The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-10-30

Hubbard with courage. Finally. being a
brave woman, she adopted tho belief; and,
when another baking day arrived, put her
loaves Int. the oven once more, prepared
for cross-bones and not to be frightened by
them.
The loaves baked as before. They came
out brown and crusty and as Mrs. Hubbard
turned each In her hands there were no
cross-bones visible, but on the last were
sundry characters Of letters. What, no
one could tell, until there dopped IN for a
chat certain printer of the neighborhood,
accustomed to reading things backward.
"By Georgel" said he, ''that is curious.
That ID curious AIM - resur-
gam; that Is what is on the loaf-rcsurgam.
cit Is what they put OH tombs, isn't it2"
asked poor Mrs. Hubbard, family.
"Well, yes,", said Mr.. Hubbard, being
obliged to admit it. 'But 1t Is not 80
bad as cross bones and skulls"
Mrs. Hubbard shook her head,
'It Is even solemner," said the little
woman, who was not as good lngulst as
breadmaker. feel confident, W illianl, that
l shall soon be resurgamed, and what will
these dear children do then2"
And now that the second loaf was be-
fore her eyes, marked even more awfully
than the first, Mrs. Hubbard grew really
pale and thin, and lost her cheerfulness.
~ have a presentment," she said. over
and over again, "that the third baking will
decide who the warning belongs to, be-
lieve it is meant for me, and time will
show. Don't you see how thin am grow
ing2''
And though Mr. Hubbard laughed, lie
also began to be troubled.
The third baking day was one OF gloon.
Solemnly, ,as funeral, the amilyasscmbled
to assist In the drawing.
Five loaves came out markless; but one
remained.
Mrs. Hubbard's hand trembled, but she
drew it forth. She laid 1t on the tray.
She TUNED softly about. At last she ex-
posed the lower surface. On it were letters
printed backward, plain enough to read
this time, and arranged thus;
Died April I'd,
lamented by
her large family.
''It Is me |" cried Mrs. Hubbard, 81 am
am going to 60 to morrow-this Is the 1st.
i do feel faint-yes, / do. 1t Is awful, and
so sudden. ..
And Mrs. Hubbard tainted away in the
arms of the most terrified of men and
husbands.
The children screamed; the cat mewed;
the dog barked. The oldest boy ran for
tho doctor. People focked to the Hub
bard's. The lonf was examined. Yes,
there was Mrs. Hubbard's warnlng-her
call to quit this world.
She lay in bed, bidding good by to her
family and friends. her strength going fast.
She read her Bible, and tried not to grieve
too much. The doctor shook his head. The
clergyman prayed with her. Nobody
doubted that her end was at hand, for peo-
pie were very superstilious in those days.
They had been up all night with good
Mrs. Hubbard, and dawn was breaking,
and with 1t she was sure that she must 20,
when clattering over the road and up to
the door came horse, and on the horse
came man, who alighted. He ratified
the knocker and rushed in. There was no
stopping him. Up the stairs he went to
Mrs. Hubbard's room, and bolted into it. O.,
Everyone stared at him as he took off
his hat.
''Pardlng," said he breathlessly; II
heard airs. Hubbard was dying, and she'd
warnings on her bakings. came over to
explain. You soc, was sexton of the
church here few years ago. and I know
all about 1t. You needn't die of fear Just
yet, Mrs. Hubbard, for 1t is neither spirits
nor demons about, nor yet warnin's. What
marks the loaves is old Mrs. Finkle's tomb
stone. l took it for IN oven bottom, seeing
there were no survivors, and bricks were
dear. The last folks before you didn't get
them printed off on their loaves because
they used tins; and we got used to the
marks ourselves. Crossbones and skulls
weput up with, and never thought of caring
for the resurgam. So yon SEQ how 1t is,
and l am sorry you've been scared"
Nobody said word. The minister shut
his book. The doctor walked to tho win
dow. There was deadly silence. Mrs.
Hubbard sat up in bed.
William |" said she to hor husband, "the
first thing you do, get a new bottom to that
oven."
And tho tone assured tho assemblagc of
anxious friends that Mrs. Hubbard was not
going to die just yet.
Indeed, she came down tho next day.
And when the oven had been reconstruct
ed, the first thing she did was to give in
vitations for a large tca-drinking- on
which occasion the loaves came out all
right