The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-12-09
FROM THE MODERN GULL
IVER.'

IVER.'
From the X. Y Times
And 50. after had dried
myself somewhat, and collected the re-
mainder of my strength. Icrawled rather
weakly and wearily up from the bench
to the top ofthe bluff On one side was
the cruel sea, and Just below me were
the fragments Of the wreck Of our good
ship, and I sobbed as thought of the
gallant men who had gone down in her
and only I, the unworthiest remained.
Before me stretched a plain of sandy,
barren country, covered with scant bush
es and dwarf trees, and beyond these
we're low, wooded hills Was there a
human being in this vast solitude There
was nothing for me to do bat 10 travel
inland as soon and as rapidly as possible,
before my body gave out completely from
exhaustion, and see If could find living
souls to suceor me, or, falling, to die
alone in the wilderness.
For hours-it seemed days-I trudged
slowly on through the thick, sharp IN
derbrush. Gradually the character Of
the country changed grass began to
spring under my feet, the bushes be-
came trees, and vas still in the midst
of msjestic, primeval forest. Still,
saw no signs of human footsteps.
But suddenly-I thought II was an an
GEL heard a girls sweet voice singing
far off toward the east from me I pIung-
ed madly in that direction the maiden,
too wss coming toward me, although she
was evidently not yet aware Of my pres
ence. Soon saw her coming along far
awav. I'D . sort of avenue in the trees
She might have been, for all he- dress or
face showed, New England school girl.
Was there, then, an English colony in
this far off Atlantic Isle Il might have
been my previous loneliness, but 1t SEEM
ed to me she was the fairest being Of
Gods making l had ever seen She was
about eighteen, with light hair and eyes,
and dancing along in her girlish inno-
ceuce. she was picture out of heaven to
me. heartsick mariner.
But one little peeuliarity about her l
forgot to mention, though it is hardly
worth while She was carrying her head
under her arm
When she saw me she came fearlessly
toward me. asked ner if she would d.
rect me on my way. As aeeosted her,
she calmly picked up her head, put it on
her shoulders. and in the sweetest voice
imaginable answered that she would be
most happy to do 50.
We walked along, chatting gaily. al
ready felt all my old strength coming
back to me in the sunshine Of her young
presence. But after had asked and an
swered number of questions my inborn
curiosity could not prevent my inquiring
in regard to her slight cranial idiosyncra-
cy, az 1 politely termed it. In other
words. what did she mean by taking her
head of
@Why, sir" said she, what country
do YOU come from, or in what distant
part of the world do you live, that you
are 50 ignorant Do you not know that
YOU are in that far-famed land falsely
called the Land of the Fountain Of Per
petual Youth" and are you not aware
that a drink Of our famous waters MAKES
our members independent Of each other,
50 that we can detasch them at will
Just now, for example, I took my head
of % keep it cool"
But what would you DO If you should
lose your head, as young ladies are very
offen said to do % said /. This was a
joke
aOh, no, sir" said she We have
learned not 70 be so foolish as that, espe-
ciaIly if any young men are likely to be
around 70 find them. Bat think how
useful this wonderful power Is. Suppose
want to pick an apple from the top of
this tree. could never climb it, and the
girls of our country would not be so
weak as to ask sny man to do il for Us,
so all have to do Is 70 stretch out my
hand Ike this and she slowly lited
her arm Ike a derrick until il was at
least fifteen feet long, and picking a fine
fall pippin. presented it to me.
Then she continued, if want to
see the surrounding country, instead OF
I climbing some distant mountain. can
iust raise my head trifie, ike this, and
up vent her head Ike telegraph pOte
with an orange on top Of it, until she
was at least three rods in height.
Coming down handsomely, as the ex-
preston is, she remarked, breathlessly,
q How Is that for high"
told her had heard of people hold
ing their noses Up in the air, but / had
never before seen any one 50 toplOffy as
she.
We can also detatch our members #
necessary" said she Let me show
you,' and in an instant there fiewiin the
air confused vision .af arms, legs, head,
shoulders. etc, until she looked ike
circus rider caught in 4 cyclone l had
heard Of folks dying all to pieces-in an
ger bot | had never seen anything ike
il. asked her If it was not rather ex-
hausting to her 10 throw herself around
90. She said il was very popular form
of exercise. told her this might do for
exercise once IA aEhile. but preferred
to see people more collected