Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-12-26
Grip? KNOCK TOUT
Victim Tells of Decoction That
Cured Him Quickly.
Prescription Brought From France by
Soldier Son Saved Him Many
Days and Nights of Misery,
and a Doctors Bill.

The symptoms were u~nmistakable.
Pains shot up my back and through
my head. Sneeze followed sneeze, and
/ felt as weak as, but more helpless
than, a kitten.
I, When l got home from the Office
and l don't know how I managed to
crawl there--my whole body was one
large ache. My wife rushed 10 meet
me at the gate.
Jacks come home on leave DEAR"
she said, throwing her arms around my
neck in sheer ecstasy. Gle got four
teen days. ISN'T it simply glorious?"
(Jacls is our soldier boy.)
I didn't like to do so, but on the
grounds of expedien~y I gently but
firmly pushed her off.
"Be careful, old GIRL" I explained.
give got it."
She knew by my watery eyes what
l meant by it, and slipped her arm
in mine to help me up the path. I was
glad of her assistance, for I vas shiv-
ering all over and felt very depressed.
slack will be disappointed. He's
looking forward to having such a good
time, and now it looks as if you will
be in all the time"
With a groan, I curled up on the
couch.
"Whatever r we to dol" she asked
as she brought my slippers. "T've moth.
ing in the house and the shops are all
closed. Goodness knows where we can
find a doctor, and poor Jack will soon
be back. He's just run round to have
a peep at Gwen"
The situation was certainly desper-
ate. My head seemed to be bursting,
and so did my heart. This was q poor
sort Of welcome to give to our sonnie
after years Of absence, and I will free
~ WI that by this time something
else as we'll as influenza was respon-
sible for my watery eyes.
eyes, dad" said Jack half an hour
later as he sat by my bed, ga month
ago I thought some of us were in for
a terrible time. We never had such a
drenching and couldn't get a blessed
bit of clothing dry. We ached all owe
In fact, we were just about like you.
1t was rotten luck, too, for we missed
some of the fun. But just when we
we're at our worst, a French peasant
told us he knew of something that
would soon put us right. He told us
he had two herbs in his garden which
he believed would save half the world
if they were only used. Elder blossom
and peppermint, those were the two.
"Well, he dropped a handful of each
In a jug and made a strong infusion
by pouring a pint and a half Of boil
Ing water over them, just as I have
done. He let it steep for about half
an hour on the hob, then strained and
sweetened it, and made us drink it as
soaked us with it,, but the next day
we were like new men.
"What, do you say you can hardly
believe it? Well, here M mother
with a jugful. 1t vas lucky I had some
with me, and I'll take good care never
to be without it. Now take a good
sw1g Of this. It's quite nice. Then
cover up and We'll pile on the clothes"
Sooner than I could have believed,
the perspiration was rolling down my
face in grand style. Later on I emptied
the jug and fell into a deep, refreshing
sleep.
The next morning the feeling Of en-
nui had passed away. My head was
clearer, and I could ven make a joke.
The day after I was able to sit up, and
I've eve looked back since.
Now this is not a fairy tale, but a
sober fact, and if all who are victims
Of the influenza fend would try this
magic potion they would o. be
breathing benedictions on the head OF
that unknown peasant in Flanders. It
Is so harmless that you cannot use it
amiss, and SO effectual that you cam
not give it In vain.-Buffalo EXPRESS.