Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-01-31
A Hard Cold Described by Grts,'
the Fat Contribute r.

Gris," of the Cincinnati Times, has
been under the weather." nd writes
from his invalid bower az ollows:
A letter from sick room may not
strike you at first in cheerful light, yet
how much that has made the world cheer
ful, ard lightened heavy hearts, has
emanated from the chamber of the sick.
We can see poor Tom Hood, pale. ema-
ciated and languishing, propped up in
bed, scratching off jokes for Punc,t, and
genial Charles Lamb, indting ESSAYS for
his sister to write, when be was en- tirely
too weak to hold pen in his hand
Though am neither Hood NOR a
Lamb, and would not be if compele, TO
house their infirmities, yet | may err
haps interest your readers little frt IN
my sick chamber To begin with, al I'd
in order to relieve you of any spprehei /.
sions you may feel on my account, vial
state that am not very sick at present;
l am convalescing. | have just bee
sick enough to render it agreeable, if noS
necessary, to stay in the house for few
days, and not tempt the rheumy and
unpurged air" either day or night. A
bad cold, that's ALL They tell me colds
have been unusually plentiful this sea
son, and that if any one wanted cold
he could get one very cheap. I'll give
up mine for nothing.
The approach of the enemy was first
announced by sneezing-a scattering
fire by the advance guard. Rumors of
his coming had already reached me
Whenever door was kept open or sat
in draft, causing a momentery shiver
of apprehension through my frame. |
endesvored to fortify myself as well as l
could before retiring with hot punch,
aud laid down on my arms, we'll in
trenched in warm flannel. / wanted ell
the rest could get in anticipation of the
battle | knew was imminent. 4 little
after midnight the enemy made sudden
descent upon my camp, and very early
took me by surprise, Notwithstanding /
was expecting him. General Rheuma-
tism-0ld Inhammatory-I found was
in command OF the enemy's forces, ably |
assisted by General Sorethroat, General
and General Debility.
General Cough, together with Ctene-
raj Hawkanspit,. carried on a guerrilla
warfare against me, striking when least
expected. The uneven contest was car
ried on all night. My allies stood by me
only my nose run. General Rheuma-
tism gave me mere trouble than all the
rest of my foes. He alta cked me vigor-
ously on one flank and thsin on the other.
Sometimes he would co'1centrate in one
knee, causing immensfi suffering, and
then make q Missionary Ridge of the
shin bone in his retreat to my foot where,
Joining forces with General Gout, the
ight would become terrific. Occasionally
the drums would beat a retreat, and
Rheumatism would seem to have drawn
off his forces, though General Sorethroat
and General Red Flannel Zone of my
chief allies), were still having q tight
match of It for the possession of my
bronchials. Uf Sorethroat had carried
the day, and cut off my supplies, that
would have ended it, and you would have
been spared this letter.
Then, when congratnlating myself that
| had driven away my most aggravating
enemy, back would march Old Inham-
matory again, with colors flying, rein
forced by several members Of the Rheu-
matte family, whose presence / had never
before felt. Oh, but it was hard fight.
found me nearly exhausted,
though had either beaten off my fees,
or greatly mitigated the severity Of their
assault. have been gradually recover
ing since, now about the sixth day. One
by one Of the enemy's divisions have
been drawn of-General Cough and
General Debility being the last to leave.
They hang about still, and harass me at
intervals.
Marks of the conflict are still upon me
10 the form Of choice selection Of cold
,ores, mostly upon mp nose, q feature not
sntirely prepossessing at the best, and
now actually frightful. Perhaps, if the
ruth was Acknowledged, tnsr rose keeps
ne in doors to-day more than anything
,lse. don't ike to be hailed by every
/ meet with the inquiry
= What's the matter with that nose 2"