“Hear ye, hear ye!

I have arrived!”

cried the grand old medicine man

from the seat of his wagon.

Clip clop, clip clop went the horse’s hooves across cobblestone roads.

Townsfolk emerged from each building he passed summoned by his cries and constant barrage of his bell.

“I have come from afar, I have traversed the whole globe, I bring spices and ointments to heal illness and wounds!”

Excitement rang true through Victorian streets; the grand old medicine man has returned from the East!

He leapt off his carriage which slowed to a halt, with his many colorful capes whipping about.

As folks gathered ‘round, he flipped a switch on his wagon; it burst open, revealing shelf upon shelf of mysterious powders and liquids!

“I have a gimp leg,” said Harold the blacksmith; the grand old medicine man replied, “For that I have a cure! Purest ground fairy wing from the forests of Asia!”

Dramatically, he twirled around, extending a hand and procuring a single glass bottle from the bottommost shelf.

“Thank you! Oh, thank you, bless you kind sir!” sang Harold, sure he had finally found a cure.

“Who’s next?”

Young Emma, fair-skinned and freckled stepped forward and hollered, “Sir, please, I have horrible pains in my cheeks!”

“Ah yes!” cried the man, “I have just what you need! Ancient liquified bone will soothe your sinus bleed!”

“And for me?” said Jerimiah, the town’s only leper.

“Leprosy, yes! I shall transform you today! A small bit of this thistle ground to a paste!”

With everyone healed, the crowd now dispersed.

The grand old medicine man got in his carriage, and galloped away.

Grinning from ear to ear, with a snakish expression, the grand old medicine man cheered: “Soon, they’ll all be in Heaven!”