Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1915-05-07
CHAPTER x-Continued.

II told yer I never could stand 1t
here amongst all these drafted women
folks" Abe would declare. "It's all
your fault that didn't 60 to the poor
house in peace"
Il notice yew didn't raise no objec-
lions until yewd lived here year"
Angy would retort; but ignoring this
remark, he would go on:
TITS Brother Abe this an
Brother Abe that, as eff had thirty
wives a-pesterin' me instid of one. !
can't kill fly but it's Brother Abe,
femme bury him fer yew.' Do yer ali
think be baby?" demanded the old
gentleman with glaring eye. II guess
I'm able ter do somethin' fer myself
once in while. hain't so old as some
folks might think" he continued with
superb inconsistence. II be q mere
child compared with that air plagued
Nancy Smith,"
It took very little to exhaust Angy's
ability for this style Of repartee. and
she would rejoin with tender but mis-
taken efforts to soothe and comfort
him:
"Thar, thar. father! Don't git ex-
cited now. Seems ter me ye re q
beetle bit feverish. Ell only yew'd take
this here tansy tea"
Abraham would give one exasper-
ated glance at the tin cup and mutter
into the depths Of his beard:
"Tansy tea an old women! Old
women an tansy teal Tansy tea be
durned"
Abe failed perceptibly during the
summer, grew feebler as the autumn
winds blew in, and by November he
took to his bed and the physician of
the home. little whiffet of pompous
idiot, was called to attend him. The
doctor, determined at the start to
make a severe case of the old mans
aff1iction in order that he might have
the greater glory in the end. be 1t good
or bad, looked very grave over Abra-
hams tongue and pulse. prescribed
medicine for every half hour. and laid
especial stress upon the necessity OF
keeping the patient in bed.
xxumUu6s 6iOWACu tuc SeCT6lly
terrified invalid, and in an excess Of
bravado took his black silk necktie
from where 1t hung on the bedpost ant
tied 1t in a bow-knot around the collar
of his pink-striped nightshirt, so tina
he would be in proper shape to receiv,
any Of the sisters. Then he lay yer,
still, his eyes closed, as they came tiI
toeing in and out. Their tongues wer
on gentle tiptoe too, although not 8
gentle but that he could hear them az
vising: One, good, stiff mustar
plaster" one, an "onion poultice;" al
other, q Spanish blister" while Aur
Nancy stopped short of nothing les
than "old-fashioned bleeding" AT
lay very still and wondered II the
meant to kill him. He was probabl
going to die anyhow. so why tormel
him. Only when he was dead,
hoped that they would think MOI
kindly Of him. And so surrounded y
alone, the old man fought his seer
terror until mercifully he went
deep.
When he awoke there were the 81
ters again; and day after day thu
spent their combined efforts in keepiI
him ON his back and forcing him
take his medicine, the only appreciab
GOOD resulting therefrom being Il
fact that with his tax upon their dev
ton the old ladies came once more
regard Abe as the most precious pe
session of the Home.
What eff he should die?" they VIII
pered among themselves. repenta
enough of their late condemnation
him and already desolate at t
thought Of his leaving this little hav
with them for the great haven" ov
there; and the whisper reaching t
sickroom, Abe's fever would rise, VIII
he could never lift his lashes except