Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-09-01

MINITS."
apron. "I've had rheumatic fever,
consumption and heart disease. and
many and many time I've expected
TO go, but | have never felt like this
before. My heart goes funk. funk.
funk, my lungs seem to be hitchin
around, and now and then my breath
shuts off on me the same as if l had
got caught in hole In the fence. Mrs.
Watkins was took this very way be-
fore she died, and so was Mr.. Comfort.
1t may come tonight or it may be de
layed till tOmOrrer, but within day
or two I'll be 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, Samuei-that
is, can't | hate TO 90 before I've
made the soft soap and put up the fall
pickles. but can't help myself. 1t
was SO WITH Mtran T Eaaady ia and was all
ready to dye rags fur new carpet, but
when Gabriers horn sounded she had
TO spread her wings. You'll miss the
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
scratch his heel through his sock. but
he was dumb. Mrs. Gallup looked at
him through her tears for a time and
then choked down a sob and said:
"Well, if you don't miss me l can't
help it. I've allus had hot water ready
when you wanted TO wash your feet,
and you've never found me without
stickin salye 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 wore the same bonnet
and shawl fur q years and that
allus made a pair Of shoes last three
years. Haven't done purity well all
things considered"
Mr.. Gallup might have agreed with
her, but if he did he didn't say so
aloud. He crossed his legs the other
way and scratched the other heel, and
when Mrs. Gallup could restrain her
tears she observed:
81 amt leavin this house the way
some wives would. Samuel. When |
am gone. you'll find your shirts and
socks and everything in the usual
place, and you won't have to sew on
button. I'll even scald out. the teapot
and scOur out the dishpan if | have
time. II angels can hook down from
heaven, then | want to hook down and
see that I've left everything in order.
1 want to ask you about angels, Sam
uel. Are they all old or young angels.
or are they sorter mixed up2 VIII |
be set back 80 or 40 years, or will be
an old woman angelo
She looked directly at Mr.. Gallup
and waited for reply, but he was
reading how to make a hammock out
of a -four barrel, and he paid no heed
60 the question.
"And are all angels purity. Samuelp'
she continued after awhile. give new
er been purity since l was a baby and
fell out Of tho winder. 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 6y around If was, know
I'd make up faces at some Of 'em.
VIII i be changed In the twinkhn Of
an eye and made as purity as tho rest
Of 'emr'
Something like smile fitted over
the face of Mr.. Gallup, hut 1t was prob
ably caused by the article he was read
ing.
"And about the music, Samuel?
can't play on no harp without lessons.
l have never even seen harp. When
we was first married. | used to play
on the accordion fur you. but II was
awful poor playln. and you soon got
sick Of it. Is It goin TO be expected
that kin fly right up TO heaven and
begin playin on a harp the very first
thing? If il is then ! dunno as
want to die. never could a-bear havin
folks laugh at me. And the singn,
Samuel the Singin. My voice rs crack
ed, and sing through my nose. and IS
that gOin to Go up there? | S'pOSe /
could walk around with a robe on and
talk and visit. but l can't sing nor
play, and they needn't expect it Sam
uel, shall we talk about whether you'd
better take Il second wife or not?
Sometimes think you had, and some
times | think you hadn't. What do
you tbint"