The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-02-16
HOW UNCLE JIM DIED HAPPY,

NJ Quad
We had with us in the Nevada silver Dig
gings an old man named Jim Watson, whom
we Familiarity called Uncle jim. He was a born
Englishman, but it was only now and then,
under the pressure Of great feeling, that his
vernacular betrayed the fact. lie was taken
- - ~ =" a - - ,-rl
ne knoChGd oil work and tool various sorts pt
medicine, lie continued to grow worse, and it
was finally evident that Uncle jim was going
to die lie realized the situation as fully as
any one else, and one evening, when three or
four OF us were in his shanty to offer advice
and sympathy, lie said:
look ere, boys, hits no use Uncle jim
can't last but few days longer. There's
h'ouly one favor I've got to h'asx."
We were about fifteen miles from tie rail
road. Now ard then, among the tourists and
travellers, we had seen an EnGlishman fresh
from the other side OF the water Uncle Jim
went on to inform us that he had not long to
live. bat his great desire was to see an English
man-a real Engls!lman-agaiE before he
died. If not too much trouble he wanted one
of us TO 90 over to the railroad ana explain
the case to tie first Englshman who passed
through and bring him over 10 camp.
We we're willing to do this, but circum-
stances saved Us the trip We had a man all
ready TO start OF when party OF six arrived
in camp They were doing the mines, and
man who had not been over more than
month He was at once informed OF the facts
ia the case and he readily agreed to drop in
and see Uncle jim. The poor old man had
failed rapidly and his eyes had become SO dim
that he could no longer see any one across the
ROOM We took the stranger in, told Uncle
Jim low it was, and they shook hands. Then
the old man said:
"Boys. can't sec i'm. Has e got red face
and does e wear short coat and corduroy
trouser5?'
yes"
"Tm bloo,nin' sorry, hold man, to find you
hin this situation" said the stranger, as he
bent over Uncle jim.
"Ah! boys, that settles it! If g wasn't
Hinglish e wouldn't say bcomn'. Hits the
first time I've 'eard that blessed word III ten
long years. If hit 'ad come year sooner I'd
ave pulled through this hand got we'll"
"What part OF Hngland did you come
from ?" oueried the stranger
"From IL old Liverpool, bless your soulP
liverpool? 1 ais from that very bloomin
place MYSELF"
think haround hold Liverpool?'
'.Just the same"
Lord save We, but 'ow clever Hits
bloomin' nice to ear real Hing ilshman talk
again."
We left them together for half an hour.
And when the stranger had 10 go we went in
to find old Uncle Jim looking better than he
had for week.
BOYS hit as done me cap of good" he
replied to our questions. 81 was just dyin' to
ear somebody say clever hand nawsty hand
bloomin',' once again. fer'aps I'll pull
| through"
| But next day he was worse and along toward
| night, when five or six Of us had gathered in
! his shanty, seeing clearly that the end was at
| hand, he whispered
| Boys, I ears you around me, but can't
see. / was in 'opes to pull through, but the
| bloomin' stranger delayed his bloomin' visit
| too long"
| Half an hour later Uncle jim was dead, and
the smile on his face proved that lie died
| happy.