The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-05-30
MISCELLANY.
The Great Medicine. Eater.

Mrs. Tabitha Watkins "had been ailin'
a considerable part of her nat'ral life."
Once she had " the dyspepsy,' once = the
liver complaint and always sthe spine.
But for all this she did more work than
any woman in the village.
She had become possessed with the
demon ssPhysic,'' and strong as was her
constitution, he often threw her down and
tore her; yet she walked about and work
ed like living skeleton. She ate patent
medicine-well, almost like bread, and
drank it like water. Now, do not think
am exggerating. for this is literally true.
She blistered. and rubbed, and soaked, and
steamed, according to the complaint that
she believed was affecting her at the time.
She spent her leisure in reading the papers
that advertised quacks and their nostrums
and she ran, day or night, to see new ca
ses of sickness, as child would after the
dancing bears.
She looked like an ordinary woman
drawn out to twice her length and halt
the proper thickness. L had heard of all
this, but was surprised one day to receive
acall from her.
''Tve heard you was fond o. plants,
nia'am,' she sad.
g Yes, very fond of them"
$50 be |, ma'am. | have great re-
they render to human natur'. My belief
is, that when the Lord made the trees,
and flowers, and YARDS, He made some
particular one good for every complaint
that was to come in fashion in times to
come. And when He's been so nlassiful
to us. it's awful how ems.villainous mar
c4lry doctors turn their backs on the inno-
cent things that grows, and give poor suf-
farin' creturs min'ral p'ison! They ought
to be tried and convicted, quartered and
hung - she exclaimed with much spirit.
ssBut there are poisonous plants, said,
g and they are often given us In small
quantities by physicians"
Well, ma'am, they oughtn't to bel
And if folks would be their own doctors,
as I be, they wouldn't be cheated that
Way. But I didn't come here to talk
smedicine,' but about flowers. Would
YOU like to buy master-big ivy in hang
ing-pot, and q great coronation pink IN
full blow, and two fine geranihms p
g Yes, if you will sell them at fair
price,"
"Well, that will for money | must
have. My husband is a good sort of a man
in his way--but he never see one SICK
day in his whole life, and he haint no SYM
pathy with sick folks.
81 like his providin' and he likes my
GO0kln', DuJ OH UnS IHOuiCtAlC AuOSlAoh We
can't agree and can't get half the mon
ey want to keep me up; have such
tgone' feelin' here all the time )" and she
laid her hand ON her heart. 81 expect
nothing but I'll die some day"
"No doubt"
And then he'll be sorry
Perhaps so. What do you ask for the
flowers you mention?"
"Only just enough to keep soul and
body together till can bring my husband
round. Three dollars.n
''I'll give you four dollars"
90, thank you. That will supply me
with 'tannics, and a gross of Life-Givin'
Pills that need dreadfully Just now. /
shall have to wait for sThompson's Bitters,
and Liver Corrector,' and 'Tinctur' of I'M
mortality till berry y-time, and earn them
pickin'.''
But, my. good woman, | should think
you would kill yeurselfln said.
"That's just what he says; but you see
I'm alive, and able to out-work you. But
he and have just had a few words on the
question; and as heered you was a re-
markable larned woman and knew bot0-
my, and greology, and Electricity, and all
them things; and | wanted to know and
converse with you, as well as to sell you
them pots. You're just come down from
the city. Have you heard of this new
medicine that makes folks all over g'in
inside?"
"No." said. laughing; sis there such
a one?'