Ripley County democrat., 1911-12-29
VerySpeciial

pldlueu BedNSI, as ne put suhiA
drug store package down ON the table.
'He said It cured his indigestion and
was the finest thing out. It's none OF
your patent medicines, either. but a
good, plain, old.fashioned remedy that
our grandmothers used Its boneset!
Ever hear of boneset tea?"
Mrs. Beaver shuddered. II can
taste 1t now" she moaned. They
fed It to me when | was an innocent,
helpless child too young to hurl the
stuff through the window and smash
the furniture In protest! think |
had ague or something. Just as l
would begin to feel little bit COM
Portable and less achy my mother or
my Aunt Amelia would appear
through the kitchen door with white
apron tied about her waist and bear
ing carefully steaming bowl that
contained a quart or more. The dead
ly black fluid within gave of nox-
ious vapor and | would begin cring'
ing.
"Now, now!' the cupbearer would
say, in the comfortable tone Of the
surgeon who assures you 1t Is not go
ing to hurt very much. it's only your
boneset tea! Drink 1t down right
quick and you won't mind IT, Mind
It! Why, John Henry Beaver. bone
set tea Is the quintessence Of all the
bitterness in the whole world. And
you are deliberately planning to take
it"
Nonsense" said Beaver. 'You
women are all nerves! | guess 1t isn't
very bad, and 1t certainly looks harm
less-just little dried leavesl Lam.
prett said It cured his indigestion!"
ut would cure anything!" asserted
Mrs. Beaver, resignedly, as she took
the package and obedlently prepared
to make the required dose. THAT is.
after you get the taste Of 1t in your
mouth you haven't time IS fuss much
with typhoid or smallpox or leprosy.
or whatever 1t is ails you! All your
energy Is required In your efforts to
forget the boneset! Mere indigestion
is happy little picnic compared to
what you'll experience when you try
to drink this stuff! oh, I'll make It
for you Don't you worry!"
Beaver, compelled to demonstrate
mans superiority to unpleasantness
OF that sort, drank the tea to the last
drop THAT was fne!" he said with
chattering teeth, az he finished. II
believe I'll lie down a Bit"
He huddled in shrinking heap,
with his face buried in the sofa cush'
Ions. Mrs. Beaver heartlessly laughed
Then she put the package of boneset
on a shelf where reposed supplies not
in daily use. She WAS quite sure
Beaver would not want It sgain very
soon.
Quite a large number Of callers
dropped Ito the Beavers house the
next Sunday Afternoon ald at dusk
the tea c,-t was trr9dlcd in by the
maid teai'rg things % drink ard va
rious delightful edi!,cs. Everybody
gathered around the open fire and
Mrs. Beaver began to rass plates and
napkins.
You'll all have tea, Of course?" she
inquired a.llab'y, proceeding % pour
II without waiting fer an answer.
"You really muct have tea, whether
you caro- for Il or not, because pride
myself on my teal get special
brand and l insist en- people drinking
1t ard nkirg It, This was three dol
lars q pound, I'd have you good peo-
pie know, and Il has the fragrance OF
the flowers and the fields and fresh
air. call 1t nectar!"
Everybody tcol; tea, naturally.
"Its a little darker than usual"
commented Mrs. Peaver, as she
poured. "oh, Doctor Riggs! You
never"
Doctor Biggs hastily took up the
cup he had set down. perhaps II
could have some more sugar" he
suggested, resignedly. He put five
Jumps more into his cup,
Don't be so greedy" said the
banker, seizing upon the sugar bowl.
"other people'd like some of that
sugar"
II never saw people use so much
sugar." commented Mrs. Beaver.
frowning. You'll simply spoil the
flavor of the tea, Why. Mrs. Blggs.
don't you--" .aN q
T rarely drink teal" said Mrs.
Bsggs firmly, as she set down her cup
as far as possible from herself. You
must excuse mel" She looked pale.
Gazing around the room. Mrs. Beayr
er saw to her amazement that all the
company had set down their cups, and
were feverishly eating cake. In fer
corner her husband was twining him
self over a bookcase and mutterins
things that sounded like Fragrance
Of fowers-and fields'-oh. lovely!"
Mrs. Beaver In bewilderment raised
her own cup to her lips. Then she
sat back with a crash.
Goodness" she cried. II told
Hilda to use the special brand Of
company tea. and she has used the
boneset!"
Out Of All Come. Hope.
Hone In antlcipation, with poesibil-