The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-03-31

To the Editor OF the Brooklyn Eagle:
A late United States Consul at one Of the
English inland ports, VINO 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 Hy'ifer 10 sabstantidte his
statement, and, if necessary, to refer
to him. in his private capacity, any per-
son seeking such reference. referring
to his wishes, ! hereby present his state
ment in almost the exact language in which
he gave it to me. G. nj. FARMER,
1890 Third dvenue, Neu York.
- On my last voyage home from England,
some three wears ago, in one of the Cunard
steamers, / noticed one morning, after few
days out of port, n Young man hobbling about
on the upper deck, supportedby crutches and
seeming to move with extreme difficulty and
no little pain He was well dressed and of
exceedingly handsome countenance, but his
limbs were somewhat emaciated and his face
very sallow and bore the traces of long suf-
ferng. As he seemed TO have no attendant
or companion, he Mt once attracted my sym
pathies, and i went up to him as he leaned
against the taffrail looking out on the foam
ing track which the steamer was making.
Excuse me, my young friend, / said,
touching him gently on the shoulder, you
appear to be mn 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 a weak
voice, but l 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 n great sufferer, no doubt,
/ said, and Judge that you have been af-
| flicted 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; | have
been its victim for more than year, and,
after failing to find relief from medical skill,
have lately tried the Springs of Carlsbad
and Yichy. But they have done me no good,
and am now on my return home to Mis-
souri, to die, / suppose. l shall be content
| if life is spared to me to reach my mothers
presence. She is widow and ] am her
only child
There was patbos in this speech which
affected me profoundly and awakened IN me
"a 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 child--a 10-year- old
boy-of neighbor of mine 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 be-
fore that he had cured himself of very
severe attack of the CONT i'll New York just
before his last voyage by the use of the same
remedy. / ut once left my young friend and
went below to find the steward. l 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 representation, and, hurTying up again,
i soon persuaded the young man to allow
nfe 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 even
my returned To his stateroom and found
him sleepingpeacefully and breathinggently.
l reused him and inquired how he felt.
Like new man, he answered, with CRATE
full smile | feel no pain and am able to
stretch my limbs without difficulty. l think
I'll get mp. No, don't get up tonight, L
said, but let me rub you again with the
Oil, and in the morning you will be able to
90 above. An right, he said, laughing.
/ then applied the Oil again, rubbing his
! knees, ankles and arms thoroughly, until
! he said he felt rs if he had mustard poul-
tice all over hrs body. l then left him.
! The next morning when | went upon deck
for breezy promenade according to my
custom, ] found my patient waiting for me
with smiling face, and rithom his
crutches, although he limped in his move
ments, but without pain. | don't think
ever felt SO happy in my life To make n
long story short, ] attended him closely
during the rest Of the voyage-some four
days-applyirg 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
/ to the Aston House. | called on him two
days later, and found him actually engaged
in packing his trunk, preparatory to starting
! West for his home that evening. With q
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 is 2 "A present for your
sweetheart. / answered. No he laughed
- that is a dozen bottles of ST. Jacobs OIL
J 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 l would like to
! carry you along also, 10 show her the face Of
him, without whom, / should probably
never have tried it. If you should ever
visit the little village of Sedaka, in Missouri,
! Charlie Townsend and his mother will well
come You to their little home, with hearts
full of gratitude, and they will show you n
| bottle of st. Jacobs Oil enshrined in a silver
and gold casket, which we shall keep as a
parlor ornament as well as n memento of our
meeting on the Cunard steamer
We parted, after an hours pleasant chat,
with mutual good will and esteem, and a
few weeks afterward received letter from
him telling me he was in perfect health and
containing many graceful expressions of his
ntfectonate regards. "-Brooklyn Eagle.