Year: 1873

SsCNM-UOCtUIIuSs


4 good many years ago we lived on
a hill, in a thinly-settled neighborhood
and below, at short distance, in the |
valley was a run Of water, over which !
a stone bridge had been built. The
next house to ours belonged to an old
sea-captain, who had begun, some time
before, to complain o! feeling unwe]l,
especially in his legs, in which he said
he had the rheumatism so badly that he
moved about awhile very slowly, and
finally gave up walking altogether.


One day man came along. who said
he knew all about every kind Of disease,
and had cured great many people of
various complaints He went to see
the captain, and told him it was plain
to him that he wanted nothing but It
good steonelny. Everybody knew he
had been using that for good many
years, in one way; but very different
one was now recommended 1t was
very simple and cheap process. He
was only to pour boiling water into a
kettle, place two sticks across it; and sit
down with his bare legs. stretched out
upon them. He was to be undressed,
and all ready to jump into bed as soon
as he broke out into perspiration. He
was to sit with blankets all over him, to
keep in the steam: but. if he found it
too hot. he was at liberty to raise the
blankets for moment.


At last the captain consented to try
the experiment. The kettle was half
filled with very hot water, and the pa
tient took his place as directed, after
the healer of all diseases had thrown
herbs into the kettle, which he said
were possessed of wonderful properties.
known only to himself.


But the corpulent old sailor found
little time to give the new remedy a
fair trial; for his legs proved too heavy
for their supporters; the sticks broke,
and his legs fell suddenly iuto the wa
ter.


was at chat time sitting at the din
ner table at home with my two aunts,
entirely ignorant of what was going on
at our neighbors, but happened to be
looking through wiadow towards his
house. Suddenly l saw his door open,
and out rushed the steam-doctor, appa-
rently terror-stricken, pursued by the
old captain with hatchet in his hand,
and clad only in one loose garment,
with his legs up to his knees as red as a
boiled lobster, and for similar reason
Down the hill they ran like wild horses.
l uttered an exclamation, which excited
the curiosity of my aunts, and both Of
them sprang to the window; but as
soon retreated.


There was general excitement in
the neighborhood; sound Of alarm be-
! ing raised, which attracted everybody's
attention. The women instinctively
turned and retreated after the first
sight; but the men and boys all follows
ed the lead set them by the fugitives,
agreeing, as by one impulse, that the
captain must have been suddenly seized
with fit Of insanity, and was bound on
some desperate enterprise, perhaps MUIR
der. -"
! Down the hill went the doctor and
his pursuer at full speed; and behind
them followed half the neighborhood.
stringing along, one after another, the
foremost Of them far behind the objects
of pursuit. The doctor continued his


fight till he reached the bridge; and
there, without pausing for an instant,
he5leaped over the side and disappear.
ed; and the old captaia, fourishing
his hatchet, instantly followed suit.
| When l reached the spot, which [
did as soon as smart boys legs could
, carry me there, saw the captain, who
was standing in the middle Of the stream,
> half sunk in the water and soft mud,
and struggling to get at the doctor, who
was also stuck in the mud, but fortu-
r nately at a safe distance from his infu-
: rated patient. With nothing to do but
to ask questions, the assemblage made a
singular appearance; and it was some
time before any explanation could be
found for the strange occurrence. The
captain no doubt being cooled off by
ms plunge bath, at last abated his ire,
+ ana consented to return peacefully to
his dwelling; whereupon both doctor