Bret Harte's choice bits, p. 86

82 BRET harte's CHOICE BITS,

" Oh, yes," he said, reflectively, " let's see: he came

on Monday and left me on Thursday. He was, I

think, a stout, strong man, a well-meaning, good-

humoured fellow, but afflicted with a most singular

variety of diseases. The first day I put him at work

in the stables he developed chills and fever caught

in the swamps of Louisiana"—

"Excuse me," I said hurriedly, "you mean in

Milwaukee I"

" I know what I'm talking about," returned the

Doctor, testily; "he told me his whole wretched

story—his escape from the Confederate service, the

attack upon him by armed negroes, his conceal¬

ment in the bayous and swamps"—

" Go on, doctor," I said, feebly; " you were speak¬

ing of his work,"

" Yes, Well, his system was full of malaria;

the first day I had him wrapped up in blankets, and

dosed with quinine. The next day he was taken

with all the symptoms of cholera morbus, and

I had to keep him up on brandy and capsicum.

Rheumatism set in on the following day, and in¬

capacitated him for work, and I concluded I had

better give him a note to the director of the City

Hospital than keep him here. As a pathological

study he was good; but as I was looking for a man

to help about the stable, I couldn't afford to keep

him in both capacities,"