The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-09-16

To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle.

late united States Consul at one or the
English inland ports, who is now private
resident of New York, relates the following
interesting story. He objects, for private
reasons, to having his name published, but
authorizes the icriter TO substdniidte his
statement, and, if necessary, to refer to him,
IN his private capacity, any person seeking
such reference. Deferring to his wishes,
hereby present his statement in almost the
exact language in which he gave it to me.
T.. nj. FARMER.
! 1000 Third avenue, New York.
g On my last voyage home from England,
some three years ago, III one of the Cunard
steamers, i noticed one morning after a few
days out of port, a young man hobbling
about on the upper deck, supported by
crutches and seeming to move with extreme
difficulty and no little pain. He was well
| dressed and Of exceedingly handsome coun-
tenance, but his limbs were somewhat ema-
ciated and his face very sallow and bore the
traces Of long suffering. AS he seemed to
have no attendant or companion, he at once
attracted my sympathies, and went up to
him as he leaned against the tatfrail looking
out on the foaming track which the steamer
was making.
Excuse me, my young friend, ! said,
touching him gently on the shoulder, you
appear to be an invalid and hardly able or
strong enough to trust yourself unattended
on an ocean voyage but if you require any
assistance am a robust and healthy man
and shall be glad to help you
You are very kind, he replied, in a
weak voice, but / require no present aid
beyond my crutches, which enable me to
pass from my stateroom up here to get the
benefit of the sunshine and the sea breeze
You have been great sufferer no
IA /.
been afflicted with that most troublesome
Observation-Disclosures; whose prevalence and
intensity seem to be on an alarming increase
both in England and America
You are right he answered / have
been its victim for more than n year, and
after failing to find relief from medical skill
have lately tried the Springs of Carlsbad and
Vichy. But they have done me no good, and
l am now on my return home to Missouri to
die, / suppose. l shall be content if life is
spared me to reach my mothers presence.
She is widow and am her only child
There was pathos in this speech which
affected me profoundly and awakened in
me deeper sympathy than had felt be-
fore. / had no words to answer him, and
stood silently beside him, watching the
snowy wake of the ship. While thus stand
ing my thoughts reverted to a chld-a 10
siding near my consulate residence, who had
been cured of stubborn case of rheuma-
tism by the use of st. Jacobs Oil, and l re-
membered that the steward of the ship had
told me the day before that he had cured
himself of a very severe attack of the govt
in New York just before his last voyage by
the use of the same remedy. / mt once left
my young friend and went below to find the
steward. | not only found him off duty,
but discovered that he had bottle of the
Oil in his locker, which he had carried
across the ocean in case of another attack
He readily parted with it on my representa-
ton, and, hurrying up again, l soon per-
suaded the young man to allow me to take
him to his berth and apply the remedy.
After doing so ] covered him up snugly in
bed and requested him not to get up until
should see him again. That evening / re-
turned to his stateroom and found him
sleeping peacefully and breathing gently.
| reused him and inquired how he felt.
Like new man, he answered, with
grateful smile. l feel no pain and am able
TO stretch my limbs without difficulty. l
think I'll get up No, don't get up to-
night l said. but let me rub you again
with the Oil, and in the morning you will be
much better able to go above. All right.
he said. laughing. then applied the Oil
again. rubbing his knees, ankles and arms
thoroughly, until he said Ne felt as if he had
mustard poultice all over his body. | then
left him The next morning when / went
mp on deck for breezy promenade, accord
ing To my custom, found my patient wait
ing for me with a smiling face, and rithOut
his crutches, although he limped in his
movements, but without pain. / don't
think | ever felt SO happy i'll my life. To
make long story short, | attended him
closely during the rest of our voyage-some
four days--applying the Oil every night,
and guarding him against too much exposure
to the fresh and damp spring breeZes, and,
on landing ut New York he was able. with
out assistance. 10 mount the hotel omnibus
and 90 TO the Aston House. | called on him
two days later, and found him actually en-
gagged in packing his trunk, preparatory to
starting West for his home. that evening.
With bright and grateful smile he well
coined me. and pointing to a little box, care
fully done up in thick brown paper, which
stood upon the table, he said My good
friend, can You guess what that is? A
present for your sweetheart, j answered.
No, he laughed that is dozen bottles
of st. jacobs Oil. which ! have just pur-
chased from Hudnut the druggist across the
way, and | am taking them home to show
my good mother what has saved her sons
life and restored him TO her in health. And
with it, would like to carry you along also,
to show her the face of him without whom
/ should probably never have tried it. If
you should ever visit the little village of
Sedalia, Mo-, Charlie Townsend and his
mother will welcome you to their little
home, with hearts full of gratitude, and they
will show you bottle of st. Jacobs Oil en-
shrined in silver and gold casket, which
We shall keep as parlor ornament as well
as memento Of our meeting OH the Cunard
steamer
We parted, after an hours pleasant chat.
with mutual goodwill and esteem, and few
weeks afterward received letter from
him telling me he was in perfect health,
and containing many graceful expressions Of
his affectionate regards. y Brooklyn Eagle.