Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-05-04

~ hope you won't always think of
me simply as of cranky old pest"
he said, with shadowy, spiritual
smile. 81 know I've jawed and raised
Ned without any occasion a good
many times, and guess you've had
pretty hard time of IL humoring me,
little girl"
Here Mrs. Jobson began to sob quite
convulsively, and she tried to deny his
self-accusations.
"Oh, there's no denying it ALL
know it," said Mr.. Jobson. "Now that
I'm about ready to make my peace
in this world, can clearly see that for
a good many years past I've been the
crankiest and along
with old nuisance in the District of
Columbia or anywhere else, but I'm
square enough to own up to it all,
anyhow, now that my end approaches,
and that's something. But hope you
won't hold it all against me after
after-well, when I'm no longer here.
There are lot of little ways in which
1 know now I might have made your
life happier, but all of us poor mortals
are more or less blind, and il is too
late now"
Here Mr.. Jobson studied the ceiling
sadly for space, while Mrs. Jobson
walked to the window and wondered
II the doctor would never come.
"Ive said a lot of things in anger
that / feel now as if 1 should have cut
my tongue out before saying" went
on Mr.. Jobson, folding his hands over
the bed coverings and looking prefer
naturally peaceful, "and I've let the
million and one little kind things
you've done for me all these years go
unnoticed and unspoken of. But never
mind. I've always meant well, and
can only hope that you'll remember
in the after years whatever few little
good traits l may have possessed, in
stead of dwelling in your thoughts up
on my meanness to you"
"Mean?" began Mrs. Jobson, Sob
bingly. "Who ever said you were"
But Mr.. Jobson waved aside with a
movement of his right arm whatever
she intended to say.
"The time is short, fear, my dear"
he said, "and there are number of
matters ought to speak of. think
/ will leave you pretty fairly provided
for. Of course, everything have goes
to you. The life insurance is all paid
up, and my affairs are in good shape.
AS l say, l have felt this typhoid COM
ing over me for some time past, and
I've been Strengthening out my affairs
n, r.trNsr CD L.
there's one thing l want to say.
You're still comparatively young
and handsome woman-no, no, no,
don't interrupts me-and I'm not such
a mean proposition as to ask you to
promise me that you'll never marry
again. 1 think that a man who'd make
his wife promise that 'ud steal sheep.
You won't want for admirers, little
woman, and nothing 'ud please me bet
ter than to have you pick out some
square, upright man-not a pesky old
crank like me-who'd take care of you
and give you much better home than
I've ever been able to provide for you,
and marry him. Of course, it would
be we'll for you to wait n proper
length of time after my"
Just then there was loud ring at
hurried downstairs, with her handker-
chief still at her eyes.
"Mercy on us!" exclaimed the old
family physician, bustling in, whats
all this? Jobson on the point of disso-
luton again, eh? Come, come, come,
this won't do! Where is the man?
I'll just look him over and have him
playing hop-scotch with the boys out
in front by tomorrow morning"
"How are you, doc?" said Mr.. job
son, when the physician entered the
room. 81 guess I'm u little beyond
you this time-typhoid, beyond
doubt, as you'll see in n minute. I've
told the little woman about it, so that
you won't have the bother of breaking
it to her. Now, I'd like to have you
tell me, as nearly as you can, how
long I've got to"
"Tush, tush! Let me see your
tongue, man." said the old medical
man, and then he produced his little
thermometer and raped Mr.. Jobson
over the heart, and put his ear to Mr..
Jobson's chest, and did all kinds of
things peculiar to medical men to Mr..
Jobson. Then he leaned back in his
chair, unfolded his features and his
voice, and emitted one long, loud
laugh, which caused Mr.. Jobson to sit
up in bed with an expression of wrath
on his face.
"say," he inquired, "d'ye think this
kind O. things exactly fitting in the
chamber of man who's about to
pass in his"
"Tut, tut!" said the old doctor, hold
ing his sides. you've a diminutive,
microscopic touch Of the grip, man,
and by tomorrow morning, if you
take what Ill leave here for you, you'll
be as right as trivet and as militant
as ever"
Mr.. Jobson turned over on his side,
sulkily, and looked at the wall. When
Mrs. Jobson tiptoed in ten minutes
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