"The Invalid's Story" is a short story written by Mark Twain, first published in 1877. It tells the tale of a group of friends who embark on a camping trip, including one man who suffers from a variety of ailments and insists on bringing along his extensive collection of medications. As they journey deeper into the wilderness, the invalid's conditions worsen, and his reliance on his medicines becomes increasingly problematic. Eventually, the group encounters a Native American who offers them a remedy for the invalid's ailments: a mysterious herb called "balm-of-Gilead." Despite initial skepticism, the group decides to give the herb a try, and to their amazement, it proves to be a miraculous cure for the invalid's ailments. The story ends with the group reflecting on the power of nature and the limitations of modern medicine. Like many of Twain's works, "The Invalid's Story" combines humor with social commentary, poking fun at the absurdities of contemporary society while also offering insight into the human condition.
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