The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1875-03-26
uNoLn nEn.


Detroit free tresS.l +.
His full name was Hebdon Wright
Turner, but everybody called him
nHeb.5 He must have passed his
sixtieth birthday, but no one cared
70 look a second time to see if he
was growing old or wearing out. He
chored around livery stables and
saloons, always hungry and always
ragged, and while no one was his
friend he had no enemies.
The other day he fell down in
a faint in saloon on the river road,
and when he was restored to CON
sciousness he startled the three or
four men who had placed him on the
bed BY exclaiming; MI
"Boys, I'll be darned if | haint
going to diel"
No one had ever stopped to think
whether Uncle Heb. was ever going
to die. It was the general Impress
ion among his acquaintances that he
would live along for three or toui
Hundred years.
elbow do you feelP" they asked,
aKinder trembly and weak, he
replied. ''I'll bet fifty cents Iii klci
the bucket afore noonP
They offered to bring doctor, but
he said;
"No, don't take any trouble, 'tene
to business as usual, and when
kick the beam plant me quietly ane
without any style.
The men imagined it was mer,
weakness which would soon pass oil
and one of them sat down near him
while the others retired to so abou
their business. :.
"It's tough weather for a funeral! |!
remarked Uncle Heb. as the tierc
wind howled about the house. II
don't make any difference how In
carried up. | would not know
there we're sixteen hacks and bras
band; just as lief go up alone wit
the driver" :,
After pause he smiled blandl
and inquired:
aThey'll speak Of me us the lat
deceased, wont they? Yes, of course
/ should like to read the papers t
morrow, and see what they say
me, but I won't be here you know
"Have you any property to dispo'
Off" asked the watcher.
"Lemme see" unused Uncle Hel
eyes, thars an extra pair Of but
and q hat, and about IL cents
money. l suppose the right w
would be to have executors pinte
| but as I said before, ! don't wa
any fooling around. You can c
q vide the estate between you.'
The old man was very pale, a.
! seemed to be suffering, and I
q watcher wanted to do something.
II tell you" replied Uncle Hell
. sl'd like some brandy. If Il wasi
lust as it is, wouldn't put you
4 any trouble, but being Tn goil
away to stay I'd like TO have q Il
,i swallers of real peach brandy-soi
I of that in the fancy decanter.4
i Some was brought him and
smacked his lips, smiled and remai
t. ed:
! 9"If I wasn't going to die, I'd
% and lay in quart or two OF u
10 brand,
|. After five or ten minutes the nu
i asked if he didn't feel better2
aFeel better?' echoed the old mi
" chow can dying man feel bett'
le Do you suppose I'd be fooling arou
,e here If l wasn't going to expireY
n Theanan sat down, and Uncle L
copAaued;
alrgfsA As soon as I go up the spout Z
Of YOU go to the Poormaster, q
" saw: "Mr. Willard, old Heb is de
z send q good fellow down and pl
him. That will be as good as
speech two hours long. I'm SO
y L was took sick here, but i wa
" y nv FAULT You may 60 now" I
e. % The man went out, thinking Ur
~ ~ Heb. out ol his mind, and sat dc
nj and played doninoes for an nc
n, ~ Hearing movements in the y
~ "a room he opened the door.
m The old man was dead