Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-01-06

SsiooilS'tlS DOUUuaiy IiueS LOT IN
host. We had all Of us worked har,
and the measurements had proven re
markably correct. for the chain sliDpe'
smoothly along on the frozen snow
The great Lillycache s!oo, in who's
centre was bottomless mire, was nice
ly crusted over. an the rank gras.
interviewer with the ice made the cross
ing safe. SO we had passed owe
where many horse hal been smoth
cred in the mud while venturing I,
ford the sluggish pool Thus we hac
escaped roundabout path and hac
realized the privilege over vlicl every
true westerncr exnlts. viz, that o
making a bee-iinc between any two
points. Hence we were in excellent
spirits as we sat down TO the smoking
hot supper. Mr. Felderkin with hi.
two boys waited for no ceremony and
followed their example in bunting
my keen appetite with savory morsels
Two buxom daughters were bustling
around the kitchen and rcplc nishino
the table. while their vigorous mother.
with hospitality shining all over her
red face, was watching with care. lest
we should for moment see the bot
tom of cup or plate.
| We had nearly eaten our way
through to victory. ami some of Us
had pushed back to rest on our laurels
and To ogle the ,lansels. when the door
opened, and in stepped man of me-
dunn stature, rosy cheeks, long red
dish hair. intelligent face, and about
forty five years of age.
"ilow are YOU. David:" said our
host. and turning TO me, exclaimed in
his hearty tones, stranger. this are
Mr.. Spencer, the sickest man that God
ever made. Now. Dave, tell this Yam
kce some Of Your great moral truths"
Thus intro luced and challenged
Spencer gazed solemnly into my face,
and. seeing expectation there depicted,
he uttered the original phrase with
which this sketch begins. | had been
50 often quizzci, as a youth from New
England, that hardly knew what to
expect, and therefore waited for Spen-
Ger 10 proceed
AT this stage, Mrs f.. in the kind
ness of her heart poured oIt a bowl OF
milk and offered it to the newcomer.
He took IL in silence. swallowed it. al
most at 4 single gulp, set down the
crockery with slam. and sinking in
To q chair, appeared 10 he gripcd with
a terrible pain. ''l'rrhnps YOU would
rather have had water" said the hist
ess timiIlv. We'll, marin. drinking
milk j. about like taking pills 70 me,
nut t's 10 consequence now its down
replied the gloomy man.
Thinking to relieve the good lady's
confusion, asked Mr.. Spencer il be
hal recently been Ill., Hal my query
been patent corks rev and Mr..
Spencer bottle of restless champagne.
the explosion colld not have been
more l.!ncdlatc. Ill. sir i'll 4. that
little word !, TO, short, sir Ill YOU
see nothing sir. but my remains
have been David Spencer. .Na'c, sir,
! may say. without iutcn ling di,rc-
spect ID iny wlIc. | am tie relic Of the
late ID. ;. Let me give YOU. stranger.
III 4 few words. sketch of my troub-
les.
My lungs are badly cut up. One
Of them is clear gonc-colap>e the
doctor says-shrivelled up like q
blachsmith's apron. The other one
looks better, but doesn't amount To
much. Have often bIcd quart at
once. and thought it not worth mcn-
tioning. | take too long a breath now
and then. and haye All awful time
bloating up like a toad.
But that isn't the worst. Nv liy-
er plaques me with an odd trick. 1t
turns itself inside out and wanders ov-
er my system. suppose, stranger,
that the greater part Of my liver is in
side of those boots" thrusting out his
two cowhi,les from under the table.
but ! have another curious disease.
Some of the doctors say its paralysis.
but one medicine man calls it inter
mltlent lockjaw. and | reckon he's
right. 1t just grabs me and shuts Inc
rlgh. up all over. Can't stir muscle !;
teeth all locked together like rat-trap; !;
cant talk or wink my left eye. All
ms conversation is done with nv right
eye, and tell you. stranger, it gets
powerfully tired. The fit often lasts
two or three weeks. and 1t takes away
all my appetite, for have to be fed
with Il squrt-gun just behind my eye
tooth
You look as if you wanted to
laugh, Mister, but them as takes care
of me in those spells, don't laugh
much. tell YOU. They don't reckon
that | make it any joke for them.
But | wouldn't mind these things
if it wasn't for the slipping of my spi-
al cho'd. 1t never gives me any
warning, but the first know it gives
way, and pitches me right over head
first into whatever lies in front. Now
one day last spring, just as | was get
ting over the lockjaw. rode out or
the prairie across by the Sloo, and |
saw a big stone in the road, and gol
out to push it over. Then | went t.
the Sloo to wash nv hands. AS
bent forward, my shaky old spine lei
right 90, and dove head first liz {
the mud, and there stack, head un
der feet thrashiAg on the bank. l ha,
to stay there till one of my men, pass
ing by, took me by the heel and puile,
me out"
"How long should you think yo'
were under water, Mr.. Spencer!" ask
ed one Of the Felderkin boys.
Really, couldn't say exactly, .;
couldn't readily get at nv watch