108 THE FOGY DAYS AND NOW ; 



HERE'S ANOTHER. 



\ . /e said Mr. Kennedy was strict, his rules not only applying 

 to our school hours, but also to our conduct at our board- 

 ing house. We had positive orders not to go tracing about the 

 country after night, but in violation of this most august author- 

 ity, we determined to go to a quilting and dance about four 

 miles off in the country. In this spree my room-mates were my 

 companions, the same who had helped me to scare poor Joe. 

 We had lots of fun, and near daylight started home, but when 

 within a half mile of the house, had to climb one of Dr. 

 Earle's staked and ridered fences. We mounted it, and feeling 

 a little tired, sat on top to rest awhile. All at once I said come, 

 boys, let's go, and jumped to the ground, but found I couldn't 

 get up — had broken my leg. The boys picked me up in great 

 consternation, my cousin, Benson, carrying the broken limb with 

 the tenderest care, the least jostle causing me to cry out 

 with pain. They got me to the house with all possible care, laid 

 me on the bed and went for Dr. Earle, who came in, and as I 

 lay there groaning, I managed to give the Doctor the wink 

 (I knew he loved a joke as well as anybody). The Doctor 

 examined my leg and looked very solemn, saying now boys, 

 you see this thing would not have happened if you had 

 obeyed the rules of your teacher; now, here lies this poor 

 fellow ruined for life; this is what is called a compound 

 duplicate fracture of the femur. In plain English, his thigh is 

 broken in three places, and if it aint amputated at once, then 



