Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-10-19
Al oss of Memory
By NJ QUAD
Copyright. 1910. by Associated Lit
erary Press.
By NJ QUAD

White had been a hardworking man;
then he married the Widow Smith and
sat down and communea with himself:
1--WE almost broken my back with
hard work. but now that I've married
money I'm going to take things easy.
I'll hire some one else TO do the work,
and I'll do the bossing.'
He fondly expected to carry out this
program, but he ran up against a stone
wall the very first thing.
"You'll not only work as hard as
ever, but good deal harder. was the
reply of the wife when he stated his
case. i've got TO do it in the house.
and you won't get ont of it outdoors.
The matter is al settled, and wen say
no more about III
Peter communed some more AS he
couldn't force matters. he determined
to resort to strategy. He went home
from the cornfield one day with a blank
face and asked the wife who he was.
My stars, what do you mean? ?" she
exclaimed after a look at him
81 was hoeing corn and hustling
when something gave way in my head.
can't remember who / am. can't
remember who you are. but it seems as
If l had seen you before. What's the
matter with mefn
Good lands, out it must be some
thing aVfull Don't you remember that
you are Peter Whlte?"
Eyes; it kinder seems that way, and
yet I'm all the time wondering If /
hain't Sam Johnson. Your name is
Schermerhorn, amt it?''
Hear the man talkr' she walled
Cant you rer -ember that was the
Widow Smith until married your
We were married only a few weeks
ago Peter. for heavens sake, don't
go out of your headY
Smith Smfthg' he unused 81 don't
think ever heard the name before.
Mrs. Jackson, can I get supper herew
che calls me Jacksoni The poor man
has had a stroke or somethingg
Peter was taken in and cuddled up
Chicken soup and toast were made for
him, and the wife MIXED the cows and
fed the hogs. The Doctor came and
looked at Peters tongue ard heard
some of his queer talk and pronounced
it case Of loss of memory. He said
that some time in the years agone l'e-
ter had stood under a tree during a
thunderstorm and had been knocked
into a cooked hat by a thunderbolt
The real effects Of the injury were just
coming out.
Peter was to sit in the house or wan
der around as he liked. After about a
month Of coddling a slight improve
ment was noticed. He remembered
getting married to some widow or 9th
er ard was willing to admit that 1t
might be to Mrs Smith.
Just how long Peter might have
worked his little game and continued
to grow fat on it cannot be told. but
one day when he had gone to the viz
lage a pill peddler stopped at the
house. He was told Of the case, and
be did some thinking. He didn't claim
that any one brand of his seven kind
of pills would restore memory, as
many a faker would have done to
make sale He said that a shock
was needed. He had known of FIVE
cases in his medical career, and all
had been cured by sudden shocks. No
little shock for a cent would bring
got all tangled up. and the cords Of
iaziness had got mixed with the cords
of memory. He talked to Mrs. White
for an hour. and she came to his way
of thinking. Peter awoke next morn
ing glad that he was alive and no
work before him. but that sudden
shock recommended by the pill ped
dler was not far off. He found him
self bound hand and foot. and when
he inquired the reason the wife ex-
planned:
II think ! have got a cure for your
loss Of memory. At least | am going
to try it. Can you remember this
morning what your name is?s
TITS Rammerdinger, hain't it7'
Eyes. pretty near. Can you remeTn-
Der my Hameg'
Seems to me it's Dockstader."
Il see your memory is as bad as
ever, and Wen try the shock remedy"
Mrs. White was a strapping woman.
strong and husky With one yank
Peter was on the floor. He struck
mostly on his head, or course he had
something to say. and the reply was:
Peter I've got the hoFseWhip here,
and - going to lay it on till you
San remsmber back to when Captain
KIDD was hung
The whip was applied. The hus-
bard had too soft snap to throw
away, and he held out for time. but
things became hot He began to cali
the wife by her right name She
gave him ten more cuts ana stopped to
ask:
Peter. who discovered America p
s0ld Columbus" was the prompt ans
swer
And after ten more cuts. who was
our first PRESIDENT
George Washington
sIt,s working. Peter. IT'S working
And who are you 2"
white Pete White"
e'And who was II"
'sEmma Smith
About twenty more vigorous cuts
we're administered and then Peter
was asked if his memory was clear.
He was sure II was. and within half