The Grit-advocate., 1903-11-20
AoEN. ELL, he's goin' at Last" said
WV Mrs. Deacon Milman. "and
Q vN| . I'm sure I'm glad Ov it."
Y ~ Going. is he:" said 81

"S~ IucoIl- HeT tdll stepSOu, WHO
taught district school, and had just
dropped in for n social chat Poor old
man. declare it's pity
Il don't think So" said Mrs. AIilman,
sharply. Folks haven't no business
to live to be SO old as Methusaleh.
declare if I'd a knowed he was to live
with us I'd ha' thought twice afore l
married Deacon Milman"
Simeon said nothing. but there was
something in the expression of his face
as he sat spreading his ten huge fingers
before the blaze of the beech logs, that
intimated his own inward conviction
that it would have been just as well IL
Miss Rachel Snapp had known the dis
agreeable fact before she consented to
become the second Mrs Milman.
'"There amt no tellin' the trials I've
had with him." went on Mrs. Milman,
shaking her cap borders dolefully.
II wouldn't undertake it then" said
Simeon, dryly. do you suppose he
will last through the night:"
"Oh, he can't, no way in the world.
I've sent for Bethiah Jones to come to-
morrow and clean and whitewash the
room and as for that old rack o furni-
toor. the three chairs and the pine
desk, and the bureau. I mean to have
'em split up for kindlin' wood before
The deacon comes back. He'll be just
foolish enough to want TO keep 'en,
and won't have no such Noah's ark
trash about my house"
That's most Il pity. amt it," said
Simeon, who was engaged to Il pretty
little applc-cheelcd village girl, and
viewed the far-of possibility of going
to housekeeping" as Moses might have
viewed the Promised Land.
They're awful rickety old things"
said his stcpmothcr.
But they're furnitoor. Ill the same"
pleaded Simeon. land somehow it
seems to me as if I'd like to keep lit
tie something to remember old Percy
Milman by, even if he amt no nearer
relation than my second cousin. He
used to be real good to me when was
little tow-headed boy. Come, step
mother. I'll give ye dollar for the lot
of EN-
''Well," said Mrs Milman. reflective
ly, "it's worth that to git the plaguy
things carted off the premises. You
may have 'em, Simeon
II don't suppose they're worth
much" said Simeon, 'but it seems a
pity to split 'em up. And now I'll so in
and see the old man."
Old Percy Milman, lying on the bed
from which he was destined never to
/ arise again, had listened to the whole
j, conversation, plainly audible through
( the board partition, merely papered
over, that separated his apartment
from the family sitting room, for dying
man though he was. he yet retained
every faculty.
"Shc's glad to get rid O me-" he
= thought, lnourrfully, while panS
went through the heart whose pulsings
were we'll nigh at an end. well.
faint so very strange. neither, as
knows on, but Rachel A1ilman always
was Il sour. cold-heartcd woman. ST.
neon shall have the furniture-rll give
it to him myself afore the end comes.'
And when Simeon came in on tiptoe
the old man looked briskly up.
"You needn't step so gingerly. boy:
nin't asleep. Snuff the candle. and set
down aside of me; want to say n
word or two to ye. And tell Rachel to
come in, too"
"Oh, dearw said Mrs. Deacon Mil
man, when the old mans request was
made known to her. "I'll bet he wants
n bowl O. herb tea made or lot o.
fresh cruel boiled. I've been on my
feet all day, but sick folks never have
any consideration"
"Rachel," said the old man abruptly.
"I've been thinkin' about that ere old
furniture O. mine" Mrs. Milman cast
n consciously guilty look across the
patchwork quilt toward her stepson.
Its old-fashioned, but it's good, and
I've made up my mind to give it to ST.
Neon"
I'm sure thank you kindly. Cousin
Percy" said Simeon, awkwardly, While
Mrs. Milman looked confused.
There's some old things in the bu-
reau drawers, and the cushions for the
cheers-they're all Simeon's, too, y
added Percy AIilman. Mind, Rachel,
all"
'I'm sure, he's welcome" said Mrs.
Milman, tossing her head. Il don't
want none O. the old trumpery.'
But you shall have the dollar just
the same" said Simeon, i'll whisper
to his stepmother
For Sim was always good to me,
added Percy Miman. dreamily, IAN
amt one to forget if l be old. No.
amt one to forget
And the old man fell asleep. never to
wake again in the world, whose wilder
ness he had trod so long and so sadly.
Simeon cartcd away the antique fur
niture the day after the funeral. and
Mrs. Milman ran after him with the
old moreen cushions which had beel
forgotten.
"Hare Simeoni" she cried in her