Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-06-22

NpulSIll Ioi tltIll COuolh W - tAhhiPb
said John.
The next morning Grandfather Dill
was so i'll from the effects of his ex-
posture that he was unable to rise, and
what with the hot herb teas with
which Mrs. Ratchet scaled him inside,
and the mustard plasters with which
she flayed him outside, 1t was won
Ter he ever did rise; but In few days
he was able to sit in the great arm
chair in the corner, and began to talk
about rcsuming his wanderings again
For this, however, he was mani
testify too feeble, and John went to the
town authorities to get them to take
him off his hands. They all with ono
accord declared that he was none of
their paupcrs, and that they were al
ready ovcrrun with tramps, and that
the only thing they felt justified in
doing was to forward him to Iittleton,
where he stated that he belonged.
But Mrs Ratchet in her turn was
equally decided that he should not be
moved in his present condition. and
John quite agreed with her. So Grand
father Dill staid on and on till it be-
/
the journey to Littleton, or any other
journey but the last long journey
which awaits us all.
Meantime, Johns conduct elected
various comments from his townspeo
ple-somc praised and some blamed.
Hans Schneider said:
81 always thought John was fool,
and now | know it, burdcning himself
with a pauper in these hard times.
He'll come to the poor house himself
yet, see if he don't"
As Grandfather Dill grew weaker
he had, or seemed to have, soma
strange fancics He often muttcrcd
the name of "Priscy," coupled with
the words, "Shc shan't have cent of
it," Aud at last one day he asked
John to bringa notary to make his will.
Il am going to make it in favor of
Won and your wife said he; "you've
both been good to me, and she was n
Dill, or her mother was; and as for
Priscy" there he stopped.
who is Priscy?' asked John.
Nobody; don't know any such per
son. Bring the notary"
At first John put him off, for he did
not wish to offend the notary by asking
him to come and make pauper's will
but the old man was so persistent that
for the sake of quoting him he finally
acccded to his request, and the will was
duly made, signed, sealed, and deliv-
cred.
IF there is any truth in this, you're
a rich man." said the notary to John.
After this Grandfather Dill seemed
satisfied, though he failed rapidly; but
n few minutes before he died he muir
INJURED, Poor Priscy! Perhaps she
wasn't so much to blame, after all"
That the property so literally be-
qucathod to him existed anywhere but
in Grandfather Dil's imagination John
did not believe, and but for the notary
would scarcely have given the matter
another thought; but the notary said
the old man had given the items of the
will with great precision, which was i'll
itself an indication of its truthfulncss,
and that il was very easy to find out
whether there was anything in it or
not For his part he thought it worth
looking into.
John said it was his opinion that the
old man had nothing but the rags on
bis back, but still, as Mr.. Armstrong
was about to send him away on bust
ness commission, he could easily take
iittlcton on his route, thereby killing
two birds With one stone" as he Jest
inGly observed.
70 his unbounded surprise, and to
the equal surprise of the Littleton