Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-10-16
PREPARING TO GO.
An Aged Man Predicts the Day Of His
Death and Arranges For IL.

An Aged Man Predicts the Day Of His
Death and Arranges For IL.
Nyack, N. Y, Journal.
Valley Cottage is a way station On
the West Shore Railroad, midway be-
tween this place and Rockland Lake.
1t takes its shame from the inlet, and
the hamlet from he fam ot John Ry-
der, who was long the most prominent
man in the place On the l1th inst.
Mr.. Ryder died, and under circum-
stances that caused widespread COM
ment among the villagers. Mr.. Ryder
died after prophesying for three days
that June / / would be his last day on
earth. Mr.. RydcrWas a wealthy farm
er and high official i'm the Methodist
Church at Rockland Lake. He was
seventy-siX years old and his muddy
check and clear blue eyes gave no I'M
dication of approaching dissolution.
He used to boast he had never been
i'll day in his life Up to within o
few weeks AGO he worked on his farm,
going out to pillow at daylight. One
day hercturncd 20 the farmhouse and
seated himself i'm an arm chair. When
asked If he was i'll he replied that he
was not, but said, II have ploWcG my
last. Now feel that as have pass
ed beyond my threcscorc and ten the
good Lord allowed me, ! shall not
live to see this harvest. God, Thy
will bc done"
His farm work icll into the hands OF
his hired men, and he mechanically re-
ceived their reports. All day heWalk-
ed up and down the yeranda, his head
sunk on his breast, deep in medita-
ton.
81 am tired" ne would say, when
any of the neighbors or his relatives
rallied him on his actions "lshallnot
live long soon | will tell you before
hand the day on which shall breathe
my last" On Tuesday, June o, he
called his family around him and sent
n servant after the farm hands, mean
while preserving a calm demeanor.
When all had assembled he said IN
deep impressive tones: My friends,
my time is drawing nigh. My sands
of life have nearly run ont. But two
lays more and shall not be with you.
! have received "a warning, and it por-
tends death. My friends, leave you
with lie, hope clear OF crime and
with hope and belief i'm the infinite
tenderness and mercy OF the true and
living God" Turning to farm hand,
he said, with energy: Harness upmy
morse and buggy. Do it quickly."-
When the vehicle was ready he sprang
in massisted, and drove to the little
burying ground near by, owned by %
few OF the old families i'm the neighbour
hood. Arrived at the graveyard, he
looked around and, running to u
mound where there was n pile OF
stakes, he marked off the space in
which Inc wanted TO be buried. Driving
home he did not spare the horse, and
when his house was reached me imme-
dlatcly dispatched a servant to Nyack
for lawyer who had done legal bus
mess for him before In the note he
said he wanted to draw up his will.
He also ordered the man to bring an
undertaken with him. The undertaken
came, and jokingly measured the old
gentleman. "Now give me your bill,
/ want to pay it now, ne sand to the
undertaken. The surprised undertaken
obeyed with reluctance, and the old
gentleman paid the money down. The
lawyer came after second messenger
had been sent for him The will was
duly drawn up, and after the instru-
ment had been signed, giving the pro-
portions to his children and grand
children, he invited the lawyer to
come to his funeral, he was an old
friend OF the family, and also to act
n pall-bearer. The lawyer laugh
ingly assented to the proposition,
thinking it was but within OF his old
client. Mr.. Ryder then named the
three other men he wanted to act as
pall-bearers. I'm the lawyers presence
he named all the other details about
the funeral. and made disposition of
his personal effects and mentioned his
friends.
On the following day Mr.. Ryder sat
in his old arm chair on the veranda
most OF the time. During the follow
ing night he got up several times, and
his family heard him walking through
the house. He was in his place in the
morning, and appeared to be in his
usual health. Toward noon he called
his family around him, saying: my
friends am now going. Good by all,
and God bless you. He then lay
back in his armchair, and, gazing ten
derby at his family, gently closed his
eyes His lips moved i'm PRAYER, and
once again lac opened his eyes and
smiled, and again the eyeids closed
and all was still. Those around him
thought he was sleeping. but when they
called him heidi not answer. He wa
dead.-New York Journal