The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-07-12

dom went.
you'll miss me when I'm gone" he
would say cheerfully, and so she would
And she would have missed the old
clock in the corner, too, if it had sud
denly disappeared.
"What does the doctor say about
me9" he asked her one day when the
village physician had gone out, first
calling her to one side. Perhaps Aunt
| Nancy was little worn out that day,
or believed in heroic treatment, but she
deliberately answered:
''He thinks you haven't disease in
the world, Elisha, and that if you would
take more exercise it would be better
for YOU"
He was wounded to the quick, and did
not speak to her for twenty -four hours,
and he discharged the impolitic physi-
clan the next day.
Uncle 'Lisha was fond of lachrymose
hymns, and when not singing
"Hark from the tombs doleful sound"
He would tip back in his chair-the east
est in the house-close his eyes and chant
by the hour:
I'm going home
Nomore to roam.
No more to sin and sorrow,
No more to bear
The brow of care.
I'm going home tomorrow"
But to-morrows came and went and
Uncle 'Lisha did not go home.
There was shelf in the closet which
was especially devoted to his medicines.
In his early DAYS he had dosed mildly
with rhubarb and sarsaparilla. Then
quinine became the fashion and he dis
sipated on that. Liniments for rheu-
matism, patent nostrums and Alternative
pills, completed the list, except that
there was no end to the domestic RENE
dies, such as mustard and ginger, and
other alternating agents.
when l am gone. he would say
mournfully, ''give my medicines to
some deserving poor person. There'll
never be another such sufferer in the
family as have been"
But there came day when even
Uncle 'Lisha's ailments were OF little
account. Aunt Nancy was sick. very
sick. She had been breaking down all
summer, but no one had been con-
cerned, least of all her husband, who
had developed new symptoms, that
were very alarming himself. Finally
she went to her bed and sent for her
children. They at once called in a doc
tor, who on his first visit looked ex-
ceedingly grave. Upon the second he
asked for a private interview with
Uncle 'Lisha
"Your wife is very sick woman
he said, abruptly.
''She does seem ailing," said Uncle
'Lisha. rubbing his lame knee, aud for
getting at the moment which one it
was; ''but, bless you, I've had the same
symptoms so long I'm used to them,
doctor. She's well, compared to me,
actually well.
The doctorlooked at the old man with
some contempt.
Threatened lives last long" he
said, bluntly. "But have it your own
way: I've tried to prepare you-that's
all.''
The doctor took leave, and Uncle
'Lisha went into the sick room. All
was calm and serene. Most of all.
that pale, still face on the pillow. The
patient eyes held the same kindly light
in them that had been there for thirty
years when they met his. The pinched.
white cheeks were only more sunken
and withered.
Having a kind of spell, amt you,
Nancyp" said Uncle 'Lisha. snow
don't git discouraged. "rve felt lest
so hundreds of times! It's nothing new
and nothing to worry about
I'm not worrying" said his wife.
family; 81 am dying. 'Lisha.''
Nancy, you oughtn't to talk about |
such serious thing as that so lightly.
lt-it-makes my rheumatism worse to
hear you. You ought to have some |
consideration for me. I can't stand |
everything
''poor old boy" said Aunt Nancy.
shaking his plump, strong hand. .sPoor |
Lisha! you will miss me for awhile y
There, there, now,n said Uncle |
Lisha. soothingIy; "I'll give YOU A
poonfui OF my tonic in the morning
md you'll come out like lark in the
pringtime, Go to sleep, Nancy: it'll |
lelpyou wonderfully. 1t always helps
ne.
Inc next morning Aunt Nancy had
AIKEN the tonic of anew life. "I'm
'oing home irst, after all, She said,
With smile, and died.
This upset all tho calculations of a
lie time with Uncle 'Lisha. He had
obody TO complain to. no one who
AIRED IN the least whether he had twenty
Ilments or one. He was not encour-
ged to be lazy. and helpless and selfish,
40 be fell into complete ruin, He had
noush to i've on, but nothing TO live
" = ale could pot oenplalp q him,