Amador ledger., 1900-11-09

SfvE HAD THIRTY-TwO FITS OF SICKNESS +"
soap. but / know better. 1t was my
summons to 60. and | come right up
stairs and begun to git ready. 1t won't
disturb you much if die tonight, will
itT'
SIR. Gallup didn't reply. He had
fonnd the moons last quarter and was
deeply interested.
I've never bin no hand to make you
trouble. Samuel" she continued. "and
I shan't begin now. If you'd rather
I'D die In the daytime. I'll try and hold
on. though l s'pose one ought to die
when the hour comes. Mebbe you've
bin thinkin that when died you'd
hev to pay out q great lot of money
over the funeral, but l want you to
know different. I've never bin an ex-
travagant woman, and l kin git along
with a cheap funeral. ! was reckonin
II up t'other day. and I 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 $30Y'
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
10 $25. and 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 ! shan't say a
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 l breathe my
last. you'll go over and rap three times
on Mrs. Watkins door. Three raps
mean that l hev scared away, and
she'll be over in ten minits to take
charge. Then you kin 60 right to bed
and go to sleep. same as usual The
funeral will take place the day after.
Mrs. Green will lend you IA chairs, and
Mrs Taylor will pick out the hymns
10 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
uelT
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, ''is to move about
kinder sorrerfuliike and shed a few
tears. I've had 80 fits of sickness
since we was married, and sometimes
you've had to hire the washin done
fur me; but, after all, yon'll be kinder
sorry when I'm gone. You'll remember
how made one teakettle last IA years
Ind howl allus made the tea and sugar
tast longer. than any other woman In
town. 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 air the folks will be watchin you
TO see IL you are affected. You've got
six handkerchiefs almost as good as
new, and you won't run short even If
you shed tears from both eyes. Don't
you think Pm right, Samuel?"
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 q man who had fallen
pa a pitchfork had been saved by
Persian stomach bitters, and his ears
were closed. lsI
LAS to buryiH me In the back yard,
pr course you kin do as you think
best In one way it will save you SIS,
and in another it'll take up ground
ur cabbages. You'll marry ag'in, of
rourse. and your second wife will want
hammock out under the trees. Meb-
she'll object to my grave. If 1 was
your second wife. wouldn't object te
your first wife's grave, but I'm, differ
ent from most women. You'd better
think the thing over purity seriously
And there's another thing, Samuel. a
long time ago told you that If you
ever got married ag'in I'd haunt you
was mad and said more'n 1 ought
10. OF course I could come back as
ghost and roost on the footooard OF
Fhe bed and keep you awake nights
hnd I could hide down cellar and skeel
rou most to death when you come
iown after cider, but I'm not that kind
bf woman. RiGht bore. and nav !