The Osceola times., 1882-03-18

| him, in his private capacity, any person
seeking such reference. Deferriug to his
wishes, / hereby present his statement
/ in almost the exact language in which he
gave it to me. {. Nj. FARMER,
| 1870 Third drenue, NG0 York.
"On my last voyage home from Eng
land, some three years ago, in one OF the
| Cunard steamers, noticed one morning,
after few days out of port, young man
| hobbling about on the upper deck, sup
ported by crutches, and seeming to move
with extreme difficulty and no little
pain. He was well dressed and of ex-
ceedingly handsome countenance, but
| his limbs were somewhat emaciated 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 smpathies, and | went
up to him as he leaned against the tail
rail, looking out on the foamlng track
which the steam er was making.
"Excuse me, my yorng FRIEND l
said, touching him gently on the shoul-
der, 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
robust and healthy man and shall be
glad to help you
"'You are very kind he replied, in
weak voice, but require no present aid
beyond my crutches, which enable me to
pass from my state room up here to get
the benefit OF the sunshine and the sea
breeze
"'You have been a great sufferer, no
doubt, / said, and judge, that you have
been afflicted with that most troublesome
disease-rheumatism, whose prevalence
and intensity seem to be on an alarming
increase both in England and America"
"'You are right he answered; i have
been its victim for more than ayear, 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 i am now on my
return home to Missouri to die, l sup
pose. | shall be content if life is spared
to me to reach my mothers presence:
She is widow and / am her only chil3:'
There was pathos ia this speech
which affected me profoundly, and
awakened in me deeper sympathy than
had felt before | had no words to
answer him, and stood silently beside
him watching the snowy wake of the
ship. While thus standing my thoughts
reverted to a child-a ten year old boy
of neighbor of NINE residing near my
consulate residence, who had been cured
of a stubborn case of rheumatism by the
use of st. Jacobs Oil, and remembered
that the steward Of the ship had told
me the day before that ne had cured
himself of a very severe attack OF gout
in New York just before his last voyage
by the use of the same remedy. l at
once left my young friend and went be
low to find the steward. / not only
found him off duty, but discovered that
he had a bottle of the oil in his locker,
which he had carried across the ocean III
case of another attack. He readily
parted with it on my presentation, and
hurrying up again, soon persuaded the
young man to allow me to take him to
his berth and apply the remedy. After
doing so | covered him up snugiy in bed
and requested him not to get up until |
should see him again. That evening !
returned to his stateroom and found him
sleeping peacefully and breathing gently.
| reused him and inquired how he felt.
Like a new man. he answered, with
grateful smile. Il feel no pain and ara
able to stretch my limbs without diff
Guilty. ] think I'll get up No, don't
get up to night | said, but let me
rub you again with the oil, and in the
morning you will be able to go above.
All right he said, laughing. then ap-
piled the Oil again, rubbing his knees,
ankles aud arms thoroughly, until he
said he felt as if he had a mustard
poultice all over his body. then left
him. The next morning when l went
upon deck for a breezy promenade, ac-
cording TO my custom, found my pa
tient waiting for me with a smiling face,
and iridom has crHches, although he
limped in his movements, but without
pain. ! don't think | ever felt so happy
in my life. To make a long story short,
attended him closely during the rest OF
the voyage-some four days-applying
the Oil every night, and guarding him
against too much exposure to the fresh
and damp breezes, and on landing at
New York, he was able, without assist
ance, to mount the hotel omnibus and
go the Astor Houe. | called on him
two days later, and found him actively
engaged in packing his trunk prepara-
tory to starting West for his home that
evening. With a bright and grateful
smile he welcomed me, and pointing to
little box carefully done up in thick
brown paper which stood upon the table,
he said My good friend, can you guess
what that isP "A present for your
sweetheart answered. NO. he laugh
ed, that is dozen bottles of st. Jacobs
Oil which have just purchased 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, in Missouri,
Charlie Townsend and his mother will
welcome you TO their little home, with
hearts full of gratitude, and they will
show you a bottle of st. Jacobs Oil en-.
shrined in a silver and gold casket. which
we shall keep as parlor ornament as
well as memento of our meeting on 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 alfectionate
repards - BrooH,yn Eo0Ie