Amador ledger., 1900-10-12


apron. I've had rheumatic. fever,
consumption and heart disease, and
many and many a time I've expected
TO go. but | Lave never felt like this
before. My heart goes tunk, tunk,
funk, my lungs seem TO be hitchin
around, ant now and then my breath
shuts off OH me the same as if | had
got caught in hole in the fence Mrs.
Watkins was took this very way be-
fore she died. and 50 was Mr.. Comfort.
1t may come tonight. or it may be de-
layed till tomorrer, but within a day
or two Ill lie an angel. You won't
blame me fur dyin, will you, Samuel?"
Mr.. Gallup turned his paper over,
pulled In his feet and crossed his legs,
but made no reply.
Folks can't help dyin. Samuel-that
is, ! can't. | hate TO go before I've
made the soft soap and put up the fall
pickles, but | can't help myself. 1t
was SO with Mrs. Watkins. She had
the soap grease all ready and was all
ready TO dye rags fur q new carpet, but
when Gabriel's horn sounded she had
soft soap, Samuel. fur you're a great
hand to wash up, and you'll miss the
pickles, fur you love sour things, but
will you miss me?"
Mr.. Gallup held the paper in his left
hand and reached down his right to
scratch his heel through his sock, but
he was dumb. Mrs. Gallup looked at
hi
then choked down sob and said:
We'll, IL you don't miss me I can't
help 1t. I've allus had hot water ready
when you wanted to wash your feet,
and you've never found me without
stickin salve fur sore fingers. I've
nursed you through collie and sot up
with you through fever. You've never
had to tell me my bread was heavy or
the biscuit tasted of saleratus. And
when I'm laid away, Samuel, you'll re-
member that 1 wore the same bonnet
and shawl fur 21 years and that
allus made a pair of shoes last three
years. Haven't l done purity well all
things considered?"
Mr.. Gallup might have agreed with
aloud. He crossed his legs the other
way and scratched the other heel, and
when Mrs. Gallup could restrain her
tears she observed:
"I amt leavin this house the way
some wives would, Samuel. When I
am gone. you'll find your shirts and
socks and everything in the usual
place. and you won't have to sew on a
button. I'll even scald out the teapot
and scour out the dishpan if l have
time. If angels can look down from
heaven, then I want to look down and
see that I've left everything in order.
I want to ask you about angels, Sam
uel. Are they all old or young angels,
or are they sorter mixed up? Will
be set back 80 or 40 years. or will be
an old woman angelP'
She looked directly at Mr.. Gallup
Gnd waited for a reply, but he was
reading how to make a hammock out
Of a -four barrel, and he paid no heed
% the question.
"And are all angels purity, SamuelT
she continued after awhile. "I've ney-
er been purity since l was baby and
fell out of the Gwinder. but if I've got
to be an angel ] want my face made
over as soon as get up there. I'm not
goin to be p'inted our fur my homelI-
ness as fly around. If was. l know
I'd make up faces at some of 'em.
VIII l be changed in the twinklin OF
an eye and made as purity as the rest
of 'em:'
Something like a smile fitted over
the face of Mr.. Gallup, but it was prob.
ably caused by the article he was read
ing.
"And about the music, Samuel? I
can't play on no harp without lessons.
have never even seen a harp. When
: we was first married, l used to play
on the accordion fur you, but it was
awful poor playin, and you soon got
sick of it. Is it goin to be expected
that I kin fly Iight IN to heaven ans