Chapter 12

           OneofthereasonswhyTom’smindhaddriftedawayfromitssecrettroubleswas,thatithadfoundanewandweightymattertointerestitselfabout. BeckyThatcherhadstoppedcomingtoschool. Tomhadstruggledwithhisprideafewdays,andtriedto"whistleherdownthewind,"butfailed. Hebegantofindhimselfhangingaroundherfather’shouse,nights,andfeelingverymiserable. Shewasill. Whatifsheshoulddie! Therewasdistractioninthethought. Henolongertookaninterestinwar,noreveninpiracy. Thecharmoflifewasgone;therewasnothingbutdrearinessleft. Heputhishoopaway,andhisbat; therewasnojoyinthemanymore. Hisauntwasconcerned. Shebegantotryallmannerofremediesonhim. Shewasoneofthosepeoplewhoareinfatuatedwithpatentmedicinesandallnew-fangledmethodsofproducinghealthormendingit. Shewasaninveterateexperimenterinthesethings. Whensomethingfreshinthislinecameoutshewasinafever,rightaway,totryit; notonherself,forshewasneverailing,butonanybodyelsethatcamehandy. Shewasasubscriberforallthe"Health"periodicalsandphrenologicalfrauds;andthesolemnignorancetheywereinflatedwithwasbreathtohernostrils. Allthe"rot"theycontainedaboutventilation,andhowtogotobed,andhowtogetup,andwhattoeat,andwhattodrink,andhowmuchexercisetotake,andwhatframeofmindtokeepone’sselfin,andwhatsortofclothingtowear,wasallgospeltoher,andsheneverobservedthatherhealth-journalsofthecurrentmonthcustomarilyupseteverythingtheyhadrecommendedthemonthbefore. Shewasassimple-heartedandhonestasthedaywaslong,andsoshewasaneasyvictim. Shegatheredtogetherherquackperiodicalsandherquackmedicines,andthusarmedwithdeath,wentaboutonherpalehorse,metaphoricallyspeaking,with"hellfollowingafter. "ButsheneversuspectedthatshewasnotanangelofhealingandthebalmofGileadindisguise,tothesufferingneighbors.