Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1902-11-15
JIMS REINCARNATION

Sarah ShawS death. lie sat upon
box hidden from the street by lilac
bush His attitude was that Of one
who mourns. but the expression Of his
face was that OF triumph. strcnuously
subdued- A hand was placed on bis
shoulder presently. but he did not look
up.
Yes. Martha be said.
Wont you come in and have a bite
20 eat, Jim? Benjamin's here. and
we'd best arrange about-the funeral"
The worm stood up and threw back
his shoulders.
made all the arrangements. Mar
tina. before you came"
His sister gazed at him. n bcwildcred /
expression In her eyes. her tongue tied /
with sudden amazcment. Brother Jim /
had actually gone ahead and done |
something on his own responsibility.
Jim Shaw. seeing her wonder. under |
stood smiled.
yes. Martha: 1 think III look after
my own affairs now" There was an
instants hesitation. and ne cleared his
throat norvously. then sat down on the
box again "Forty-three years come
next Saturday Sally and me lived to-
Cether without ever a hitch worth
mentioning. We fought our battles
acainst the world side 10y side, at least
as close as q smart woman like her
and a dolt like me could She was al
ways a little ahead OF me. Any one In
this village n tell you she was the
emartest of us two. She had what's
called executive ability. She went
ahead and done things. didn't It's
been town talk for forty years
Don't you think folks exaggerated
some. BenT'
Exaggerated Land. no, Many the
time has she throwed her head back
and said 10 me. James Shaw. twas
the good Lords providence that you
married NE. II you hadn't. I don't
know what would have become II you.
s'pose she suffered considerable along
OF my shiftlessness. Poor sally"
Twas only her way. Jim
81 know Il. amt layin' it up gains'
her. 'Twould have killed her long
ahead OF her time II anything had hap
pened TO make her believe she wasn't
holdin' up everything ou Ler shoulder
TO keep IL from fallin' down anC
smashin me. But she knows now
She's gone where there amt no mists.'
Jim glanced at the silent house. thel
at the great red barn beyond the appl
orchard.
Most all there Is 20 life" he re
sumed after an interval. ''is thinkin
you've done the things you've though
OF doin-. Take the barn there 20
instance. one day Crimson lac me
u1e on the road goin' 10 the crcamcr
and says 10 me. i hear you're eoin'
have a new barn. shaw Who wa
tellin' youy ! asks him. Ny wife
saws ne. with a sort OF snicker. 81
was at the Social Hour meetin' yeste
day. and she heard your wifc say 50
Then ] reckon it's true says / an
drove on.
"'Twan't no news 10 me. Two dan
before that ia completed & little Dc
I'm timber that had cost me la the ens
neerin' OF II more than six nights
bad sleep Sally didn't know nothi
OF IT, I'd kept it from her. Ian
knows. she had a big enough load
carry without bein' burdened with 4
my business troubles. l had the pri
OF Il new barn right in my inside ve
pocket when / brought up thu subje
that day. sally says l. 1 reck'
we've got 20 have a new barn.
I'VE heard you say these five year
SAYS she. and well I'm aware. Ji
Shaw that we'll never get ~ til
ahead and do IL myself
II let on 10 be P'iled then, and / sa,
We'll. why in tunket don't you 90
and do tE And she drew herself |
like she always did when ! spoke
that aggravatin' way. and her ey
snapped and her lips set firm over
teeth I just viii. you shiftlesS ma
eays she. And she did. That bar
a monument 10 her executive abili
Martha. She went and seen the c
penter. and he come and seen me. a
the barn was built. Land. sho "
proud"
one OF the gnaried. knotty bar
reached down and plucked white {
yer blossom. The woman said no
ing. but her gray eyes were brimml
with an ineffable tenderness.
And twas the same way with 10
everything we done. Martha. TIL
ain't no harm IN sayln' il now.
won't be here Long, sad lye got
hump myself 10 get the credit ths
dus me. she had il all for more II
q forty years. and ! thank the bles
Lord she never saw through the dee
1 was practicin' ON her. In
afraid Im a sort of a scribe and III
isee. Martha. Long at the last ! v
ried considerable for fear I'd bust
and spoii IL all 'Twan't no easy II