Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1859-01-13

I shut up the novels, and endeavored to dis
sipate their effect by going into society. l
succeeded in some measure in etfectlng my
purpose.
One night, after [ had retired to bed, l
heard some one ringing violently at the Of
flee bell. Dr. Colburn had gone some miles
in the country to see a patient, so it fell to
my lot to answer the summons. [ crept to
the window and found a man before the
door
"What is it % I asked.
ssYou must come and see Mr. jenkins
directly, he is very i'll" replied the messen-
ger.
"Very we'll. will be there in few min
utes," returned in no very good humor,
for this Mr.. Jenkins was an old patient of
the doctors, and an Improbable one too
he had never paid a cent in his life. Be-
sides which, he was hard drinkcr and had
had several attacks of dc!iriun, hemens. l
thought it very probable [ might be detain-
ed there all night, as he was usually very
violent when suffering from these attacks.
7 dressed myself hurriedly, and slipping
bottle of laudanum into my pocket, (opium
is the best remedy for deliriuns trenaens,) [
made the best of my way to Mr.. jenkins
dwelling.
He lived a short distance from town, and
I confess some of my old superstitious feel
ings returned when had left the lights of
the town behind. [ was not sorry when L
stood before my patients residence.
In reply to my summons, an elderly wo-
man opened the door, the moment she saw
me she exclaimed =
oh, Doctor, I am so glad you ha0
come, for Ir. jenkins is very bad indeed,
worse than he has been yet.
I followed the woman up stairs and en-
tered the PATIENTS bed room. A terrible
sight met my gaze. The invalid was rag
ing maniac He was sitting uprightin bed,
his countenance expressing intense alarm.
His eyes were rolling in his head, and ap-
peared to be very much injected. His
hands trembled and picked at the sheets
with convulsiye grasps. The moment be
saw me he giared at me like a tiger aboutto
spring upon his prey.
Back back!" he cried, Il will not
come! viii no one free me from this per-
secutor?"
"Hush p whispered the woman, cit is
the Doctor"
''Ihe Doctor p he exclaimed, with a va
can't stare. 'Give ME brand dy-brandy, l
say !! The room is filed with serpents-
they are kissing round the bed Take them
away; for Gods sake take them awayw
I approached the bed and took hold of
his hand.
"Your hand is ice-cold p said he
with a shudder. 'Ah! see that snake, it is
coming here, keep it off p
His raving increased, and he became very
violent-requiringf force to keep him in bed
After time his physical powers began to
fail. Just before his existence terminated
he raised himself in his bed, and in a hol-
low voice shrieked out -
'Fool that you are. l will haunt you
after death p
With these words he fell exhausted on
the couch--a gurgling was heard in his
throat-a convulsive spasm seized his limbs,
and he was dead.
| returned home very much shocked with
what [ had seen. It was the first fatal case
Of deliriuna temens had ever beheld, and
perhaps it would be impossible to find any
thing more appalling Or horrifying to the
feelings. The last words of the poor wretch
: made deep impression on my mind, and I
was haunted by them for several days.
About week after this event, was
summoned to the chief hotel of the town to
meet some college chums, who were on the
road to Canada, and took advantage of pass
ing through Burlington to spend the day
with me-
dined with them, and we passed what
is called a jolly time-which means, that
we drank a great deal more wine than was
good for us, and acted as i'll became ration
al beings. In the course of conversation, [
related to my friends the particulars of Jen-
kins' death, dwelling especially on the evil
effects of intemperance, at the same time
that [ was certainly not practicing what I
preached. By some turn of the conversa-
ton the subject of physicel courage was in
troduced. The brandy had made me very
eloquent.
"Well, for my part" I exclaimed, Il
think it all nonsense for any one to be a
fraid. Nothing can be more unphilosophi-
cal than to indulge in so debasing pas
sion.'
One of my friends looked curiously at
me, and replied =
whereabouts is this jenkins buried?"
''In Mount Glare Cemetary."
GLOW far is that from the city?"
"About mile"
"Well. old fellow, I will bet you the
price of champagne supper that you dare
not 60 at twelve o'clock tonight, stick
penknife in his grave and leave it there"