up some crystals of iron
in water and washed his hand in that. To my surprise his cries
instantly ceased, and he declares he has had no pain since. It was
only for the effect on his mind that I gave the iron, which so far as
I know is a styptic only; I always think it best to give
something--perhaps on the principle of the doctors when they give
bread pills. I have cured both Paul and the carpenter of violent
lumbago, but there I had a little knowledge to go upon. To-day a man
came to us with the sole of his foot very much inflamed from having
run a nail into it the day before yesterday. I bound a bit of fat
bacon on the foot--an old Negro remedy which was the only one I could
think of. It is even more difficult when they bring me their domestic
troubles to settle, in which they seem to think I am as great an
expert as in curing their physical ills."

In the effort to keep things from being lost or improperly used she
fell into the habit of storing them in her bedroom, so that in time it
became a veritable junk-shop. "Among my dresses," she writes, "hang
bridle straps and horse robes. On the camphor-wood trunk which serves
as my dressing-table, beside my comb and toothbrush, a collection of
tools--chisels, pincers, and the like--is spread out. Leather straps
and parts of harness hang from the walls, as well as a long carved
spear, a pistol, strings of teeth--of fish, beasts, and human
beings--necklaces of shells, and several hats. Fine mats and _tapas_
are piled up in heaps. My little cot bed seems to have got into its
place by mistake. Besides the above mentioned articles there are an
easel and two cameras stowed in one corner. A strange lady's chamber
indeed."

On March 28 there was a stiff blow, during which the little cottage
rocked and groaned in the most alarming way, and with one gust of wind
it swung over so far that its terrified occupants thought it was gone.
All, including Mrs. Stevenson, then took refuge in the stable, which
was rather more solidly constructed. The hurricane, the most violent
they had yet experienced, lasted several days, during which they
remained in the stable, sleeping in the stalls in wet beds, having to
sweep out the water without ceasing and suffering severely from clouds
of mosquitoes. When at last the storm abated and they could return to
the house, they found everything wet and mildewed and the cottage
leaning with a decided cant to one side. Worst of all, one of the
horses had