Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-01-25

painted many years before, so long
that the letters had become faded
and blurred with age, this legend:
"Old Bull Inn The house had
been so called from the days Of
Charles the Second, for aught /
know to the contrary. 1t was an
old fashioned English Inn, and for
that year we provided for the wants
of the travelling public, both man
and beast.
The year to me was uneventful
except for one or two things, one of
these was dangerous illness from
typhus fever which came very near
proving fatal. 1t was only through
the skill of two excellent physicians
and my mothers constant loving
care, who watched over me night
and day as only a mother can or
would do, that after a long weari-
some period of lowering between
life and death, l was finally pulled
through to recovery. So near was
to deaths door that during my
unconscious mental wanderings, as
the crisis approached, 1 told my
mother l was going to die at twelve
o'clock that night. 1t was a strange
thing to say and it impressed all
who heard it; of course they thought
after that there was little hope, and
as the time drew near all were filled
with anxiety. At exactly twelve
O'Clock DR.. Rumsey, who had been
with me all the evening, looked at
the watch he held in his hand and
then at me, sigh of relief escaped
him as he smilingly turned to my
mother and said: Mrs. Green, your
son will get we'll" During the con-
valescent period l was seated at the
window overlooking the green, and
was allowed to watch the cricket
games between our fellows and the
neighboring towns. OF course +
was intensely interested in those
games, being member of the junior
club. Great NARROW, a town about
eight miles distant, was one of our
chief opponents and / greatly en-
joyed, even in my weak condition,
a close game between the two clubs
in which our fellows finally pulled
out victory.
The only very clear recollection of
my school days that year was the
presentation of new testament to
me by my teacher which i have be-
fore me as / write. 1t has my name
on the fly leaf with the day it was
given me, Oct. 14th, 1851.
And now, word about "the
stocks" This was an uncomfort-
able institution invented for the
punishment of minor offenders
against the law; it was used to
some extent even as late as the mid
die of the nineteenth century, and
may be at the present time in some
places for aught / know. There was
one OF these machines at WoOburn
Green, and on a few occasions /
have seen it occupied, though not
often. 1t was an affair made of two
planks through which half circles
were made, which when they were
shut together formed round holes
large enough to admit a mans ankle,
but too small for his feet to pass
through. The offender was locked
in by his ankles and compelled to
sit on the ground in that uncom-
Portable position as long as his sent
ence lasted. or course such a spec
tacle as a man In the stocks was a
source of immense amusement TO
boys, especially If the unfortunate
sufferer happened to be there for
which was generally
tic CdcCs Hc UOyS Iuduc the LlOSt
Of the amusement, it was away
ahead of any other diversion for the
baser sort and even those who rated
themselves as belonging to the bet
ter classes were not averse to the
fun; so they would gather around
the unfortunate culprit, Offering all
sorts of suggestions touching the
best way to "cut loose" making the
ibsurdest remarks about his ap-
pearance. Was ne as comfortable as
tOuld reasonably be expected under
he circumstances? Would he like |
10 send message to his friends? !
Was there anything he thought he
might like to drink? Would he sing
10 them, Home, sweet home" If
hey would join in the chorus? And
.hus the young rascals worried and
pestered their helpless victim until
they were driven off by the con
stable
One day, early in March, 1853,
nav father said to me, Harry, do