Something- to Live For.

Otago Witness, Issue 1805, 25 June 1886, Page 27

Something- to Live For.

It has been asserted by scientific burgeons that the will-power of a sick man has a great deal to do with his dying, and the case of Charles O'Connor is cited as evidence. A still stronger case occurred in Michigan the past summer. An old man living in the northern part of the State, got out a lot of timber many years ago for a toll-road company, but the company failed and left him in the lurch. For years and years he tried to sell the timber to this one or that, but no one wanted it, and at last time and decay rendered the beams almost worthless. Last summer the superviso7\s of that county advertised for proposals to build a bridge, and the old man put in a bid. While waiting to see what would be done he was taken very sick, and he grew worse so rapidly that a counsel of doctors was called. After due deliberation he was informed that he was approaching his end. "When will I know about that bridge?" he coolly asked. " The bids will be opened to-day." " Well, I'll send John over to see who gets the job, and my living or dying will depend on his news." At five o'clock in the afternoon the son and the family physician arrived in company. The old man was neither better nor worse. " Well I " he asked, as John approached. " Our bid was accepted, father." " And we've got the job ? " " Yes ; but the doctor says you can't live." " I can't, eh ? I'm not only going to live to build that bridge, but I'm going to work that square timber into it up to the last foot, or my name isn't John Rogers ! " It is a fact, vouched for by a dozen good men that he was off that dying bed in a week, and in less than a fortnight was at work on the bridge. — Detroit Free Press.