"Three wise men of Gotham," that amiable lady, Mrs. Goose, tells us, "went to sea in a bowl; and had the bowl been stronger, my song would have been longer." This has its parallel in the three wise students of H----, who laid their wise heads together, and went to _see_--Mrs. Mott, the doctress, of Hanover Street. One was to pretend that he had some peculiar disease, for which he, with his anxious friends, wished to consult the "wise woman." They entered the doctor's office, and demanded to see the doctress. This was an open insult to the woman, as she only gave her attention to females and children. Nevertheless, Mrs. Mott, whose olfactory nerves were not so obtuse as to prevent her from distinguishing the aroma of that peculiar little animal quadruped of the genus _Mus_, obeyed the summons, and entered the presence of the three wise Æsculapians.
Now the fun began. Not the fun that _was to be_ at the expense of the "ignorant old female quack," however.
One of the gentlemen arose, and after a profound bow, began, with some embarrassment, to state his case.
"But wait just a moment," the doctress interrupted. "You intimate that it is a _peculiar_ case. My fee for consultation in such cases is _three dollars_. Please hand over the money, and proceed."
This was an unexpected demand. They had thought to have a little fun, expose the woman's ignorance, and have a "huge thing" to tell to their class-fellows, _and not pay for it_! Mrs. Mott was a woman, but she possessed powerful magnetic influence, and held fast to the point, viz., her fee for consultation; and to the chagrin of the patient (?), and the astonishment of his chums, the three dollars were paid over to the doctress.
"Now, sir, you will please state your case," said the lady, pocketing the fee, adjusting her eye-glasses, and seating herself for a consultation.
"Yes. Well--it is a--a peculiar case," stammered the patient.
"You have informed me of that point before. Please proceed," remarked the doctress with great complacency to the embarrassed fellow.
"It's a delicate case," he blushingly replied.
"O, indeed; then step into this private consulting room;" and arising, she led the way to an inner office, where the young man involuntarily followed, greatly to the amusement of the two remaining students, who remarked, "It is getting blamed hot for us here."