Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 September 1884 — A Confirmed Blood-Drinker. [ARTICLE]

A Confirmed Blood-Drinker.

“Yes, I’m a confirmed blood-drinker now,” remarked a ruddy, merry engineer, “and it is quite a funny story how I happened to start at it, too. About three years ago my health was pretty bad, and my folks were very muoh worried about me. I got thin and hollow-eyed, and had a few night sweats. The fact is, I had consumption, and I knew it. I hadn't any other expectation than that in a year or so I’d have to give up my engine, and soon after that part with my wife and little ones. “I don’t know that I ought to say it, but the thought of leaving my engine gave me about as much trouble as the idea of parting from my family. People kept advising me to drink blood, and cited alleged cures to me by the dozen. But there was something abhorrent to

me about that kind of beverage, and I could not' go it. Two or three times I made an effort to down Some of it, but ’twas no go. Well, one day I was running along with No. 7 as usual, and feeling pretty well down in the mouth, too. I had begun to feel weak, and I had heard the boss. was making inquiries about my condition, with a view to laying me off It made me as blue as my boiler jacket. “Suddenly, at a country road crossing, a fool heifer jumped right in front of us. We were going lively, and as the pilot struck her it cut her up fearful, and landed her right up on the stack. I hope I may never touch my throttle again if a stream of warm blood from that heifer didn’t take me right in the mouth. My mouth was open, too, and in two seconds I had unwillingly become a blood-drinker. There wasn’t anything disagreeable about it, either, and I’ve been drinking blood ever since. That heifer saved my life.” — Chicago Herald.