National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-02-24
HOW THE GOUT WAS CURED.

Late III tQe summer l StuIteu lOT tHc
Rhine. The voyage was rough, and only
onc passenger besides myself enjoyed his
dinner, sympathetic coincidence which
naturally drew us together.
He was a young man of affable man
1erS and ilorid taste in dress, whose occu-
patton, exact social position, and even ma
tonality, it was difficult to define. Some
times | took him for a commercial traveller,
tIen for a clerk in a counting-house, and
then for man of Independent means,
whose companions in early life had been
somewhat mixed His inqnisitiveness
va, American, his vulgarity British, his
irwelry Teutonic. Was he Dutchman
wIo lad lived great deal in England or
an Englishman who had resided very much
N Holland Both languages seemed nat
ural to him. | tried to make him talk
lbout himself, and found, after time
tat he was practicing a precisely similar
apartment upon me; only he was success
u and was not.
AIl the information got was the unin
teresting fact that my com panion never
carried circular notes in his travels.
:" cannot see the use of them" said he
bank notes are much more convenient;
one always gets the full value for them
and they can be changed at any hotel one
IS stopping at"
81 can never use circular notes either"
leplied but, as | sometimes visit quiet,
olt-of-the-way places, | find English SOW
eFegns the most handy"
True" said he; "but the bulk and
weight are troublesome; should not like
10 carry couriers bag like that over my
shoulder"
" am accustomed to it, and do not
mind it,
Soon We turned in. The cupboard in
which | performed this nautical feat con-
tanned four berths, three of which were
tenanted by unfortunates who had under
gone the EXTREMIST horrors of sea-sickness
and were now happily sunk in the lethargy
Of prostration. removed my boots, coat
and neckcloth, rolled myself up on my
shelf, and fell asleep, little thinking that a
physical evil, far worse than stoutness, was
at that moment preparing for the attack.
dreamed that was in forest SO thick
and lofty, that the rays of the sun could
hardly penetrate, and perpetual twilight
relgned There were no birds, squirrels,
insects event. was the only living creature,
and the silence was awful. TO add to the
horror, the ground swayed to and fro in
waves of earthquake, and | expected it to
open every moment under my feet; but
there were no rumblings, and the trees
were not shaken into rustling The con-
'ulslons We're as the noiseless spasms of a
galvanized corpse. At length the appall
ing stiffness was broken by light, distant
cracking, as of something moving amongst
'nc dry leaves; nearer and louder it came,
ana 'oon saw gigantic serpelt winding
'oWard me through the trees. There was
no beauty about the monster its sluggish
'oIds were Shiny, toad-like; its eyes were
c.i, c'ueI, incxorable as death it darted
'orth no barbed tongue, but showed its
poisoned fangs slowly and viciously, as a
threatening dog does. 1t approached; its
'et,d breath stirred my hair, and | turned
wa lied, To no purpose; the thing gained
ana gained upon me till it was within
striking distance, and then drew back its
lat head for the blow. In my despair,
'prang at an overhanging branch, caught
y and strove to swing myself up. Alas
was too slow; the reptile fastened on my
.['t loot, and its fangs were plunged into
'ne great toe. If the reader desires to
appreciate the sensation he may heat the
point oil packing needle in the fire until
.Ie needle is glowing white, and then
'lrust 1t into his corresponding member.
j. i, IN the morning was up. 1t was with
Dllculty got my boot on. My new nc-
qualntance lccosted me amid the confusion |
o' landing, and asked if ] intended max
Ils any stay at Rotterdam. | told him
no; was going on to Dusseldorf. en- route
cologne. Why, Dusseldorf was his
own destination how singular We would
uaVel together. | had no objection. l
eannot talk Dutch, either Hig n or Low,
anu ne young man certainly saved me a
veal veal Of trouble at the quay and the rail-
we got carriage to ourselves.
" ny, what bump you have got on
your iorehead!" he exclaimed. when I
lung lung my hat up. "Did you fall out of
No; but" | told him the whole
story, dream and all.
II hum !'said he, gravely; al wish you
"oiid let me see the toe.n
Are youa surgeon ~ asked, painfully
pulling my boot off
Not exactly" replied he,-" that is,
r.naps You would not call me one. Tut,
'u,' the bite Of a serpent has produced in
'eoond the same result that port, bur