Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-10-30

49, - L Oln ldb l. udu SCGIl
and heard | judged that they enjoyed the
contide. ce Of their fellows more from their
convival and physical qualities than from
any morality or fixed principles ofhonor;
and | meant to know them better.
returned to my room at ten O'Clock,
and went to bed. | fell into a doze, but
was not destined to enjoy much sleep. |
lay bordering upon the fate of nv brother
for an Gour, or so, and then one of nv
teeth began to ache. | had got some cold
BY exposure on the day before, and it had
settled where such colds we're p to, in
my jaw. After suffering till my nerves
were unstrung | got out of bed and dres
sed myself, for | could not stand it to lie
there hoped that a turn out of doors
might relieve me. | made my way down
with as little noise as possible, and gain
cd the street without disturbing any one.
The night was calm aud clear, and |
walked away without noticing or caring
whittier | vent. The village was a small
one the houses being huddled together
upon the left bank of the river, so | was
not long In getting beyond the line OF
settlement. | had gone. perhaps, about
halt a mile beyond the village, and was
thinking Of turning back, when | heard
some one groan as though in pain and
as | stopped to look around the same
voice cried out for help. By this time
had discovered from whence the sound
came. and upon approaching the spot L
found a female, sitting by the roadside,
apparently in deep agony. | asked her
what was the matter, and she told me
that she had been thrown from her horse.
and that her ankle was either broken or
badly sprained. | stopped down, and
found that the right ankle was out of
Joint, and1 knew that the poor woman
must be suffering intensely. | had seen
a good many joints set. and had helped
to perform the operation in some cases /;
so told her that | would try to fix her
ankle il she "a willing. She IVES anx
ious that { should help her, ard made
the trial. 1t was a tedious job, and she
bore the pain like a martyr, and at last,
had the satisfaction Of believing that
the bones were all in place. Of course
the ankle was much swollen, and still very
painful, but bound it up as best [ could,
and then told the sufferer that [ would
help her home. She said she lived not
far of, and as her horse had probably
made his way to the stable, she would
gladly accept of my assistance.
She was not a heavy m and as
| was a pretty powerful man, l easily lift
ed her III my arms, for | knew very well
that she could not Step. AS | bore her
along thus, | asked her what her name
was, and she told me Matilda Harm. I
then asked if she was married. She said
she was-that her husbands name was
Matthew Harm and she asked me if |
knew him.. | told her no-that | was a
stranger in those parts. only having stop
ped al the inn for the night. In a little
Whlle we came to a narrow path which
led of to the right, and the woman babe
me to turn into it. | did so, and ere
long we came to a small hut, which prov
ed to be the home of my patient. bore
her into the dwelling, where l found only
a young girl, who proved to be Harms
daughter.
Where is your father !" asked the
woman.
He's gone owe to Ike Croft's l guess, .
was the reply.
- remarked to the sufferer that she
had better have her ankle swathed with
wet bandages, the first thing, and then
she could send for her husband. So her
daughter got the necessary materials,
and | soon had the inaamed Joint in a
more comfortable condition. After this
she sent for her husband, and | told her
that | would find the doctor, if he was in
the village, and send him to see her. As
l was about to turn away she called me
back, and asked me if / was going to Co.
lumbia. | told her | was.
"Aad you mean to start early in the
morning = she continued.
Yes | told her.
She hesitated a few moments, and
then said
You have done me a great favor, and
| bless you for it and now / may serve
you in turn. Don't travel on this road
alone in the morning. If you must go,
wait until you can have company"
81 asked her what she meant-what
the danger was. She said she feared
tuCI5 WGIS IOUUcfS Ill IuG WOUO.
There have been two or three muir
ders committed near the place where we
turned off from the road" she added,
" and | have reason to fear that there are
bad men about, ever now"
"She urged me to be warned in season,
and belzeTe that she had saved my life
by thre placing me IN my guard. |
thankeg lsQY FIR her advica and hovino
assured ker that would follow it, / turn.
ed away again. But again she called me
back, and begged of me not to mention
to any n what she had told me, for it
might get her into trouble. | gave her
no direct answer, but assured her that l
had no wish to bring harm upon her, and
then / left the hut.
As soon as / got fairly away from the
building stopped, had surely fallen