Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1900-10-25

I'VE had THIRTY-Two FITS OF SICKNESS"
soap, but know better. It was my
summons to 60. and l come right up
stairs and begun to git ready. It won't
disturb you much If I 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. I'll try and hold
on, though s'pose one ought to die
when the hour comes. Mebbe you've
bin thinkin that when died you'd
hev to pay out a great lot Of money
over the funeral, but want you to
know different I've never bin an ex-
travagant woman, and kin git along
with a cheap funeral. l was reckonin
it up t'other day. and was surprised
and pleased with the fggers. Do you
know, Samuel Gallup, that the hull
thing, from fust to last, won't cost a
cent over S3o?"
One Of Mr.. Gallup's eyebrows was
slightly raised in 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 $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 breathe my
last, you'll go over and rap three times
on Mrs. Watkins door. Three raps
mean that 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 IA chairs, and
Mrs. Taylor will pick out the hymn:
to be sung. Mrs. Jordan will milk
our cow and strain the milk, and Mrs
Johnson will come over and git VOW
meals. Are you listenin to me, Sam
uel?"
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, sis to move about
kinder sorrerfullike 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, you'll be kinder
sorry when Pm gone. You'll remember
how made one teakettle last IA years
and how allus made the tea and sugar
last longer than any other woman IL
town. shan't ask you to break dowr
and weep. Samuel. but if was 70,
I'd shed tears. ! not only deserve 'em
but all the folks will be watchin yo,
to see If you are affected. You've go
six handkerchiefs almost as good a.
new, and you won't run short even i
you shed tears from both eyes. Don
you think I'm right, Samuel?"
She wiped her tears and held bacl
her sobs and waited for reply, bu
none came. Mr.. Gallup was readin:
how the life of a man who had fallel
on pitchfork had been saved b,
Persian stomach bitters, and his ear
were closed.
"As to buryin me in the back yard
Of course you kin do as you thinl
best. In one way it will save you S.
and in another it'll take up grount
fur cabbages You'll marry ag'in, o
course. and your second wife will wan
hammock out under the trees. Meb
be she'll object to my grave. If l. wa