St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1885-05-30
FROM DEATH TO LIFE.
Why q Warriors Hair Changed
from Black to White.

You wonder that my hair is so white
while l am not an old man as years go:
Perhaps your hair would be as white as
mine if you had passed through the or
deal of death in life that it was my fate
to endure.
Tell you about it? Ugh!I shudder to
think of it. Everything comes up before
me so vividly when I tell my strange
story that seem to be living the terri
bic hours of terror and suspense over
again: do not tell it often, but if you
care to hear it, listen, and when am
done tell me if you wonder my hair is
white.
was soldier in the late war, and it
was my fortune to be wounded in an
engagement in Virginia. A ball struck
me in the shoulder, and 1 fell to the
ground and knew nothing of what hap
pened for hours after that.
When l came to myself l was in an
ambulance and was being taken to the
hospital. The jolting of the wagon
caused almost unbearable pain in my
wounded shoulder. At times it seemed
as if my suffering would drive me wild.
By the time we reached our destination
was so weak could hardly speak
above whisper. Twas taken from the
ambulance and carried into the hospital
ward, and surgeon was sent for at
once.
He came presently-a kindly featured,
mild-voiced man, who won my conf
dence at once. He asked me some ques-
tions about my wound before he pro-
ceeded to examine it. Seeing how weak
Twas he gave me something that soon
quieted me.
When the drug had taken effect he
examined my shoulder. ! saw from his
face that he considered amputation
necessary.
Il wont consent to have my arm ia
ken off," cried I'D rather suffer
any amount of pain than the loss of
that"
"But-you might lose your life, !" he
II might as well, and be done with it.
as to go through life with one arm" l
answered. ..Isu never consent to any
operation that will deprive me of it"
He reasoned with me in vain. At
length he left me.
Shortly after the nurse having charge
of that ward came in. The surgeon
had made out prescription for me,
and swallowed the medicine he sent,
wondering if life or death was to be my
lot.
I fell into q broken, troubled sleep,
from which l woke to the conscious
ness of a keen. knife-like pain in my
shoulder, a sudden darting pain that
ran through all my nerves and tingled
to the extremities of my body.
In this condition the surgeon found
me when he made his next visit.
81 knew how it would be-" he said,
shaking his head. ''Itell you what it
is INV bow, YOU had better submit to
the loss of limb than a loss OF life. 1t
will soon be too late. it this inhamma-
ton goes on, to risk an operation.
Il can not consent to it, !" l persisted.
thinking of the disadvantage l would
be laboring under in attempting to night
the hattie of life without my trusty arm.
..Resides. the shock of amputation
might kill me. 1t probably would. AS
well die with my arm ON IS to nave IL
taken off and then die.
1T might, it is true" said the sur
geon; "but the chances Of recovery st.er s.
an operation would be far greater than
now. However, il you are determined
to hang to it we'n do the pest we can
for you"
Then he proceeded to dress my
wound. The pain the operation caused
was terrible. Once almost tainted
away. -
.After little you win be more com
Portable, [ think. But l tell You the
truth when I say that you will sui1er iar
more with your arm, i You live; J, than
you would in having it taken or.
1T isn't the dread OF the pain OF am
putation that makes me refuse to have
it taken off," 1 answered. ut is simply
because 1 can not bear the idea OF gong
through life with but one arm to depend
on"
For a time after my wound was
droseo6 T->. knlarahlv COmtOft40le.