Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-09-24
An OLD Romance of Bob Bnrdcttc,s.


is upon me, and death even now lielh al
the door"
Aud he called his physician, who felt
his pulse and looked upon his tongue aud
said "Twu-dollalIs y (For this was the
oath hy which all physicians swore.) "OI
verify. thou must have rcst. Flee unto
the valley of quiet, and close thine eyes
III dremnfnl rest hold back thy brain
from thought aud thy hand from labor, OF
you will he n candidate for tue asylum in
three weeks"
Aud he heard him, aud went out and
put the business in the hands of the clerk
and went away TO rest in the valley OF
quiet. Aud he went To his Uncle B.n'a,
whom he Ind not seen for, 10 ! these four
teen years. Now, his Uncle Ben was n
farmer, and abode in the valley of rest aud
the mountains OF repose rose about him,
And lie was rich and well favored, and
strong as an OK and healthy M an onion
crop Oft times he boastcd unto his
neighbors that there was not a lazy bone
III his body, and he swore that he hated u
lazy man.
And Mustapha wist not that il was 20,
But when he reached his Uncle Benz
they received him with great ioy. and
placed before him II supper of homely
viands, well cooked, and piled ON h,s plate
like the wreck OF box-car. and when he
could not eat it all they laughed him to
scorn.
Aud after supper they sat up with him
and talked with him Of relatives whereof
he had never, in NIL his life, so much as
heard And lie answered their questions
at random, and lied unto them, protesting
to know Uncle Ezraan Aunt Bethesda,
and once he said he had letter from I'm
Gle George last week.
Now, they all knew Uncle George was
shot IN neiglbor's sheep pen three years
ago, but Mustapia wist not that it was 80
and he was sleepy and only talked TO fill
mp the time. And then they talked politics
TO him, and he hated politics. So about
o'clock in the morning they sent him TO
bed.
Now The spare room wherein he slept
was right under the roof and there were
ears and bundles of ears of seed corn hung
from the rafters, and he bunged his eve
with the same aud he hooked his chin into
iestoons OF dried apples, and shook dried
herbs and seeds down his back MS lie walk.
ed along for ii was dark. And when he
sat up in he'd in the night he ran scylhe
in his ear.
Aud il was that the boys slept with him
Tor the bed was wide. And they were
restless AMI slept crosswse and kicked, so
That Mnstnpha slope not wink that night
neither closed he his eyes.
And about tile fourth hour after mid
night his Uncla Ben smo,e him ON the
back and spake unto Inn saying
Awake, arise, rustic out OF this and
wash your face, for the liver and bacon is
RED, and the breakfast waileth. You
will find the well at the other end of the
'ow lot. Take towel along down with
1ou."
When they had eaten his Uncle Ben
pake unto him, saying: "Come, let ns
troll around the farm" And they walk
ID about eleven miles. AMI his Uncle
Ben sat him upon wagon and taught him
low to load hay. Then they drove into
'arn and they taught him how to unload
t. Then they girded up their loins and
walked about fonr miles, even INTO the
crest, and his Uncle Ben taught him how
o chop wood, and they walked back TO
upper. And thus were the morning and
venlng of the first day, and Mustapha
Wished that he were dead.
And after supper his Uncle Ben spake
'nce more and said "Cume, let us have
ONE inn:" And so they hooked up a
cam and drove nine miles TO Belcber's
ranch where there was hon. And they
ianced until the second hour in the morn !
ng.
When the next day wa4 come, which |
wasn't long, for already the night was far
peni, his Uncle Ben took him ont and
nught him how to make ralience.
And that night there WAS wedding, and |
hey danced and made merry, and drank
md ate, and when they went TO bed at 3
'clock Mustapha prayed that death might
Ome 10 him before breakfast time.
But breakfast had ah early start and |
got there first. And his Uncle Ben took
nm down to the creek and Taught him
low 10 wash and shear sheep. Aud when
vehing WAS come they went to spelling
chool, and they got home the first hour
lller midnight, and Uncle Ben maryeled
hatsit wss 20 early. Aud he lighted his
'lpe and sat mp for an hour and told
'luSlapla NIL about the forty he bought
ast summer Of old Mpsey Srringcr to |
lnlsh out that north half, and about the
lew colt that was loaled last spring.
And when Mnstaplia went to bed that
morning he helhOught himself of II dose
ii Sirychnlne he had with him, and he |
aid his prayers wearily, and he took II
But The Youngest boy WAS restless thai
light, and kicked all the poison out Of |
lin in less than len seconds.
And in the morning while 1t was not |
'et light they ate breakfast. And his I'm. |
lie Ben then took him ont and taught |
lin how TO dig ditch. Aud when even |
ng was come there was revival meeting
i Ebeneezer Methodist Church and lbey all |
vent. And there were three regular
PREACHERS, and two exl ,rlers and a BIN
ist Evangelist. And when midnight was
ome they went home and sat up, and
nlked over The meeting until 1t was bed
line.
Now when Mnaiaplra was at home he
elf hs desk at the fifth hour Of the aller- |
'Oon, and lie went to bed nj the third hour
fter sunset, and he arose not until The
nm WAS high in the heavens. So the nexl
lay, when his Uncle Ben would take him
nj into the field, and show him how TO
make poSt-nmd-rnil fence, Mustapha |
wore nj him, and smote him with an axe.
'elve, an d fed and got him home.
And Mustapha sent for his physician
nd cursed him. Aud lie sad he was tir- |
d to death, tnd he turned his face to the
vail and died. Muslapha was gathered 10
lis fathers.