Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-05-14

there; we m dc out with the chicken.
pie and - spare rib put right in. ltso
happened | had one that was thawed.
An took those cats and soused 'em
well in tub o. water, afterI Il give 'em
as good beating rs ! knew how. And
after while they stole in half froze,
and set by the stove meek rs Moses with
their paws tucked underneath en-, and
when I'd look ut 'cm they'd new mt me
both together 'thout making 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 n
kitten. but such accounts as this were
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Mrs. West promptly
offered her own v'rtuous pussies, which
amused the little company YER, much.
"You haven't told us yet whether YOU
heard anything over at Peteresham,"
said Mrs. Rogers, the other guest, at
which Mrs Peaks face grew long.
II had 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 10 get out to
meetin' Thanksgivin' 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 pnched
him up" suggested Mrs. West. "Well,
he'll be great loss"
II heard from him direct this
morning." continued Mrs. Peak,
mournfully. 81 called to Jesse's
Oldest boy as he went by, and he said
his grand'ther wasn't any better. l
asked If he was a-bed, and he said
mo- He's got sight of resolution; l
shouldn't wonder if he didn't take his
bed at ALL"
~ don't see how they'll pay their
minister the salary they give him now,
when they lose Mr.. Johnson" said Mrs.
Rogers. Hes always ready to give,
and he docs what he can for his folks
shouldn't wonder if he hadn't but
little property left, after all he's had to
do, AMI being out o. business for some
years wv"
"He's kept his money a-movin',"
observed Mrs West. There amt no
such business man about here, but
there's been plenty o. hands reached
OFT to take what they could get. Well,
It's all over now; he won't last a great
VIII 10 if he's as feeble rs you say. His
| father went ust the same way, only
kept the house week, and hir bed the
last day"
A" | should have gone right over to
see him m self yesterday" said the
hostess, "but it kept raining steady all
day, same's il did here, | suppose"
They'll be likely TO have his funeral
from the meet ng-hou G, won't thcyp"
asked Mrs. Rogers, solemnly; 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 OK
change of greetings and inqure s for
news. And in this wa; the sad story
of Mr.. JOhnson's last illness was spread
far and wide before nj Lht And in pass
ing from one TO another, the report be-
came every hour more serious. AT last
some one ven urcd to say that, Judging
from what she had just heard. the poor
man could no, now @ living. And the
lis cncr felt Justified in announcing that
Mrs. Smith thought there was no doubt
that he was dead.
Late on Sunday night Mrs. West
brought the news TO Mrs. Peak.
"Ac heard it from some one who
stopped ut Asa Fale's, but there weren't
no particulars and Mrs. Peak said
one had no idea Mr.. Johnson wOuld go
- soon. 1t was great shock to her,
in a much as she had not known Of
his illncss.
death is alwa, sudden at the last
said Mrs. West. Il suppose you will
90 over 10 the funeral lit seems pity
YOU should have come home Saturday,
don't it?"
81 shall get ready to go by the first
train, answered the old lady, or, ing
little. Il declare / wish Id gone there
before | come away. 1t amt that
think of the expense of going TO Peter
sham twice. for that's nothing ut such
a time as this, but cant feel recon-
cilcd to not seeing him agan. He was
n most amiablc Christian man. there
won be many dry eyes in Pctersham
the day he's uried. I've known him
ever since I've known anybody.
SO by the earliest train next day Mrs.
Peak went back to Petcrsham. Her
countenance wore q solemn expression
| cnC lClt W DC OnO vi tHC CuiCt
mourners, though her place in the pro-
ccssion would probably not be far from
the least afflicted.
AS she stepped down from the car, she
pulled Il very long face, and was sur
prised to see no signs of TIE calamity
which had befallen the village. She
mcditated upon the way the world
moves on though is best men die and
took her way, to save time, through the
back streets to her niece Martha's.
"Well. Martha" she said, sadly,
"rm sure didn't think / should be
back again so soon when l left you.
When do they buryP"
"WhoP" asked Martha, much
amazed. She was busy washing, and
was not in tho least prepared for her
aunt's appearance. She was used 10
making careful arrangements when she
expected guests being, as her friends
said, very set in her ways-and if there
was anything she dislikcd it was lack
of ceremony, even from her nearest rel
atives.
IL haven't heard of any DEATH" she
assured her aunt, who was apparently
much perplexcd.
Somebody told the Vests last nigh,
that Mr.. Daniel johnson had passed
away, and Mis- West had came right
out to tell me- she explained at last.
Martha began to laugh. ale was out
to meeting last night as sure as the
world" she said. "He's had bad cold
You know he's always been subject &c
fall colds-but he's about again.
heard Jessc's wife fussin' at him about
doin' up his throat when we were com
in out o. the meetin' house last night. "
"She was dreadful down-heartet
about him, I'm sure, when she come II
, Thanksgiving night" ventured Mrs
, Peak, in self-defcnse.
"Now, Aunt Peak" said Martha
/ "haven't you seen enough of Lydi;
johnson by this time TO know that sh,
, always thinks everything and everybod,
{ Is going to rack and ruinP She was cheer