The Jasper weekly courier., 1874-03-27

asked Aunt Hepsey. who, although the
kindest woman in the world at heart, had
a way Of speaking that made her seem
otherways.
nm afraid I'm going 10 have UPHOLD
solemnly replied the Invalid.
"What makes you think soy"
~ ielt cold chill run up my back lust
now" and that's one OF the symptoihs,'
groaned John.
old lady. II have them any time"
''I'm afraid I've got it, was the lugu-
brious reply. . My heart disease Is worse
to-day, too; it thumped quite hard IA 1
came up the hill. Just hand me that bottle
of pills" ,n
nant Jerk, and the sewing resumed. After
"A pause the sick man went on
81 am quite confident my cancer Is
growing rapidly; l have had five distinct
pains in my liver this afternoon, and
three this morning-an increase OF two
you see and there Is no doubt my stom-
ach Is diseased past all help. l have had
no appetite all day (only eight buckwheat
cakes that morning); probably inflamma-
ton Is about To set in. Pass me the bot
tie of aconite, am little feverish.'
The aconite went across with sniff.
II don't know but | shall have the
lockjaw; they have felt very strangely all
day."
Another pause.
Don't YOU think we'd better have
little more fire? My neuralgia has been
threatening all the morning"
Aunt Hepsey said nothing as she put on
more wood, but from the way she looked
AT the chimney il was evident she thought
that answer might come down ii.
During this conversation, which was
sample of what took place every day,
Kate had come up and seated herself in the
back door-which Aunt Hepsey would
have open in pleasant weather, neuralgia
or no neuralgia. While listening she had
been thinking. John Brumer-or Cousin
John, as she always called him-was a
handsome fellow, and, outside of his many
diseases, tiptop good fellow; and saucy
Kate thought more OF him than she wished
to think OF one in such a deplorable con-
dition. Hence she resolved that a she
couldn't be cured, John must. She had
always been kind nurse TO him. humoring
all his whims and crotchets, and taking the
best OF care of him,
II am sure, mother''-she always called
Aunt Hepsey mother-''tbat Cousin John
looks very badly. and ought to have med-
cal attendance at once but as the doctor
is not near enough 10 be of service we
must do our best TO save him'-and she
felt his pulse with her very little finger,
and pursed up her lips and looked very
wise indeed.
John began TO look alarmed Mt this cor
of his swn gloomy fears.
He must have dose of composition at
once, a bottle of hot water put to his feet,
and of course must go to bed immedi-
ately I"
John would have demurred to this part
of the arrangement, but she did not give
him time.
Typhoid Is very plenty around just
now, and no doubt he is going to have an
attack; nearly every case fatal. too,' she
added musingly to herself.
John was now in cold perspiration
of anxiety at the way she treated the
matter.
"I-I-you never-you don't really
think so, do you? IL think am feeling
a little better" stammered he. But Kate
extinguished him at once.
Nonsense. you are worse; much worse
you change every minute. You must 90
to bed AT once;' and as he really grew
pale, she said. as though thinking aloud
-" Probably won't be delirious for some
hours yet; :" which had the effect of using
him up completely.
For three davs she kept him close
prisoner in bed, curtains close drawn; in
structing Aunt Hepsey, who attended
him, to keep plenty of good warm blan-
kets piled upon him, and make him drink
plenty of hot pcpper-tea and such things;
which things, combined "'ith his nervous
-. Al 80
spiration, and were, taken on the whole,
considerably worse to endure than the fe-
yer would have been. During that time
she invited in some of her young friends
and made the house ring with filn: all of
which made the sck-room seem doubly
tedious. Then she allowed him to come
down stairs, looking very pale and weak
and bleachy."
Show do you feel to-day, cousin ~ ask
ed Kate, looking fresh and rosy herself as
could be.
Il feel very weak the room has been
rather close and warm" Which was very
true; Aunt Hepsey having g,metaphorically
speaking. given good measure; saying no
thing. but looking as though the question
had been somehow answered. Don't
you think little turn outside in the air
would do me goodg"
Mercy! no. What an idea - and Kate
looked Mortified. "Sit down here by the
fire. instantly. and be covered up;" and
three large warm shawls were wrapped
and piled around him that warm autumn
day. The heat. and something she said in
a low tone to her mother about " Poor fel-
low, i am afraid the canceris growing again,
and how lucky Ii Is that father bought the
lot so soon, "made him the source
of vast number of little rivers of perspira-
ton Immediately.
For three weeks Kate would not allow
poor John TO venture near an open win
dow or look out Of the door. but contin-
ued the first treatment; and then she de-
clared the fever vanquished. But as she
had discovered meantime about five hun
dred new diseases fastened upon him, he
did not find much relief in the victory. In