Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-09-29

GIVE HAD THIRTY-Two FITS OF SICKNESS. -
| soap, but I know better. 1t was my
| summons to go, and l come right up
stairs and begun to git ready. 1t won't
| disturb you much if L die tonight, will
| it?"
Mr.. Gallup didn't reply. He had
| found the moons last quarter and was
| deeply interested.
I've never bin no hand to make you
| trouble. Samuel she continued, and
shan't begin now. If you'd rather
I'd die in the daytime. Ill try and hold
on, though 1 s'pose one ought to die
when the hour comes. Mebbe you've
bin thinkin that when l died you'd
hev To pay out great lot of money
over the funeral, but / want you to
know different. I've never bin an ex-
travagant woman, and I kin git along
with a cheap funeral. l was reckonin
ii up tother day, and l was surprised
and pleased with the figgers. Do you
know, Samuel Gallup, that the hull
thing, from fust to last, won't cost a
cent over S3OY'
One of Mr.. Gallup's eyebrows was
slightly raised in a Questioning man
ner, but he made no verbal reply.
only $50, Samuel, and that includes
one of the best lots in the graveyard.
If you wanted to bury me out in the
back yard, the cost would be reduced
to SO, and l don't think any husband
on earth kin complain of that. There
are wives who'd kick ag'in bein buried
in the back yard, but 1 shan't say n
word. And I've arranged other things
fur you. Samuel. While you've bin
busy with politics and lawsuits I've
bin arrangin fur death. In about an
hour from now, when I breathe my
last, you'll go over and rap three times
on Mrs. Watkins door. Three raps
mean that 1 hev scared away. and
she'll be over in ten minits to take
charge. Then you kin go right to bed
and go to sleep, same as usual. The
funeral will take place the day after
Mrs. Green will lend you ii chairs. and
Mrs. Taylor will pick out the hymns
to be sung. Mrs. Jordan will milk
our cow and strain the milk, and Mrs.
Johnson will come over and git your
meals. Are you listenin to me, Sam
uelf"
If he was. there were no signs of It.
He had got through with the moon
and passed on TO the medical testi-
monials. and he seemed TO be reading
with bated breath.
"All you'll hev to do" she continued
after a sob or two. lis to move about
kinder sorrerfullike and shed a few
tears. I've had 81 fits of sickness
since we was married. and sometimes
you've had to hire the washin done
fur me; but. after all, you'll be kinder
sorry when I'm gone. You'll remember
how 1 made one teakettle last IA years
and how l allus made the tea and sugar
last longer than any other woman in
town 1 shan't ask you TO break down
and weep. Samuel. but If 1 was you
I'd shed tears. 1 not only deserve 'em.
but all the folks will be watchin you
TO see If you are affected. You've got
six handkerchiefs almost as good as
new, and you won't run short even IL
you shed tears from both eyes. Don't
you think I'm right. SamuelT'
She wiped her tears and held back
her sobs and waited for a reply. but
none came. Mr.. Gallup was reading
how the life Of a man who had fallen |
on n pitchfork had been saved by
Persian stomach bitters, and his ears
were closed.
LAS to buryin me IN the back yard.
of course you kin do as you think |
best. In one way il will save you IS, |
and in another it'Tl take up ground |
fur cabbages. You'll marry ag'in. of |
course, and your second wife will want |
9 hammock out under the trees. Meb- |
be sheu object 70 NY gaze. 4 was