The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-10-02

y
Bible" he muttered to himself aS he
walked homeward. "Thc Scriptural
lifetime IL do fer me-
A week thereafter old Tommy gazed
proudly upon his finished inscription.
''Died November IL, $780, was the
newest bit of biography there en-
graved.
But it's two years and more till
November II, $780," said a voice at his
side.
Tommy merely cast an indifferent
look upon the speaker and walked off
without word.
The whole village now thought that
Tommy had become a monomaniac
upon the subject of his tombstone.
Perhaps he had.
No one had been able to learn from
his friend, Billy Sllidmore, what
thoughts he may have communicated
to the latter upon the matter.
Tommy now lived for no other APP
parent purpose than to visit his ton.o-
stone daily. He no longer confined his
walks thither to the pleasant days. He
went in weather the most perilous to
so old and frail man.
One of his prospective heirs took suf-
ficient interest in him to advise more
care of his health
''I can easily keep alive till the time
comes" returned the antique; there's
only year left"
Rapidly his hold upon life relaxed.
a week before November IL, 1890. he
began to speculate as to whether his
unique prediction-or, | should say, his
decree-would be fulfilled to the very
day.
Upon the fifth day of his illness
death threatened to come before the
time that had been set for receiving
him
Isn't this the 1othP" the old man
mumbled.
NO" said his housekeeper, who,
with one of his nieces. the doctor and
Billy Slzidmore, attended the i'll man;
Its only the 9th"
Then / must fight for two days
more. The tombstone must not lie
And he rallied so well that il seemed
as if the tombstone would lie, never
theless, for old Tommy was still alive
at 1880 on the night of November IL
Moreover, he had been in his senses
when last awake, and there was every
likelihood that he would look at the
clock whenever his eyes should next
open
''He can't live till morning; that's
sure" said the doctor.
But. good Lord. You don't mean TO
say he'll hold out till after twelve
o'clock?" said Billy Skidmore, whose
anxiety only had sustained him in his
grief At the approaching dissolution of
his friend
Quite probably" replied the doctor.
''Good heavensi Tommy won't rest
easy in his grave if he doesn't die on
the 1lth. The monument would be
wrong"
.'oh that don't matter" said the
niece.
Billy looked at her in amazement
Was his old friends sacred wish to mis-
carry thus?
.'Ees: twill matter he said, in
loud whisper. And if time won't wait
for Tommy of its own accord, Wen
make it When did he last see the
.lock?''
..Half-past nine" said the house
keeper.
.'Then we'll turn it back to ten" said
Skidmore, acting as he spoke.
but he may hear the town clock
strike
Billy said never a word, but plunged
into his overcoat, threw on his hat, and
hurried out into the cold night
Ten minutes to midnight" he said,
as he looked up at the town clock upon
the church steeple. Can skin up them
ladders in time?"
Tommy awoke once before the last
slumber. Billy was by his bedside, as
were the doctor, the housekeeper and
the niece The old mans eyes sought
the clock.
Eleven" he murmured Then he
was silent, for the town clock had be-
gun to clang. He counted the strokes
eleven Then he smiled and tried to
speak again
''Almost-Iive out-birthday
ty-tombstone-an right"
He closed his eyes, and, inasmuch as
the town clock furnishes the official
time for Rearward, the published re-
port of Tommy McGuff's going records
that he passed at twenty-five minutes
after eleven p. m, November II, 1890.
Very few people knew that time
turned back one hour and a half in or
der that the reputation of Tommy Nc
Guffy's tombstone for veracity might
be spotless in the eyes of future genera
tions-
Billy Sl1idmore, the sexton, arranged
to have Rearward time ready for the
sun when it rose upon the following
morning.-R- y. Stephens, in Philadel-