The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-04-25
ct only for q lantern, that had been left.

three at home are middlin' hearty but
there; we made out with the chicken
pie and a spare rib put right in. Itso
happened / had one that was thaWed-
An / took those cats and soused 'em
as good beating as | knew how. And
after while they stole in half froze,
and set by the stove meek as Moses with
their paws tucked underneath EN-, and
when L d look at EN- they'd NEW at me
both together 'thout making a sound.
For all / was so worked up, / had to
laugh"
They all laughed again at the cats,
while Mrs. Peak acknowledged that she
had just been thinking of getting q
kitten, but such accounts as this were
discouraging and Mrs. West promptly
offered.her own virtuous pussies, which
amused the little company very much.
"You haven't told us yet whether you
heard anything over at Peteresham, 3
said Mrs. Rogers, the other guest, at
which Mrs. Peaks face grew long.
II had a beautiful visit with Martha, !"
she answered, but I've been feeling
anxious to hear again from old Mr..
Daniel Johnson. Jesse's wife came in
and said he seemed very feeble. He
didn't make no effort to get out to
meetin' ThanksgiYin' Day, and Martha
said she'd noticed he looked pale and
kind O. Wizened up two or three weeks
ago."
II suppose the cold weather pinched
him up. y suroested Mrs. West. tsWell.
he'll be great loss. /"
II heard from him direct this
morning continued Mrs. Peak,
mournfully. II called to Jesse's
oldest boy as he went by, and he said
his grand Their wasn't any better. [
asked if he was a-bed, and he said
mo- He's got sight of resolution; I
shouldn t wonder if he didn't take his
bed at ALL
II don't see how they'll pay their
minister the salary they give him now,
when they lose Mr.. johnson" said Mrs.
Rogers. "He's always ready to give,
and he does what he can for his folks.
shouldn't wonder if he hadn't but a
little property left, after all he's had to
do, and being out O business for some
years now"
"He's kept his money a-moyin', y
observed Mrs. West 'There amt no
such businessman about here, but
I there's been plenty o. hands reached
out to take what they could get. Well,
It's all over now; he won't last great
while if he's as feeble as you say. His
father went Just the same way, only
kept the house week, and his bed the
last day."
81 should have gone right over tc
see him myself yesterday" said the
hostess, s'but it kept raining steady al
day, same's it did here, I suppose. =
They'll be likely to have his funeral
from the meeting house, won t theyp"
asked Mrs. Rogers, solemnlV; but no.
body could answer her question.
Next day being Sunday, and most Of
the congregation coming from the scat
tered farms, there was the usual ex.
change OF greetings and inquiries fol
news And in this way the sad story
of Mr.. Johnson's last illness was spread
far and wide before night. And in pass
ing from one to another, the report be-
came every hour more serious. At last
some one yentured to say that, Judging
from what she had just heard, the poor
man could not now be living. And the
listener felt justified in announcing thai
Mrs. Smith thought there was no doubt
that he was dead.
Late on Sunday night Mrs. West
brought the news to Mrs. Peak.
''He heard it from some one who
stopped at Asa Fale's, but there weren't
no particulars" and Mrs. Peak sale
one had no idea Mr.. johnson would &C
so soon. 1t was q great shock to her
in as much as she had not known o.
his illness.
death is always sudden at the last, :
said Mrs. West. II suppose you vii
go over to the funeral?-ft seems a pity
YOU should have come home Saturday
don itP"
81 shall get ready to go by the frs
train, !" answered the old lady, crying ;
little. 81 declare | wish I'd gone there
before come away. 1t amt that
think of the expense of going to Peter
sham twice, for that nothing at sucI
q time as this, but / can't feel recon
ciled to not seeing him again. He wa
a most amiable Christian man; Their,
won be many dry eyes in Petershan
the day he's buried I've known hin
ever since I've known anybody.
| So by the earliest train next day Mrs
Peak went back to Petersham. He
countenance wore asolemn expression
She felt herself to be one of the chic
mourners, though her place in the pro
cession would probably not be far from
the least afflicted.
AS she stepped down from the car, she
pulled q very long face, and was sur.
prised to see no signs of tie calamit,
which had befallen the village. Sht
meditated upon the way TIE worlt
moves on though is best men die--an,
took her way, to save time, through tn
back streets to her niece Marthas.
"Well, MARTHA she said, sadly
'tI'm sure | didn't think / should b
back again so soon when | LETT you
When do they bury?"
'sWho?n asked Martha, mucI
amazed. She was busy washing, an,
was not in the least prepared for he
aunt's appearance. She was used t
making careful arrangements when sh
expected guests being, as her friend
said, very set in her ways-and if ther
was anything she disliked it was lac
of ceremony, even from her nearest rel
atiyes.
II haven't heard of any DEATH" sh
assured her aunt, who was apparent
much perplexed
Somebody told the Vests last nigh
that Mr.. Dan'el johnson had passe
away, and Mis- West had came RICH
out to tell me- she explained at last.
q Martha began to laugh. sHe was on
to meeting last night as sure as til
world" she said. Hes had bad col
You know he's always been subject t
fall colds but he's about again.
heard Jesse's wife fussin' at him abou
! dom up his throat when we were con
in out O. the meetin' house last night.
.'She was dreadful down-hearte
about him, Tn sure, when she come i
Thanksgiving night" ventured Mrs
Peak, in self-defense.
Now, Aunt Peak said Martha
"haVen't you seen enough Of Lydi
| johnson bv this time In know fhaf eb