The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-12-20

hih OCt LOOlOSN.
But what's the use NV harrowin' up
ones feelin's talkin' nd thinkin' about
these things? Leander got so after
awhile that the cyclopeedy didn't wor-
ry him at all; he grew to look at il ez
one NV the crosses that human critters
has to bear without complainin'
through this vale Nv tears The only
thing that bothered him wuz the fear
that mebbe he wouldn't live to see the
last volume-to tell the truth. this
kind Nv got to be his hobby, and I've
heern him talk bout it many a time
settin' round the stove at the tavern
nd squirtin' tobacco juice at the saw
dust box. His wife, Hattie, passed
away with the yaller janders the win
Ter w came, and all that seemed to rec
oncile Leander to survivin' her wuz
the prospect NV seem the last volyume
NV that cyclopeedy. Lemuel Higgins,
the book agent, had gone to his ever
lastin' punishment; but his son. Hiram.
had succeeded to his fathers business
nd continued to visit the folks his old
man had roped in. BY this time lie.
ander's children had growed up; all on
EN- wuz marr'd. and there wuz numeris
grandchildren to amuse the Of gen.
tleman. But Leander wuzn't to be
satisfied with the common things Nv
airth; he didn't seem to take no pleas
ure in his grandchildren like most men
10; his mind wuz alters sot on some
nl 4
all day long, he'd set out on the front
stoop lookin' wistfully up the road for
that book agent to come along with
cyclopeedy. He didn't want to die till
he'd got all the cyclopeedies his con-
tract called for; he wanted to have
everything Strengthened out before le
passed away.
When-oh, how well l recollect it,
When Y come along he wuz so overcome
that he fell over in a fit Nv paralysis, nd
the old gentleman never got over it.
For the next three years he dropped nd
pinned, and seemed like he couldn't hold
out much longer. Finally he had to
take to his bed-he was so old nd feeble
but he made 'em move the bed up
against the winder so he could watch
for that last volyume of the cyclopeedy.
The end come one balmy day in the
spring NV 81. His life wuz a ebbin
powerful fast; the minister wuz there,
nd me, nd Dock Wilson, nd ledge
Baker, nd most NV the family Lovin
hands smoothed the wrinkled forehead
md breshed back the long, scant, white
hair, but the eyes of the dyin' man wuz
sot upon that piece NV road down which
the cyclopeedy man allus come.
All to oncet a bright nd joyful look
come into them eyes, md OF Leander
riz up in bed nd seq: Its comet"
what is it, father?" asked his
daughter Sarey, sobbin' like.
"Hush," seq the minister, solemnly:
'he sees the shinin' gates Nv the Moo
Jerusalum."
mo, no." cried the aged man; sit is
the cyclopeedy-th letter Z--it's COM
in'!"
And, sure enough, the door opened,
and in walked Higgins. He tottered
rather than walked, FIR he had growed
old nd feeble in his wicked perfession.
Here's theZcyclopeedy, Mr.. Hobart"
says Higgins.
Leander clutched it; he Rugged it to
his pantin' bosom; then stealin' one
pale hand under the piller he drew out
faded bank note nd gave it to Hig.
gins.
II thank thee for this BOOM" SEE Le-
ander, rollin' his eyes up devoutly;
then he gave deep sigh.
Hold on" cried Higgins, excitedly,
you've made a mistake-it isn't the
last"
But Leander didn't hear him-his
soul had fed from it's mortal tenement
nd he'd scared rejoicin' to realms NV
everlastin' bliss.
"He is no more," SEE Dock Wilson.
methaporically.
"Then who are his heirs?" asked that
mean critter Higgins.
1--WE be-" seq the family.
do you conformity and severely &C.
knowledge and assume the obligation
Of deceased to me ?" he asked 'em.
What obligatory" asked Peasley
Hobart, stern like.
Deceased died OWN me FIR a cyclo-
pedy!" sez Higgins.
That's lie!" SEE Peasley. 1--WE all
seen him pay you for the II"
But there's another one to come"
sez Higgins.
"Another?" they all asked.
"Yes, the index!" seq he.
So there WIZ, and I'll be eternally
burned if he amt a'suin' the estate in
the probate court now FIR the price NV
it!-St. Louis Republic.