National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-11-10
The vagaries Of a Starving Man.

the Nagnries Of u Starving Man.
Mr.. Everts who was lost in the Yellow
stone, contributes 10 Scribner's nm in
tensely interesting account of hi
"Thirty-seven Days of peril" W,
quote;
/ lost MI sense Of time. DAYS ant
nights came and went, and were mum
bered only by the growing consciousness
that ! was gradually starving. felt n,
hunger, did not eat to appease appetite
but to renew strength, l experienced
but little pain. The gaping sores on m,
feet, the severe burn ON my hip, the
fostering crevices at the joints Of m,
fingers, all terrible in appearance, hat
ceased to give me the least concern.
The roots which supplied my food had
suspended the digestive power of the
stomach, and their fibres were packed
IN it in II matted, compact mass
Not so with my hours of slumber
They were visited by the most luxuriou.
dreams. ] would apparently visit the
most gorgeously decorated restaurants
of New York and Washington sit down
to immense tables spread with the most
appetising viands partake of the richest
oyster stews and plumpest pies engage
myself i'll the labor and preparation of
curious dishes, and with them fill range
upon range of elegantly furnished tables
until they fairly groaned beneath the
accumulated dmnties prepared by my
own hands. Frequently the entire night
would seem to have been spent in getting
l,nnn, I 4 4. :.
the fatigue of roasting, boiling. baking,
and fabricating the choicest dishes known
to the modern cuisine, and in my dis
turbed slumbers would enjoy with epi-
curean relish the food thus furnished
even to repletion Alas there was
more luxury than life in these somnolent
vagaries.
BY some process which was two weak
to solve, my arms, legs and stomach
were transformed into So many travelling
companions. Often for hours | would
plod along conversing with these imag-
mary friends. Each had his peculiar
wants which he expected me- to supply
The stomach was importunate in his de-
mand for Iange of diet complained
incessantl of the roots | fed to him,
their present effect and more remote
consequences. l would try to silence
him with promises, beg of him to wait
few days, and when this failed of the
quiet desired, would seek to intimi-
date him by declaring, as sure result
of negligence, our inability to reach
home alive. All to no purpose-he tor
mented me with such fretful humors
through the entire journey. The others
would generally concur with him in
these fancied alterations The legs i'm
plored me for rest, and the arms com
planned that | gave them too much to
do. Troublesome as they were, it was
a pleasure to realise their presence.
worked for them, too, with right good
will, doing many things for their seem
ing comfort which, had left to myself
alone, would have remained undone
They appeared to be perfectly helpless
Of themselves would do nothing for me
or for each other. | often wondered,
while they ate and slept so much, that
they did not aid in gathering wood and
fires. As counterpoise to
heir own inertia, whenever they dis
covered languor in me on necessary oc-
'aslons they were not wanting in words
If encouragement and cheer l recall
Is ] write M instance where, by prompt
md timely interposition, the represen-
ative of the stomach saved me from a
leath of dreadful agony. One day !
anne to small stream issuing from
pring of mild temperature on the hill
ide, swarming with minnows caught
pna wifi, NV bo,,Jc and o+o +b,p, rou,
% my taste they were delicious But
be stomach refused them, accused me
t attempting to poison him, and would
ot be reconciled until had emptied my
ouch of the few fish | had put there
II future use Those that / ate made
le very sick Poisoned by the mineral
4 the water, had l glutted my appetite
18th them rs intended, should doubt
,ss have died in the wilderness, in ex-
torment '
gradual mental introverson grew
pom me as physical weakness increased
he grand and massive scenery which,
II the upward journey, had aroused
very enthusiastic impulse of my nature,
as now tame and spiritless My
loughts were turned in upon myself
pom the dreadful fate which apparently
y Just before me-and the possible
appiness of the existence beyond. All {
oubt of immortality fed in the light I
present realities. So vivid were my :
of the future that at times / l
nged for death, not less as the begin '
ing Of happiness that us a release from t
isery. Led on by these reflections, / )
ould recall the varied incidents of my :
'urney, and in all of them l saw how 5
uch / had been indebted to that mys- ;
rious protection which comes only 5
ON the throne of the Eternal And
IT, starving footsore. half-blind, worn
a skeleton, was 1t surprising that / $
cked the faith needful to buoy Inc .
Dove the dark waters of despair, which )
now felt were closing around me.
In less serious moods, as ] struggled
ong my thoughts would revert to the j
ngle being on whom my holiest affec- (
ons centered-my daughter What a t
e was that to bind me to life Oh il
,uld / be restored to her for single d
our, long enough for parting counsel T.
ld blessing, it would be Joy unspeak e
DE Long hours of painful travel c
ere relieved of physical suffering by &
lis absorbing agony of the mind, which. e
hen from my present standpoint ] g
,ntrast it with the personal calamities e
my exile, swells into mountains. "