The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-04-24
/ only for a lantern. that had been left

there; we made out with the chicken |
pie and a spare rib l put right in. 1t so /
happened I had one that was thawed. |
An | took those cats and soused 'em |
well in tub o water after I'd give 'em |
as good beating as l 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 'em they'd new at me
both together 'thOut making a sound. !
For all l 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
kitten, but such accounts as this were
discouraging-and Mrs. West promptly
offered her own yirtuous pussies, which
amused the little company very 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.
Il had a beautiful visit with MARTHA"
she answered, 81 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"
Il suppose the cold weather pinched
| him up" suggested Mrs. West. "Weu,
| he'll be a great loss"
IL heard from him direct this
morning continued Mrs. Peak,
mournfully. Il called to Jesse's
oldest boy as he went by, and he said
his grand Their wasn't any better.
/ osGod ~ bo bod aud no coid
| no He's got a sight of resolution; l
| shouldn't wonder if he didn't take his
! bed at all
Il 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"
Hes kept his money a-mOvin',"
| observed Mrs. West. There amt no
such businessman about here, but
there's been plenty o. hands reached
ont to take what they could get. WE'LL
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 a week, and his bed the
last day
Il should have gone right over to
see him myself yesterday" said the
hostess, "but it kept raining steady all
day, same's it did here, 1 suppose"
They'll be likely to have his funeral
from the Westinghouse, won't they?'
asked Mrs. Rogers, solemuly; 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 for
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 ventured to say that, Judging
from what she had just heard, the poor
man could not now Re living. And the
listener 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.
He heard it from some one who
stopped at Asa Fale's, but there weren't
, no particularly and Mrs. Peak said
! one had no idea Mr.. johnson would go
so soon. 1t was Il great shock to her,
his illness.
, death is always sudden at the last, -
said Mrs. West Il suppose you will
90 over to the funeral?-it seems pity
- YOU should have come home Saturday,
| don't it?''
5 81 shall get ready to go by the first
g train, answered the old lady, crying a
Y little. Il declare / wish I'd gone there
/ before 1 come away. 1t amt that
2 think of the expense of going to Peter
t sham twice for that's nothing at such
5 a time as this, but l can't feel recon
t ciled to not seeing him again. He was
s a most amiable Christian man; there
S won be many dry eyes in Petershdm
e the day he's buried. I've known him
s ever since I've known anybody
r. So by the earliest train next day Mrs
5 Peak went back to Petersham. Her
= cOuntenance wore a solemn expression
She felt herself to be one of the CHIEF
a mourners, though her place in the pro
J. cession would probably not be far from
n the least afflicted.
As she stepped down from the car, she
Y pulled very kong face, and was sur
prised to see no signs of tie calamity
e which had befallen the village. She
: meditsted upon the way the worlC
: moves on though is best men die-anC
t took her way, to save time. through the
back streets to her niece Martha's.
e "Well. MARTHA she said, sadly
s I'm sure l didn't think I should bt
n back again so soon when l left you
n When do they bury?'
e "Who?' asked Martha, mucl
c amazed. She was busy washing, anC
if was not in the least prepared for hel
S aunt's appearance. She was used Il
making careful arrangements when sh,
:. expected guests-being, as her friends
G said, very set in her ways-and if Their,
# was anything she disliked it was a lacl
r of ceremony, even from her nearest rel
e atives.
:, Il haven't heard of any DEATH sh,
if assured her aunt, who was apparently
much perpleXed.
! somebody told the Vests last nigh
V that Mr.. Daniel johnson had passed
S away, and Mis- West had came right
out to tell me- she explained at last.
o q Martha began to laugh. HE was on
Or to meeting last night as sure as thu
:, world, - she said. Hes had bad colo
2. you know he's always been subject L
II fall colds-but he's about again.
Y heard Jesse's wife fussin' at him abou
If dom up his throat when we were com
@ in out o the meetin' house last night. >
IF ''She was dreadful down-heartet
about him, I'm sure, when she come ii
is Thanksgiving night" ventured Mrs
q Peak, in self-defense.
n Now, Aunt Peak said Martha
a haven't you seen enough of LvdiI
johnson by this time to know that sh
sc always thinks everything and everybod,
k is going to rack and ruin? She was cheer
lie full about the old gentleman to what sh
v is sometimes. To be sure we all know
he's GETTING ALONG in wears -