The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-04-24
THE NEWS FROM PETERSHAM.

Mrs. Peak had been to Petersham
herself, to spend Thanksgiving with her
niece, and brought the first account of
old Mr. JOhnson's illness.
Mrs. Jesse johnson, his daughter-in-
law, had come in for a few minutes
Thursday afternoon, and had said it
was the first time since she could re-
lmcmber that the old gentleman had not
been in his seat in church on Thanks
giving Day. And they all felt as if it
were a great break.
He would insist upon setting at the
table said Mrs. Jesse, "but he looked
too feeble to be out of his bed. These
bad colds take hold of man of his
years
After the visitor had gone Mrs. Peak
land her niece Martha had talked {, good
deal about the changes in the family
which would be sure to come when Mr.
johnson died.
Il know that Jesse's folks are de-
pending upon getting lift said
Martha. "'Mis' Jesse has limited as
much to me more than once, for she
says Jessc's got more than he can carry
lin his business, and everything would
Ibe easy if he only had little more
iCapital Truth is, | have an idea that
ihe leased a good share away from his
father now, and the old gentleman ISM
$50 ready as he used to be 10 further his
projects. And there's William, his
Iother son, know it to be fact that he
lis intending to go out West when his
fathers taken away. He has had a no.
tion of it for a good while; his wife,
sisters folks are all out there and do
ing well. =
"They'll be very much missed as a
family said Mrs. Peak; chow Peters
ho.
j was a girl!'
When she went home the next day
she was quite downhearted, and told
Asa Fales, who happened to be in at the
depot when the train came in and Of
fered to carry her home, that old Mr.
Daniel johnson was breaking up-at
least. so his family seemed to think.
Asa Fales was deeply concerned; the
two villages were only a few miles
apart, and he had been a Petersham
boy. 1t was old Mr.. johnson to whom
he owed his rise in the world, and he
remembered that he might never have
owned this 6ourishing country store if
1t had not been for this kind friend s
assistance.
Resides, he had been confident of Mr.
Johnson's support--if he could make
lup his mind to buy a large tract of
woodland which would pay well for
being cleared the very next winter. He
was already indebted to him, however,
and it would be a very different thing if
he were the debtor of the eager heirs.
So with all this in his mind he Ques-
toned Mrs. Peak, anxiously, and they
concluded that Mr.. Johnson's end was
not far distant.
''Of course he made a great effort to
get to the table on account of its being
l.
''but / IN afraid he'll give right up now.
i can't get away. lis right in my busy
time; I'm buying up a great deal OF
wood this fall, and some of 'em are
'bringingit in now on wheels instead OF
waiting for snow"
The snow does keep off late this
wear said Mrs. Peak. Here it's the
first o. December, and there's only been
one furry that was hardly more than q
hoar-frost.'
They had reached the little gray house
behind the lilac bushes, where Mrs. Peak
9ived alone, and as she unlocked its side
door and went in, it seemed strangely
cold and lonely.
1" / must look about for a lively kit
ten" she said to herself; they're q
sight of company, and what trouble il
gave would be no harm. l declare il
makes me feel lonesome; all the folks
have always been used to knowing seem
to be dying off. l always set a good
deal by Daniel Johnson
Two neighbors looked up the road 8
little later than this through their kitch-
en- windows, and seeing light in Mrs,
Peaks kitchen also, said to themselves
that she might be lonely that evening
without anybody to speak to, and they
would step over and hear the news.
They met at the door, each with shaw
over her head and her knitting work in
her hands-and we're welcomed most
heartily.
Mrs. West, who was very fond OF
talking, began at once to describe heI
experiences Thanksgiving morning,
when she found that the cats had stolen
into the pantry during the night, and
mangled the turkey so that it was only
FL 10 be thrown away. It was too late
"a get another, except a rack of bone.