The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-07

age though is when my life's trouble
began.
rheumatism started in my right
foot and leg, rendering me somewhat
lame. l limped around, however, for
about two years, now and then trying
to do little work. 1t was no use, and
when 20 years of age l was obliged to
use a cane, and shortly afterwards
dropped my cane for pair of
crutches, which 1 managed to manu-
Iacture out of two rake handles. / was
able to hobble around on these
through the winter of '73 and "a, until
the 10th of July, when l was not able
TO leave my bed, and from that day to
this | have remained in bed, never
again touching my feet to the floor.
From 1874 to 1880 1 endured mex
pressible pain Shortly after taking to
the bed my right foot and leg swelled
UP to twice their original size, putting
me in terrible agony. The swelling
soon went down. and then my flesh
commenced to perish, and my leg to
draw up, as you now see it.
All my limbs acted in the same man
ner finally leaving me in this terrible
position, not being able to move any
part of my body.
When asked if he did not receive any
medical treatment, Mr.. Stevens replied
that he at first began taking patent
medicines, and trying liniments, but
soon was treated by doctors from the
nelghboring towns, none of whom We're
able to help him at all He said: Dur
ing all the time I was treated kept
GRIPPING up Until finally there was no
| possible hope for my recovery"
| All Mr.. Stevens now does is to lie in
a bed-chair during the daytime, and in
his bed at night. His position is never
changed remaining fiat on his back all
the time He sleeps well every night,
and his appetite is of the very best, be-
ing able to eat anything that other peo-
pie are able to eat.
All his food has to be moistened, how
ever, as it is impossible for him to
chew hard on dry substances.
Until two years ago, Mr.. Stevens was
able to read, but since then His eyes
nave become so weak that reading is
an lmpossibility. Talking does not tire
MIN in the least, and he likes to have
| callers Mr.. Stevens says that he is
happy, and makes the best of his hard
| lot in life
He smiled and joked with The Spy
man this morning, and seemed as happy
as any one. Besides The Spy man,
there are just two people in Spencer
| who know anything about this living
curiosity. while in Charlton (Mr Ste
vens' own town. very few people are
/
! The ossified man is cared for by his
mother, while his brother Cornelius
| Stevens, and wife carry on the farm
| An attempt was made to secure a pho
| tograph of Mr. Stevens, but it was i'm
possible on account of his position
| Hen and chicken thieves are again in
evidence in Spencer. Thomas Stratton,
living on Greenville street, is the first
victim to suffer from their depreda-
tons. A week ago last Saturday night
lhe had 81 American Dominique year.
old hens stolen, and this morning Wis
tied his hennery and found that % four
weeks old chickens had been taken to
parts unknown. The entire loss is
valued at not less than $50.
| Charles e. Stevens of Boston, a rep
resentative of the Stevens Fire Alarm
Company, was in town today for the
purpose of figuring on the putting in of
the new fire alarm system. He was
shown where the boxes were to be
! placed, by Assistant Fire Engineer M.
c. King.
The funeral of Alfred Cournoyer, who
was killed July 4th, took place from
st. Marys church at O'clock this
morning. FIR. A. A. Lamy officiated
A large number of friends were pres
emit, The interment took place in st.
Mary's cemetery.
Fred A. Hamilton was brought be-
fore Judge A. W. Curtis this morning.
charged with drunkenness and was re-
leased on probation. Peter Haggert,
charged with the same offense, paid
costs of court
4 G, B. Carpenter celebrated his 61st
birthday at his Main street home to-
4 day. Many friends We're present.
During today's thunder shower light
ming struck and killed two COWS in the
II, A. Peter pasture. The fluid struck
a trolley wire, glanced and then ran
along the top of a stone wall and
glanced off. striking the COWS. The ami
mails were killed instantly.