The morning times., 1896-09-13

the few stray bits could remember, while
his withered hands, clamniy with death,
tried to pat juba to the words | knew
he was back again in his quarters OIL the old
plantation, and that he was happy with his
wife and pickaninnies at his side / might
have insisted upon singing hymn. tst he
didn't want hymn. He wanted what
he asked for, and / eralified his wish, be-
cause, 10 me, the wish OF the dying is law"
DIED HIS OWN WAY.
And did ne die theHa'
He died then-and died his own way"
That was your las; case, tell Ine OF your
first
That was Mary. Yes / will tell you
about Mary. because l always feel a II
my life began with her death. though it
isn't easy to put the feeling into words.
1t was like this:
"one black windy night nlne winters ago
/ was skirt-dancing my way home from
work. when. just as was blowing around
a corner. / stumbled against something
huddled against Il fence. II was a scrlp
of a woman with a bumped back, aud
when l touched her she screamed. She
had been turned from the dressmaking cs-
tablishnient where she was au apprentice.
clumsy knots in her threads.
She was without a shelter and with
out a cent to buy it, She had on "A
Jacket you could shoot straws through.
and when / got u good look at her her
body was nothing but bones. l brought
her here, and after had slipped her into
that cot and given her sCaldinC cup Of
tea. she piped out-I'll never forget it:
home, because you are So good
HER FIRST PATIENT.
Well, laughed. though knew in my
heart wanted to cry. for l was nothing
short OF diabOlical in those days, and you
can see the room for yourself For one
thing was ugly. and couldn't get recon
cilcd to il. l resented the Ia hat should
look as though nature had cut me cut at
random with Pair Of SCissurs like a cllild
cuts paper dolls, while girls DO better
than myself We're round and fresh as
Hehes.
Il hated to teach music, but l had to 90
it or starvc. / lOathed living here alone
like an ow on Il high limb. when wanted
TO be a magpie among my chattering kind.
but it was cheap and l could practice my
scales withont raising the neighborhocd,
so there was notiins to do but stay.
Il tell you l was hateful clean through,
but l was ashamed TO let the poor little
thing know what a mistake She had mlde
in me, and even pretended to like the
room.
Mary stayed with me for two weeks,
and then-then she went away. Just before
she was sent for she asked me to tell her
for the last time about her future home"
DEATH OF MARY.
1T is very happy place, Mary"
said. where you can never be poor nor
lonely again"
And you are sure, very sure. 1 shall
be an angel like everybody else?''
You will be beautiful angel with
snowy wings -
But / don't want wings" she tier
rupted, with feverish anxiety. Il want
10 walk so strai ght that all the other areels
will turn to look i t my back. You said
they would won't they"
Yes, Mary. yes
And even if they know about the puck
cred seams and the tig knots they won't
turn Inc out, will they-yo said they
wouldn't. you know"
Il told her / was sure ii would be Just
as we had talked ii over, and then. after a
bit. happy in the belief that she was gcng
to be an angel without wings, she died.
''Since that night have helped many
people to die, and they have each done it
in their own particular way. When my turn
comes know exactly the way | want to
60 and presume you do the same
Il have no set plans as yet" said the re-
porter, rising Ind feeling some way that
ii was an honor to shake the young wom-
ans hand. but If my hour comes before
yours I hope that YOU will be by to help
me to die either my own wa y or yours"