Connecticut western news., 1889-12-18

where two streets converged, on q dilapidated platform, raised few feet above level ground, stood 8 man, talk ing to crowd of curious people gathered about him-some to listen, some to scofi, some with hands thrust in pockets, either for comforts sake, or to guard the same against the at tacks of the speaker.
 He was seedy and old, and the frost of this Christmas-eve had reudened his eyes and nose, and lent an extl a quaver to his voice. He shook bot tie of dark liquid in the faces of his hearers, and shouted:
 "Walk up, ladies and gentlemen, and try my Life Elixir. It will cure all the ills that flesh is heir to, and a good many more, as Shakespeare has said. Every bottle is warranted to add five years to your life, or money refunded. Walk up! There's not the ghost of an excuse for any of you to die under the age of Methusclah!"
 The villagers showed little haste in seizing the opportunity thus offered. Times were hard-fcw, perhaps, cared to prolong life to such an appalling period. Some good-natured jokes passed from mouth to mouth; then there was stamping of half-frozen feet, and a sudden movement on the outskirts of the crowd, as d carriage turned neighboring corner, and drew up near the old platform.
 It was an elegant vehicle, drawn by a pair of spanking bays with docked tails, and driven by 8 coachman in liv- cry. Inside, hand in a fur glove pulled down the window and the pale, sickly face of man, untitled in seal skin, looked out on the old quack and his audience.
 "My friends" went on the frost. bitten voice on the platform, s.I'm a-going to show you living illustra- ton of the power of my elixir. Lord knows that seeing ought to be believ ing. Here's young person that wai at deaths door d bare month ago-un dertaker notified, and coffin and shrout made-life a-f1ying, like the last spark of . rocket. I snatched her from the very jaws of the tomb. as she'll take her Bible oath before any magistrate Give her a good long look, and my word! you'll own that Hagan's Elixir is the wonder of ancient and modern times all for one dollar, and cure { dead certainty, or money refunded!' Y
 A woman stepped upon the platform and stood beside the medicine-man. She dropped from her shoulders a long cloak, with a hood attached, and thu divested turned herself to the gaze o1 the crowd.
 She was handsome young creat ure, fantastically dressed in thread bare velvet with tinsel trimming. He skirt, abbreviated several inches abov' the ankle, revealed limbs of exQuisit, beauty, and pair of little feet in ret Turkish slippers. Her yellow bodic' was cut sloping at the throat and shor in the sleeves, for the display of lus trous white neck and arms that nigh have served as a model to Canova Indeed, the hard, fine symmetry of hel whole body reminded one of sculpture but it was sculpture alive, and throb ping with vigorous blood. Her skin wore the marbled whiteness of per feet healthier lips were red, he eyes like brown velvet. From unde a jaunty red cap two lustrous chestnu braids fell upon her shoulders, ant swept her hips with their raveled tips
 .'Rescued by me from the grave here she stands!" cried old Hagan- ga living proof of what my elixir cal do. Every one of you may be as hand some. Two bottles warranted to re iuvenate the cuticle and the cutis three. to transmogrify the figure ac cording to this Hebe's pattern
 Bat the crowd had ceased to listen