St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-11-21

Hnd his folks all lOouent ne NaS SICK
unto death. He was mopin anG droopin
around tellin everybody that the dew
damps of death was on him, and he
was bound to go. He got worse and
worse, till finally at last he went to
bed and sent for all the family kinnery
10 come and tell him good-by. and
look upon his face for the last time in
this life.
Now, in the main time the Galloways
have all got a strange and pecurious
kind of religion to me. They don't be.
lisye in doctors. ard medicine ii thc;-
ccn help it. When josh got to his
worst they took and bought some sweet
oi. and 'nointcd" him. as they call it.
Then they sent out and called in the
elders to lay their hands on him. but
with all of that Josh he got worse and
worse till by gracious it looked like die
he would. So at last they sent for old
Dr. StOulenmire. Josh told the
folks they needn't 10 send. 1t
was all vanity and vexation Of spirit.
His time hal come. lie was bocnd to
die. But they sent unbeknowance tn
him.
And when the old doctor got there
the women and the elders was crowded
around the bed ''nointin" Josh with
sweet oil and layin ON the hands. The
old doctor he politely poked of and
took his seat on the back porch and
lit his pipe, and then took life easy
Tor about two hours. And by and by
the folks wanted to know what ho
was goin to do for poor Josh.
''Not Q dadblame thing" says he,
'till the women and the elders take out
and quit. When they quit layin on OF
the hands / will then go to practicin."
From the Jaws Of Death.
BY this time. you will understand. it
looked like every breath would be the
last one for Josh. But finally at las:
the women and the elders give up the
case and went out. and the doctor he
went in to practice.
"What's the matter with you, Josh ?"
says the doctor.
II am dyin, doctor. dyin," says Josh.
"iianged if don't believe you are"
says the doctor, though can't find
nothin particlar the matter with you.
I;ut If you will die, Josh. dadblame it.
straighten out them long legs and die
like man. l wouldn't die all cur:ed
up there like wet and hungry dog"
Well. Josh he Strengthened out, lie
cid, SO as to die decent, but you could
see he didn't love for the doctor to talk
so internal plain and rough around his
tleathbed. But the doctor went on:
There, now. That looks a little
more like q white man fixin to die.
Now, see here, Josh. if nothin else will
do you l reckon you will have to die,
and the next thing is to take your
proper measure SO we can make the
black box to fit the man."
And with that the old doctor went out
aud cut him long stick to take the
measure with. Then he came back and
measured Josh all agsNnd and all over.
Presently he put on End of the stick
under the dyin mans nose so as 10
take his measure from that pint to his
toes. Then all of suddcnt like he
iabbed Josh under the nose with that
stick as hard as he could drive it.
Well, man, sir. from what they tell
me, Josh Galloway riz up from there,
he did. And when he riz he riz fightin
mad and cussin. Sick and weak as he
was, it took three or four women aud
elders to hold him of of the old doc
tor. And then, bless gracious, by the
time they could git him back on the
bed he had give out the notion of dyin
and forgot ali he had ever heard about
death and the grave.
The old doctor then told the women
folks to give Josh a good, healthy dost
Of calomel that night. and follow il
next mornin with plenty of salts and
snakeroot tea. 1t was right after sup
per time that night when the old doc
tor rid by our house on his return back
from the hill country to tell me the
general difference between the layin On
of hands and practicin.
Josh Galloway is now SO as to be uT
and about and from all appearments
reckon it will be long time before
they will have to do any singin and
slow walkin for him.
And that's what makes me say what
do. If it ever comes to pass that
mought be took down rale bad sicl
give me doctor that knows the differ
ence between the layin on of hands ant
practicin. Send for old DIR. Stouden
mire.