The Midwest pioneer, his ills, cures, & doctors - University Library ...

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ituous licquors, unless I was by myself or in company; and
not then unless I chose, and I have found it just as good
a promise as I could make."
Carter eased up on drinking, but was still a refractory
sinner. Caught smothering and hanging "rabits" he was
sent by his father to witness the hanging of a man. When
two old women came to see his sick father he routed them
over a log by a yellowjackets' nest. The log broke, the
yellowjackets attacked with fury, and altogether it was
a delightful affair. But God got even, for soon thereafter
Carter fell from a high chimney on which he was working,
and practically killed himself. As a result he began to think
of his Soul's eternal welfare; he visited grave yards and
saw ".that there was as many graves shorter as there was
longer than myself." He contemplated death.
The father lingered on until fall, and then expired.
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"I then to reading did betake,
And all my idle tuays forsake;
And many a book perused by night,
Served to instrtict and to delight.—
Thus I gained the art to heal,
Which this book to you'll reveal.
Thousands have I eased of pain.
My labours hard and small m-y gain."
But serious effort soon proved dull, so the youth began
"rambling through the world, by which I learned a different
view of things." He met, fell in love with, and became
engaged to a young woman, half Indian. He went home
to arrange some business, then returned "to execute my
contract with the girl whom I loved to the highest degree
of superiorigation." (He submitted a poem of eleven stanzas
as additional evidence.) But Providence intervened, for
Carter became ill and the six-months' absence had been too
much; she had married another. "When we met, we both
cried heartily, and parted."