New-York tribune., 1896-11-22


Job ont
Uncle Jerry" says she, matter Oh i"e' 10
please your wife's very SICK woiiia''' oil" on
goin' to die right of. I'm AFRAID ieS' 49,
round and do somethin. and DO IL qu'o" A'"'
fust ia better step over n fe'ch '"e uo0
Uncle Jerry was wonderful took down. All Oh
a sudden he realized that his wlie was iii'a
able to him. he felt that he could not get aions
,.A,, bar robor He was as anxious 10 nave
the doctor as Mis- Hopkins was. and toid hef ~
hurry and bring him.
g. sho ,,art--ha lived near by-and she says
to him: $50
..ro.,o- c,ross NOW is vour chance to do deco
=, humanity and put a spoke in Uncle Jerry
Fosters wheel for all time. If he's got any hed
and feel,ns Won must find 'em and work Oh ~
ON, for his wife's sake 1t would be cruei "
bring her bacl, to life less you can do some'hh
IN mako that life endoorable Don't. neg on !e'
raiea her up TO live on in the same ola sKiihps'
uiserhle way. Better let her die ana oohe
with it,"
They discussed and considered over the matter
for a few minutes, then went together 10 'he
house.
They found Aunt Betsey layin jist the same
only she stopped cryn. The doctor eHa'ii''e'
her and diaggernosed her case as wei h'
cou1d then he motioned Uncle Jerry out INTO the
other room and shet the door bennd MIN.
They talked there "A good half-hour and when
Uncle Jerry came out ne looked as II lie "ee"
drawed through a 'notho.e. he iooheu i"e
~ who had becn made to "renounce the world,
tho nesh and the devil and all his stnglness 10
once" Mis- Hopkins said. laughing IN her SLEEVE
Afterward Doctor Cross give her fuii ac-
count Of that ERE interview: and 1t was interest,"
IN and as it turned out satisfactory 10 all con-
sarned.
It seems the doctor took him awful sohum ana
in dead earnest and says he. to begin WIN:
Uncle Jerry, do you set nigh vaiiy on your
wifes lfe?"
.High yally on my wife's life?' says uhcie
Jerry red in the face "Of course ue"' ""N
you talkin' about%
"cbe has been a devoted and lovin' pardner.'
zoos On the doctor calm's clock; 'she has been
kind and equinomica., nussed you in sickness
n. shared YOUR labors in health haint she?'
..yes yes, of course What in natur be you
dr,,,,n, at D" saws Uncle Jerry, gettin' excited
The doctor only waved his hand to enJine
silence and went on kinder dreamy now. as II
talkn' to himself:
"I was here when you fetched her home BRIDE
7 remember how handsome she was plump as
na,tridge. fresh as a flower, and as laughin ana
chjpper a girl as bout ever see Changed TER
rihv changed. amt she?" turnin' to Uncle Jerry
and feeln' in his pocket fer his hankchif TO wipe
awav the tears 1T does beat all how shes
changed" says he.
"Changedw says Uncle Jerry, all OF MUSTER
"of course she's changed. Why, we've been mar
riei goin' on twenty-five year! You can't expect
a woman to stay eighteen all her life.
That's So" lowed the doctor, 'pearin' TO re-
fleet But she's alwers been pretty well, halnt
she? Been able to work most o the time
"Never sick a day in her life before, except
wben Ellen was born" answers Uncle jerry
nroudlv. shes a healthy woman. call her-
"H'm YES. Has an excellent constitution no
douht" saws the doctor noddin' his head ap-
provin. Then he seemed for minute 10 nave
got lost In thought.
II know" he said at last, that FARMERS WIVES
grow old pretty fast as gineral thing' preah
down young, don't they? But. Uncle jerry
souarin' round on him suddenly and iooKih MN
in the eye II want to ask you TO compare yout
| uife's looks with the looks OF otner women Vi
bor are in town, no handsomer no heailhler IMAM
bat rS, Che was when you married her. and tell me
| ~ Won think there's difference ;.
Then he mentioned dozen or so. Jest as II
| hanpened most Of 'em slick, rat, conlioriaoe'
| hanny lookin' women. and. says ne
| Sow. they're different from your wire' ana
| why? | ask you fair and candid why shouiui' ,
she look happy. be as happy ana mar % And
p nearance every way as them women ana
| whv Is il that she has took to her BED IN the
prize O life and don't wanter live no iongsr !
! For fnS that's about the way 1t is win her'
He stOpced and Uncle Jerry set there paIe as
q ctatr' He didn't answer back WORD, jest set
thee with his head dropped down on his chs'.
as If he was stunned or somethin'. and the doc-
tor went out and left him alone
When Decor Cross went back TO Aunt Betscy
he prescribed for her-not much medicine nu'
plenty of good nussin' and good feedn vine
| and beef tea and chicken broth, TO begin Wlth
and he left 1t to Mis- Hopkins TO see that she had
'em. Then at last he leans over Aunt Betsey ana
says, real cheerful
Now, YOU must brace right up Auh' be'sey
| and try to get we'll. Your husband can't get
| along without you. noways, and guess nell
make things easy and pleasant as ne can ior
you II you'll only get we'll
| She hadn't no idea what he really meant; so
| she only smiled, kinder sad, but her great eyes
spoke volyumes She dda't wanter live-not yet
| and the doctor knew it.
When Uncle Jerry came back he went up to
| the bed and set down beside his wife and looked
| at her She was asleep, and Mis- Hopkins though:
| he must "a realized how pi;ifui she looked for
| she seen him draw his hand acrost his eyes two
| or three times on the sly.
Bimeby he got up ana went out 10 Mis- mop
| kins, and, says ne.
What was the doctors orders? What can
| do to help ye?"
"He ordered nourishn food. and wine. and so
on" she says land guess the fust thing you
| NAV kill a chicken, If you're minter and git IT
ready fer the broth; then go over to Jim Jack
sons and buy quart or so Of that Oldest grape
| wine o. his'n. She'll be awake by the time you
get back with it, guess"
Uncle Jerry didn't 80 much wink at men,
ton of the chicken, but when she spoke o the
wine so offhand and matter o course he drawed
in his breath once or twice kinder spasmodicky.
but he never opened his head.
He killed the chicken and got 1t ready fer the
pot, as spry and handy as a woman. then took
a gallon jug and started off to Jim Jackson 8
after the wine.
When the broth was ready Uncle Jerry asked
IL he might take it in: 50 Mis- Hopkins filled one
| Of the chiny bowls that was Aunt Betsey's mar s
and set 1t in plate with cracker or two, and
| he took 'em along.