The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-04-27
CHAPTER XII.
Mental Treatment.


Little Samuel Darby paused at the
foot Of the bed and stared at Abe with
out saying word, while Abe fixed his
dim, distressed eyes on his visitor with
dumb appeal for assistance. Samuel
looked a very different man from the
old bachelor who used to come a-woo-
ing every six months at the Home
Either marriage had brought him a
new growth of hair, or else Blossy had
selected a new wig for him-a modest,
close, iron-gray which fitted his poll to
perfection. Marriage or Blossy had
also overcome in Samuel that tend
ency to hang his head ito starb'd;"
and now he lifted his bright eyes with
the manner of one who would say:
See! I'm king of myself and my
household Behold what one woman
has done for meH And in turn Abes
unstrung vigor and feeble dependence
cried out as loudly: 81 haven't a leg
left to stand on. Behold what too
much woman has done for mel"
"Ain't yew a-goin' ter shake hands ?"
inquired Abraham at last, wondering
at the long silence and the incompre-
hensible stare, his fears accentuated
by this seeming indication of a SUI
preme and hopeless pit. "Ain't yew
a-goin' ter shake hands? Err be yew
afeard of ketchin' it. tew?"
For a moment longer Samuel con-
tinued to stare, then of sudden he
roared, "Git up!"
"Huh?" queried Abe, not believing
his own ears. why, Cap'n SamI.
don't yew know that I'm a doomed
man? l got the 'narvous Mysteries.
"Yew got the pip!" retorted Captain
Darby CONTEMPORARY, and trotting
quickly around to the side of the bed,
he seized Abe by the shoulders and
began to drag him out upon the floor,
crying again, Cit up!"
The sick man could account for this
remarkable behavior in no way except
by concluding that his old captain had
gone into senile dementia-oh, cruel,
cruel Affections that life brings to old
folks when life is almost done! Well,
thought Abe, he would rather be sick
crazy. He began to whimper, where
upon Samuel threw him back upon his
pillows In disgust
"Cryin'! Oh, swan, he's cryin'!"
Darby gave a short laugh pregnant
with scorn. ABE Rose, dew yew know
what ails yew?" he demanded, fixing
his eyes fiercely upon the invalid.
Dew yew know what'n happen tew
yew If yew don't git out o. this bed an
this here house? Either yer beard'll
fall out an yew'u dwindle deown ter
the size o. baby or yew'n turn into
a downright old woman-Aunt Abra-
ham!-won't that sound nice? Or
yew'1 die or yew11 go crazy. Git out
er bedi"
The patient shook his head and sank
back, closing his eyes, more exhausted
than ever And he himself had heard
Angy warn this man in a whisper not
to "rile him up!" Remorselessly went
on the rejuvenated Darby:
'Hain't a-goin' ter git up, heb? Yew
old mollycoddle! Yew baby! Old
Lady 81! Kitty calf! But I hain't
a-biamin' yew; eff had lived in this
here place year an half. I'd be
stark, starin' madi Leetle tootsie-
wootsie! Git up!"
Abe had opened his eyes and was
once more staring at the other, his
mind slowly coming to the light of the
realization that Samuel might be more
sane than himself
That's what told Angy all along"
he ventured. 81 told her, l says, says
l, 'Humbug! Foolishness! Ye're a.
maxim a reg'lar baby of me. Why
I says, what's the difference between
me an these here women-folks except
that wear beard an smoke pipe? ?"
Then why don't yew git up?" de-
manded the memorable Samuel cit
up an fool 'em; or, gosh all hemlock!
they'll be measurin' yew fer yer coffin
next week. When I come inter the