Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-03-10

His full name was Hebdon Wrigh
Turner, but everybody called him ''Heb.
He must have passed his sixtieth birthday
but no one cared to look a second time Il
see if he was growing old and wearing out
He chored around livery stables and
saloons, always hungry and Away:
ragged, and while no one was his friend
he had no enemies.
The other day he fell down in faint in
saloon on the river road, and when he
was restored TO consciousness he startled
the three or four men who had placed hin
on the bed by exclaiming:-
"Boys, Pn be -- if | amt going tC
die"
No one had ever stopped TO think whether
Uncle Heb was ever going TO die Ii was
the general impression among his acquaint-
ances that he would live along for three
or four hundred years.
"liOw do you feel :" they asked.
"Kinder trembly and weak" he replied.
I'm bet fifty cents I'll kick the bucket afore
nOonl"
Rhey offered to bring doctor, but he
said:
"No, don't take any trouble; tend right
to business as usual, and when kick the
beam plant me quietly and wi hout any
Style"
The men imagined that it was mere weak
ness which would soon pass off. and one of
them sat down near him, while the others
retired to 60 about their business.
"Irs tough weather for funeral!" re-
marked Uncle Heb, as the fierce wind howled
around the house. at don't make any
difference how I'm carried up; | wouldn't
know it if there were sixteen hacks and a
brass band; just as lief go up alone with
the driyeri''
After a pause he smiled blandly and
inquired:
They'll speak of me as the 'late deceased
won't they Yes, of course. | should like
to read the papers tomorrow and see what
they say Of me, but won't be here, you
know"
"Have yOu any property to dispose Off"
asked the watcher.
"Lemme seeI'' unused Uncle Heb. "Yes,
thar's an extra pair of butes and hat and
about IL cents in money. | suppose the
right way would be to have executors
'pinted, but, as | said before, don't want
any fooling around. You can divide up the
estate between you"
The old man was very pale and he seemed
to be suffering, and the watcher was anxious
to do something.
al tel you, replied Uncle Heb, ard like
some brandy. If it wasn't just as it is |
wouldn't put you to any trouble, but being
I'm going away to stay I'd like a few swallers
of real peach brandy-some of that in the
fancy decanter."
Some was brought him and he smacked
his lips, smiled, and remarked:
''If wasn't going to die I'd try and lay
in quart or two Of that brandyi"
After five or ten minutes more the nurse
asked him if he didn't feel better.
Feel better!'' echoed the old man, show
can a dying man feel better. Do you sup
pose I'd be foOling around here if l wasn't
going to expire?"
The man sat down, and Uncle Heb con-
tinued:
''As soon as | 60 up the spout one of you
go 10 the POOrmaster and say: MIR. Willard
old Heb is dead; send feller down and
plant him. That will be as good as
speech two hours long. I'm sorry was
took sick here, but it wasn't my fault. You
may go now"
The man went out, thinking Uncle Heb
out of his mind, and sat down and played
dOminOes for an hour. Hearing no move
ment in the back room he opened the door.
The old man was dead