Wichita eagle., 1889-03-07

cussed cyclopeedy, cause when he went to
readin' bout cows it told him to ''See
| Zoology"
But what's the use Nv harrowin' up ones
feehn's talkin' md thinkin' about these
thingsl Leander got so after awhile
that the cyclopeedy didn't worry him at all;
he grew to look at 1t ez ore Nv the crosses
that human critters has to bear without
complainin' through this vale Nv tears.
The only thing that bothered him wuz the
fear that mebbe he wouldn't live to see the
last volyume- tell the truth, this kind Nv
got to be his hobby and I've heern him talk
bout it many a time settin' round the
stove at the tarvern md squiran' tobacco
juice at the sswdust box. His wife,
Hattie, passed away with the yalIer janders
the winter W come, and all that seemed to
reconcile Leander to surviyin' her wuz the
prospect Nv SEEM the last volyume Nv that
cyclopeedy. Lemuel Hig gins, the book
agent, had gone TO his everlastin' pun
lshnent, but his son, Hiram, had sue
ceeded to his fathers business nd continued
TO visit his folks his old man had roped in
By this time Lenders children had growed
up; all on 'em wuz marr'd, and thae wuz
numeris grandchildren to anuse the OF
gentleman. But Leander wuzn't TO be sat-
lsfed with the common things Nv airth; he
didn't seem to take no pleasure in his grand
children Ike most men do; his mind wuz
alters sot on somethin' else-for hours md
hours, yes, all day long, he'd set out on the
front stoop lookin' wistfully up the road for
that book agent TO come alop g with CYCLIC,
peedy. He didn't want to die till he'd got
all the cyclopeedies his contract called for;
he wanted TO have every thing Strengthened
out before he passed away
When-oh. how well l recollect it-when
Y come along he wuz so overcome that he
fell over In a at Nv paralysis, md the old
gentleman never got over it. For the next
three years he dropped md pined, and
seemed like he couldn't hold out mich
longer. Finally he had to take to his bed
he wuz so old md feeble-but he made 'em
move the bed UP against the winder so he
could watch for that last yolyume of the
cyclopeedy.
The end come one balmy day in the spring
Nv 81. His life wuz a-ebbin' powerful fast;
the minister wuz there, md me, md Dock
Wilson, md Jedge Baker, md most NV the
family Lcrin' hands smoothed the wrlnkled
forehead md breshed back the long, scant,
white hair, but the eyes Of the dyin' man
the cyclopeedy man allus come.
All at oncet bright md Joyful look come
in to them eyes md OF Leander riz up in bed
md seq: ats come"
What is II, fatherir asked his daughter
Sarey, sobbin' like.
Hush" SEE the minister, solemnly; she
sees the shinin' gates Nv the Moo Jerusa-
lem"
No, no." cried the aged man, sit is the
cyclopeedy-the letter Tits comin'r
And sure enough! The door opened and
in walked Higglns-he tottered rather than
walked, FIR he had growed old nd feeble in
his wicked perfession.
Here's the 2 cyclopeedy, Mr.. Hobart"
says Higgins.
Leander clutched it; he Rugged it to his
pantin' bosom; then steaiin' one pale hand
under the piller he drew out a faded bank
note md gave it to Higgins.
'Ithank Thee for this boon,'' SEE Leander.
rollin' his eyes up devoutly; then he gave
deep sigh.
Hold on" cried Higgins, excitedly.
"You've made mistake-it isn't the last"
But Leander didn't hear hm-his soul
he'd fed from its mortal tenement md he'd
scared reioicin' to realms Nv everlastin'
bliss.
He is no MORE" seq Dock Wilson, meta
phorically.
Then who are his heirsi" asked that
mean critter Higgins.
I'VE be-" seq the family.
'Do you conformity and severally &C.
knowledge and assume the obligation OF de.
ceased to mef' he asked 'em.
"What obigationl' asked Peasley Ho-
bart, stern like.
Deceased died OWN me fr a cyclo-
peedyp' seq Higgins.
That's lie!' SEE Peasley. "We all seen
HIM pay you for the Zr'
''But there's another one to Gomez SEE
Higgins.
"Anotherm they all asked.
Eyes, the indexr' seq he.
So there wuz, and I'll be externally gcll
burned if he amt a sum the estate in the
probate court now f'r the price Nv it,-Chi-
cago News