No storms or heavy fogs were met upon the way, and the party was
landed safely in New York.
CHAPTER XXVII
O. STROUT. FINE GROCERIES
During the summer that the foregoing events were happening in Europe,
Mr. Hiram Maxwell, in the little New England town of Fernborough had
a serious accident happen to himself the effects of which were far
reaching, and finally affected many people.
In unloading a barrel of sugar from a wagon, it slipped from the skid
and fell upon his leg causing a compound fracture. He was taken home,
but when the doctor was called he advised his immediate removal to
the Isaac Pettingill Free Hospital for he was afraid an amputation
would be necessary. Unfortunately, his fears proved to be true, and
Hiram's right leg was amputated just below the knee.
"That Hiram's an unlucky cuss," said Mr. Strout to his hearers one
evening at the grocery. "But think of me. This is our busy season and
with everything piled onto me I'm just about tuckered out. What help
will he be stumbling around on crutches?"
"Can't he have a wooden leg?" asked Abner Stiles.
"Yes, of course he can. An' if you lost your head and got a wooden
one in its place you'd be just as well off as you are now."
This remark caused a laugh at Abner which he took good-naturedly.
When Mr. Strout was out of sorts he always vented his spleen on
somebody.
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