Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-06-27

ph THE phrt OF his old hOusekeeper La
bad taken n resolution
hree score years and ten. says the
bible he in1itered TO himself ma be
walked hnDeward 'The scriptural life.
time u dpfui me.
q week thereafter old Tommy gazcd
proudly np'n the finished inscription
Died Noy 1896 was the newest
OIL oil biography there engraved
But ITS two years and more till Nov
! II, 1870 said Il voice at his side.
Tommy merely east an indifferent look
upon the speaker and walked off without
a word
| The whole village now thought TINT
Tommy had become inono,nauiac npon
the subject Of his tombstone. Perbaps
/ he had
NO one has been able to learn from his
friend. Billy Skidnore what thoughts
he may have communicated to the latter
upon the matter
| Tommy now lived for no other an
parent purpose than to visit his tomb.
stone daily He no longer confined his
walks thither to the pleasant days. He
went in weather the most perilDus to SO
old and frail man
One of his prospective heirs took suffi-
cient interest in him to advise more care
Of his health
II 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 Nov. / 1890 he went to
bed and staid there People began to
speculate MS to whether his unique pre-
diction-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 10TH the old man
mumbed
mo, said his housekeeper. who. with
lone OF his nieces, the doctor and Billy
ESkidmore. 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 it seemed
ms If the tombstone would lie. neverthe-
less. for old Tommy was still alive at
II 80 on the night of Nov II More
over. he had been in his senses when last
awake. and there was every likelihood
that he wotlld look at the clock when
ever his eyes Should next open
He can't live till morning that
sure" said the doctor
| But. good Lord! you don't mean to
say he'll hold out till after ~ o'clock. "
said Billy Skidmore. whose anxiety only
had sustained him in his grief at the APP
preaching dissolution of his friend
Quite probably" replied the doctor
Good heavens! Tommy won't rest
easy in his grave if he doesn't die on the
18th. 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 a lout
, whisper And if time won't wait foI
Tommy of its own accord, we'll make it
When did he last see the clock?
Half past 8. said the housekeeper.
Then we'll turn it back to TO- sale
; Skidnore, acting as he spoke.
But he may hear the town clocl
8 strike
b Billy said never word. but plunge
into his overcoat, threw on his hat an
l. hurried ont into the cold night
e Ten minutes to midnight he said
as he looked mp at the town clock upo
/ the church steepls. Can skin up thel
d ladders III time;
Tommy awoke once before the las
It slumber Billy was by his bedside, Il
were the doctor the housekeeper and tn
v niece The old mau's eyes sought tn
:" clock.
# Eleven" he murmured. Then b
is was silent, for the town clock had begu
to cang He counted the strokes
~ eleven Then he smiled and tried
Y speak again
il "Almost-live out--birthday-
t. seventy - tombstone-all right.
He closed his eyes, and. lnasmuch
Id the town clock furnishes the official thu
st for Rearward, the published report
II. Tommy Mctiulfy's going records that
,s passed at twenty-five minutes after II
it H., Nov IL, 1890
he Very few people knew thattlme turnt
back one hour and half in order tn
H. the reputation of Tommy Mc'futt,
;c. tombstone for veracity might be spotIe
ly in the eyes Of future generations
Nv Billy Skdmore, the sexton, arrange
to have Rearward time ready for the 81
m when it rose upon the following NOR
ar ing.-R n Stephens in PnladeIph