Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-05-14
Letter from cushman.


( ! have had the grippe. ! have had the
grippe. have had the grippe, with all
It's different forms and variations. But
by the help of bromo quinine, Mr.. Nun
sons pills and mulish disposition,
think have got it under control.
About the frat of March thought /
would ride out and visit relative.
In going through the woods the sleigh
went suddenly into one OF those pitch
ups which you cannot see as much as
you can feel. Anyhow we suddenly (the
driver and mysel) landed on the dash
board. The shock seemed to rake up all
my old rheumatic complaints. Since
that time the grippe and l have had q
sort of Q running fight. When you think
you have got the better of 1t, 1t will grab
you In another place, and SO on and so
on, all through my diabolical system;
but as it has covered the ground several
times, think am all right or nearly
so.
l am stopping at present with my
friend, Mr.. Henry U. Kicker, near my
old home in Hartford. There are four
of us in the family. Mr.. Kicker has one
son who lives with him, one wife who
also lives with him, and myself-the pet
of the household to all appearance. Mr..
Kicker is a man of sober habits, at least
I never saw him when he was not sober,
but there Is one thing about him that is
not quite up to date and that is he seems
to have strong desire to mind his own
business and let other peoples alone.
His wife (God bless herb is one of those
motherly sort of women who are always
looking out for the welfare of somebody
else.
Sunday, the 2Sth, had an invitation
to go to Buckfield and take dinner with
q friend, also to go to church in the
afternoon and hear sermon for the
benefit of the Odd Fellows. l rode as
far as DR.. w. P. Bridgham's where |
made a short call, then / thought 1
would walk the rest of the way. pro-
ceeded all right until got near the rail.
road, when by some mistake / stepped
off the sidewalk down about foot and
three inches. put out my cane to save
myself, but my cane went into the soft
soil about half the length Of it, and /
suddenly kissed the ground the same as
Columbus did when he discovered
America.
l turned over as we'll as 1 could and
began to crawl out of the ditch up to
the sidewalk. I looked up and what do
you think l saw? 1t was nothing more
nor less than beautiful young lady
bending over me with compassion in her
eye and smile on her countenance. She
laid her hand on my arm in gentle way
(which none but the fair sex can fully
understand), and said "Can I be any help
to you in your dilapidated condition."
I said, eyes marin, If you please" She
worked over me 80 gently that to tell
the truth I did not try to help myself
much. Finally she said there was man
coming. / saw at once it was no use to
play off any longer, 80 I began to scrab-
BILE up myself. I looked up and saw the
village lawyer and some other loafers
standing over me. thanked the lady
for trying to help a poor defalcated man
out of his trouble. l did not thank the
lawyer for did not know but he might
put in bill for advice.
Very soon the man whom l was going
to take dinner with came along with his
team and inquired into my case. ask
ed him If he had anything in the house
to eat. He said no doubt l was in my
right mind, and took me in and carried
me to his own house. In the afternoon
we had a good smoke then went to
church and heard very good sermon.
don't know but in order to justify
myself against the suspicion that at the
time went overheard I was drunk or
had been taking ardent spirits, will
state have always been temperance
man more or less, but there was no
fraud nor deception about it, but straight
goods, and no put-up job.
WIN. CUsHMAN.