Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 January 1878 — Her Active Mind. [ARTICLE]

Her Active Mind.

“ Yqu are going to Hie, William,” remarked a lady of energetic nature to her poor little husband. “ The doctor says you can’t live two hours.” “Very well,” responded William, in a weak Voice, but with a great sigh of relief. “Go down and blow up the servants at once,” “ Wh-w'hat?” said the agitated woman, bending over him. “Freeyour mind, Nancy, free your mind,” he gasped, feebly. “ I shall be as quick about it as possible, but I shall try your patience Blow enough to make you cheerful a couple of hours, and by that time I shall be out of the way. I shall never have another opportunity, and I want to die in peace.” “ He wanders,” said the lady to herself, scowling through her tears at some cheerful voices that stole into the room of death from the street below. “ I wonder if those pesky triflers don’t know there’s some dying going on up here. I shall speak to the policeman about this. It’s a shame that I’ve got to be worried, and worried, and worried to death when my heart is so- full of other matters that I can’t find time to think. Here I’ve “ 1 should like to comfort you,” interacted the rapidly-failing man with a faint smile of apology; “but the truth is, I’ve got so much of my own dying on hand that I can’t find the time. Bear up, my dear. I’ll call around and make a complaint to-mor—-or rather I’ll send my ghost.” “William,” ejaculated the griefstricken wrftnun, yon. Always too easy and shiftless. Always putting off till to-morrow what should be done to-day. My mother warned me of it before I married. If there’s anything I hate, it’s procrastination! If there’s anything I abominate, it’s a shiftless man.”

“Godown and give it to the servants,” said the dying man, huskily. “He wanders,” repeated the agilated woman, rising hastily to make frantic passes at a fly resting in the sunshine on the wall, “ This house is overrun with vermin from cellar to garret. It makes no difference how much I toil, and delve, and drudge, and work my fingers to the bone, and wear old clothes and look like a fright. William! if you don’t get me some exterminator to-morrow’’- “ It’s unnecessary,” interrupted the gentleman addressed, with a sad, sweet smile. “I—l guess I’ll—l’ll manage to—to go off without it.” His head fell back, and there was a strange look in his eyes. “He’s dead!” shrieked the widow, throwing herself upon the lifeless form and weeping violently. “ I had forgotten that ne was dying—l have so in this house. My poor, patient husband!” There was the sound of approaching feet. “Go away!” she screamed? “ Leave me alone with xpy dead!” A moment of silence intervened. “ Stay!” she added. “Go straight to the undertaker's. Susan, and tell him to come at once; and if he slurs this job as he has others I’ve - heard of, I’ll never give him another as long as I live. takers is so shiftless.” 'A gleam of* sunlight stole into the room and rested for a moment on the dead man’s face, “J declare!" eg.

claimed the heartbroken woman, “ I told Susan to abut the blind tight, and she hasn’t done it We shall be all covered with dust. I shall discharge that girl at once.” She put her handkerchief to her eyes, and, having found the requisite time, wept bitterly.— Hoche st er (N. Y.) Democrat.