The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-08-21


soap, but / know better 1t was my
summons to go, and l come right up
stairs and begun to git ready 1t won't
disturb you much If die tonight win
itY"
Mr.. Gallup didn't reply He had
found the moons last quarter and was
deeply interested.
"Pye 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 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 cheap funeral. | 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 $30T'
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 l don't think any husband
on earth kin complain of that There
are wives who'd kick agin bein buried
In the back yard, but | shan't say
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 hymns
to 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
uelr'
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 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 I'm 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 in
town. | shan't ask you to break down
and weep Samuel, but If was you
I'd shed tears. | not only deserve 'em,
but all the folks will be watchin you
to see If 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 I'm 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 man who had fallen
on a pitchfork had been saved by
Persian stomach bitters. and his ears
were closed.
''As to buryin me In the back yard.
of course you kin do as you think
best In one way 1t will save you $5,
and in another it'll take up ground
fur cabbages. You'll marry ag'in, of
course. aud your second wife will want
a hammock out under the trees. Meb-
be she'll object to lay grave. II was
your second wife. | wouldn't object to
your first wifes 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 ought
to- OF course | could come back as a
ghost and roost on the footboard OF
the bed and keep you awake nights,
and could hide down cellar and skeel
you most to death when you come
down after cider, but I'm not that kind
of woman. Right here and now !
want to tell you that I'll never haunt