Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-15
NO. 2s6-
THE CORK LEG.
A Comic Tragedy.
FROM THE EToILE PoLAIRE.
Continued from yesterdsy.)

Continued from yesterdsy.) eets
The whole evening was spent in sx-
amning and discussing its various springs,
cog-wheels, checks. guards, screws and
chains, and when bedtime came Master
lurningvort and the rich Mynheer had
both worked themselves up to an ecstacy
oil delight and satisfaction over the per-
lection OF such leg. The merchant then
earnestly invited Turningvort to pass the
night under bis roof and assist him In the
morning TO put it on. Then as he said,
he would be able to witness how well the
various parts would perform their re-
spective functions. fH
Early the next morning, therefore. the
| necessary straps and bands having At
tached the new leg to his person, Mynheer
van Wodenblock stepped out of his house
and began to walk along the pavement.
proud and delighted with the leg bis wealth
had brought him. invoking blessings on
the workman whose labors had surpa ssed
those of nature herself.
Every one he met was full OF admira-
tion. The gait OF the merchant was as
free and easy as that of any man who had
two legs OF flesh and bone. All the Joints
and springs of that wonderful piece of
mechanism exactly initiated the action of
real joints and muscles. Nobody would
have suspected that under the wide flaps
OF his coat and the enormous bulginess
OF his Dutch breeches was concealed a
false limb. The sole Inconvenience he
experienced was from the continued buzz
and movement OF multitude OF little
wheels inside of him-a sort of tick, tick,
tick, tick, like watch. only little louder.
Had it not been for this, Mynheef van
Wodenblock could have forgotten that
his robust person was different in any re-
spect from what it had been when. on
that unlucky morning. he had raised his
handsome foot against his offending
cousin. 8a a.ls
In the joy of his heart he went on walk
ing jauntiiy till he arrived before The
front of the City Hall. His old friend
Vanoutern was standing in the doorway
waiting TO offer him his congratulations.
lie reached the spot where VanOuiern
stood expecting him, also with outstretched
hand, ,}when to the amazement Of that
worthy burgher. he was obliged to see his
old friend hurry past him without stop
ping. still with his hand held out, but
without even the smallest pause for the
vrey brietest "Vanoutein, how d'ye do,s
| Poor Wodenblock was not responsible
|
| tonisbment at it was greater even than
that OF his friend. But what was his hor-
ror when he perceived that his own will
was powerless to control the action of
the mechanism of his leg! As long Us
his volition agreed with the impulse given
| TO its progress and direction all was well
but he had never calculated on his total
| inability to act contrary to the machine,
| which simply obeJed the natural laws
which presided over its being. aaahf
He wanted TO stop and chat with Van.
outern, but the leg, possessed OF devil,
would go onward, and be had to accom.
pany it. He did everything he could to
| walk more slowly. All his efforts were
| vain. He tried to catch hold of railipgs,
posts and door handles. But when he did
so the accursed leg always twirled round
with such sudden jerk that poor Wooden
| block. fearing to have his two arms torn
out of their sockets, let go and went on.
Then he began to be very much alarmed
as to the probable future before him. His
only hope was that the dreadful clockwork
| might run down, and the leg, which was
| now going faster and faster, might sud-
denly stop of itself. This hope was based
| only on theory as to the usual laws that
| regulate mechanism and matter. There
was nothing to indicate that the leg was
| ever going TO stop. 1a3e
AT last poor Wodenblock. having rushed
| like madman through all the streets of
Rotterdam, reached the towpath of the
Canal OF Leyden. Here stood the house
and shop of Turningvort. Before he
reached it he began to scream, "Help
help!" and Murder p a...l
Turningvort rushed to the window and
| gazed at him with bewildered air.
"Wretch" exclaimed Wodenblock
''come here this moment! Help me 10
stop! This leg is vile trick on your part.
I'll have you hanged if you don't make II
stop. 1t has not held up one moment since
| left my own door this morning. I've no
power over it. If you can't stop It heav-
en- knows what is going to became Of me
Fool what are you standing there for
with your mouth open ? II you can't stop
me at once l shall be off too far for YOU to
catch me-"
Turningvort at this appeal rushed down
stairs. He had evidently never foreseen
flaw in his precious discovery. He did ev-
erything he could for Wodenblock. But
that unhappy merchant Tor rather bis cork
Lego rushed onward with astonishing ve-
locity. Turningvort was an old man, and
it was not an easy thing for him 10
run like race horse down the towpath
after anybody. Still, he did his best. His
fear and remorse appeared to lend him
wings. He caught the merchant round
| the waist at last. and lifted him from the
ground. But the movement of the cork
leg did not cease. 1t vibrated so violently
that both bodies were borne on by IL about
fifteen yards. when both fell to the
ground.
Wodenblock was up as ii he were all
made of cork and off again before Turn
ingvort was able to raise his head from the
ground So great was the fresh impetus
impaired TO his speed that he knocked
down two fish wives and a couple Of fat
Englishmen. He called for help. He ul-
tt red lamentable cries.
stop! stop me, somebody he
screamed, ~ am bewitched. ] am pos
sessed by devil I've got devil inside
this cork leg Stop me for pity sake, good
TcoNcLUDED ON rouRrH PAeE.J