The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-02-05
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Mr.. sowsER GETS THE GRIP.

was case of grip, he blurted out:
"Gripi And you have gone 10 bed an6
had the doctor for a case of grips Humphi'
"But am awfully sickP' she replied.
rats, Mrs. Bowser! You just imagine
it! This simply goes to prove what have
often asserted-that no person of any
strength of character has ever had the
grip. It's a namby-pamby thing, which
even a child three years old ought to be
ashamed Of.
You may have it before you get
through"
IF I do-if I am silly enough to lay
down with any such thing as that hope
somebody will pound me to death with a
fence rail! have the grip? | call doc
tor for such a nunsensical thing as thati
Not If my name is Bowser!"
Mrs BOwser was in bed three or four
days. and Mr. Bowser lost no opportunity
to talk about her foolishness in giving up
to such trifiing ailment. He likewise re-
marked to the doctor that he thought it
very foolish in the medical fraternity to
encourage the public in any such delusion.
You II probably have it, and when it
comes you'll change your opinion" CURLY
replied the doctor.
Il will, eki There isn't enough grip in
North America TO pull down one of my
earsl rd really like to he attacked, just to
show you how strength of will could throw
it of"
4 week ago, at 3 o'clock one afternoon,
Mrs Bowser heard something fall against
the front door. She called to the girl to
open it and see whether it was bag of POI
tatoes or cornsheller 1t was neither
1t was Mr. BOWser-not the Mr.. Bowser
who lad gone away in the morning step
ping high and carrying his chin in the air,
bat the Mr.. Bowser who had come home
shaking and shivering and all bumped over
until he didn't appear to be four feet high.
1t was a case Of the grip.
Heavens, Mr.. Bowser! but what does
this meang" demanded Mrs. Bowser as he
staggered into the hall.
'Tm-I'm a dead manI'' he gasped as
she pulled off his overcoat and helped him
on the lounge in the back parlor.
Have you got chilli"
"Y-yesl Get forty bedquilts to cover
me upP'
And does your back ache?"
docs it? Great Scott, but don't believe
can live half an hour longer It's con-
gestive chill | suppose"
Its simply the grip, Mr.. Bowser. That's
exactly the way everybody is taken.
Hadn't you better exercise a little will
power"
Mr. Bowser looked at her reproachfully
and shivered and shook.
Curious how it took hold Of a man OF
your strength of character" she continued
as she got his shoes off.
Mr. Bowser's chin began to CULVER in
suspicious manner and she said no more or
the subject. He had been put to bed and
was groauing and shivering when the doc,
tor came in.
well, your ear has been pulled down,
see," remarked the doctor as he rubbed
his hands together in cheerful way.
''Have you tried to throw it off by strength
of will?"
Ill suspect it's pneumonia" replied
Mr. Bowser.
"Well, don't. It's grip-just grip"
"And Pm sick enough to diel'
"Pshaw, mani you have got a mild at
tack-about as the babies have it. If you
had it as bad as your wife did should feel
very anxious. Just keep quiet and take
this medicine every two hours"
How many weeks will l be in the
house,"
Weeks? Why, you can go out tomor-
row if you feel like it. Better get up after
supper and walk around It's a wonder to
me that such slight attack brought you
home"
But Mr.. Bowser's backache grew worse,
and when the chill finally went off he was
out of his head most of the time with the
fever. During Mrs. Bowser's sickest night
he had gone to bed TO sleep and snore and
rest undisturbed by her means. She had
to sit up with him, of course. He want
ed vichy water, lemonade, ice water, gin |
ger ale, pickles, tea, toast and a dozen !
other things, and he seemed to take solid |
comfort in keeping up a grOaning so dole !
full that it finally stopped the clock.
The doctor returned in the morning, to |
find Mr.. Bowser's pulse jumping, his |
tongue covered with fur and his throat |
almost raw, but he expressed his great sur |
prise that he had not gone to the Office. |
He encouraged him TO get up and go down |
cellar and up stairs, but Mr.. Bowser stuck |
right to the bed
Doctor, don't think you realize how |
serious this case Is, he groaned
Il am sure do It's very mild case of |
that namby- pamby epidemic called the /
grip. l have five children in this neighbor- |
hood who have it worse than you, but all |
are up and playing with their dolls Very |
curious that a man OF your stamina should |
give up. Keep on with the medicine, how |
ever, and I'll send gargle"
For four days MIR. Bowser gargled and |
dosed and doped and groaned. Mrs. Bow
ser had TO attend him rs ii he were a baby. |
He had very little to say during this in. |
tervaL He seemed to hatten all out and |
lose his conceit. Once he even went so far |
as to observe that if his life was spared he
would be a humble man in future. On /
the fifth day, however, after getting out to
the gate and back, his meekneSs seemed to /
be disappearing. and on the sixth, as he
started for ia olicc he said:
Il propose TO visit two or three different
doctors today and lind out what caused my
sickness"
Why. it vas grip. of course" replied
Mrs BowseT.
Not much, There was a combination
there and know il. and it was mighty
serious one too. Nothing on earth but my
determination not - give way to it pulled
me through. Plenty 81 men in my situa-
ton would have turned up their toes. ans
plenty of Others would have been in bed
Tor months Grip Humph. Mrs Bowser.
sou don't know me Yet. When | knock
Snder to grip I'll have the deoency to 60
and drown myself, Grip and brain fever
are too widely different things, aud | want
you and that fool of doctor to know it
tooF'-M Quad in New York World.
She Know.
Ma'm'selle Posem-I haf been pausinz
for you, ze-
NJ. Easel-Pausingf Posing you mean.
Pause IS 20 whit.