The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-11-04

ne had taken resolution.
Three score years and ten, says the
Bible" be muttered to himself, as be
walked hoineward The scripturaI life
timefl do for me-"
A week thereafter old Tommy gazed
proudly upon the finished inscription
Died November II, 1890" was the
newest bit Of biography there engraved.
q But ils two ye.rs and more till No
vember II, lseo. said voice at his side.
Tommy merely cast an Indifferent
look upon the speaker, and walked of
without = word.
The whole village now thought that
Tommy had become q monomaniac upon
the subject Of his tombstone.
No one had been able TO learn from
his friend, Billy skidmore, what thoughts
he may have communicated to the latter
upon the matter.
Tommy now lived for no other appar-
ent purpose than 10 visit his tombstone
daily. He no longer confined his walks
thither to the pleasant dasy He vent
in weather the most perilous 10 so old
and frailIa man.
One Of his long prospective heirs took
sufficient interest in him TO advise him
to take more and better care Of his
health.
q l can easily keep alive until the time
comes returned ths antique. Ins-s's
only year left-"
Rapidly his hold upon life relaxed: A
week before November IL, 1890, he went
10 bed and stayed there. People began
to speculate as to whether his unique
prediction-or, should say, his decree
would be fulfilled 10 the very day.
Upon the fifth day of his illness death
threatened to come before the time set
for receiving him.
Isn't this the 10th - the old man
mumbled-
No" said bis housekeeper, who, with
one Of his nieces, the doctor and Billy
Skidmore, attended the i'll man, it's
only the 9th"
Then l must fight for two days more
The tombstone must not lie
And he rallied 50 vel that il seemed
as If the tombstone would lie, neverthe-
less, for old Tommy Was still alive al
lI.30 on the night Of November llth-
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 very
sure" said the doctor.
But, good Lord you don't mean to
say he'll hold oct till after II O'Clock p
said Billy Skidmore, whose anxiety only
had sustained him in his grief at the
approaching dissolution ofhis friend.
..Quiie probably" replied the doctor
Good heavens Tommy won't rest
easy in MS grave if he doesn't die on the
lith. The monument would be wrong
?" Oh, that won't matter :" said the
niece.
Billy looked at her in amazement-
Was his old friends sacred wish TO mis-
carry thus ?
Yes, twill matter he said, in loud
whisper. And if time won't wait for
Tommy of its own accord, well have
to lake it. When did he last see the
clock -
AT halfpsst nine" said the house
keeper.
Then we'll turn it back to ten," said
Skidmore, acting as be spoke.
But he may hear the town clock
strike"
Billy said never word, but plunged
into his overco&t, 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. "Csn skin up
them ladders in timer
Tommy swoke once before the last
slamber. Billy was by his bedside, IS
was the doctor, the housekeeper and the
niece. The old mans eye sought the
clock.
Eleven" he mwnured- Then he
Was silent, for the town clock began to
elang.
He counted the strokas-eleven-and
then he smiled and tried to speak again
Almost-live out-birtbday-seventy
-tombstone-all right
He closed his eyes, and inAsnueh as
the town clock furnishes the official time
for ReArwa7d, the published report o
Tommy Mc6utfyis going records that he
passed away at twenty-five minutes after
IL p. m, November II, 1899
Very few people knew that the time
was turned back one hour and half il
order that the reputation Of Tommy Nc
Gufyis tombstone for yer1scify might,bs
spotless in the eyes of future genera
tons.
Billy Skidmore, the sexton, srrsnges
to have ResrwArd time ready for the saI
when it rose upon the following morn
ing.-Phila- Prsv.
Turn about is fair play, bot who eve