when the doctor, having inquired if the parson meant anything
personal, and not receiving an immediate answer, fetched him a blow
that felled him to the ground, and almost simultaneously followed
him. And now so great was his fear of having done him bodily injury,
that he seized him in his arms, and, thus embraced, they had slept
until I disturbed them. Each now commenced giving a confused version
of the affair, criminating and recriminating in a manner that only
served to increase the disgrace to which it attached. The doctor
protested his innocence of the deed, while the parson continued to
discant upon the consequences that would result from the
disfiguration of his features. At the same time they both intimated
their readiness to have me sit in judgment upon their affairs, and
accept my decision as final.

"When they had put on their hats I bid them sit down upon a
moss-covered hillock, and hold their peace. Having done this with
great good nature, I seated myself on an opposite one, and commenced
to deliberate upon their case. The state of debility in which they
had unfortunately found themselves on the previous night must,
doubtless, be put down to the strength of the cider. The debility,
then, being acknowledged, neither could be held accountaable to the
other for acts committed while morally insane. As to the imputation
cast upon the medical profession by the parson, even were it done