Chapter XXXVII: Another Death in the Old Brown House

It was late in the month of December when Little Wolf received from Mrs. Tinknor the following sad account of the Death Angel's visit to the old brown house:

"My dear child:

What I am about to write will give you great pain, for I know
how dearly you loved poor old Daddy, and how it will grieve
you to hear that you will never see him again in this world.
He died on the morning of the fifteenth, after a short
illness of ten days.

"Tom had been down on a visit and returned saying that Daddy
was complaining of rheumatic pains, and he was much worse the
day he left, and his wife was much concerned about him. As
Tom urged it, I went down hoping to cheer up the old couple.

"When I arrived I found Daddy confined to his bed, and
groaning with pain, while his wife and Fanny and several of
the neighbors, were flying about, applying hot fomentations,
and a variety of liniments. (It is astonishing how many busy
feet one sick man can keep in motion.)

"I immediately sent for Dr. Goodrich, although Daddy's wife
mentioned to me in confidence, that a 'parcel of old women
were worth a dozen doctors who killed more than they cured;
and Daddy himself managed to gasp out, ''Tween you an' me,
Miss Tinknor a leetle good nussin is the most I need. Doctors
can't cure rheumatiz.'

"However, he looked forward very anxiously to the Doctor's
arrival. When he did come and prescribed the free use of
brandy, all of Daddy's prejudices were at once aroused, and
no persuasions could induce him to use 'the devil's pison
outside or in.'

"I believe had he been stretched upon the rack he would have
died rather than yield the point; for to the last, he adhered
firmly to his total abstinence principles, and at the
eleventh hour he entered his master's vineyard.

"It was beautiful indeed to witness the ministrations of
little Fanny. From the first of his illness she wept over and
prayed for him, and taught him, who had gone all his life
long a hungry prodigal, the way to his Father's house. I
never shall forget those lessons, which so sweetly fell from
her childish lips and the joy that beamed in her speaking
face, when Daddy at length appeared to have a clear
understanding of her teachings.

"''Tween you and me, Fanny, you've pinted straight this
time,' said he one day, after having listened a while to her
conversation. 'It's all plain now--I see my Father, I see my
elder brother, the Lord Jusus interceding for me--I see the
table spread, and I ain't had no hand in the spreadin of it.
He'll hev to reach down and take me jest as I am, and he'll
du it--I'm sartin of it, cause Fanny, you know it is said
_whosoever_. That are _whosoever_ is the _comprehendest_ word
in the hull Bible. Miss Peters pinted it out to the Honey,
and the Honey told me about it jest afore I started fur
Recta, and some how it went into one ear and out 'tother.
Howsoever, I could see the Honey was a heap changed by it,
though it don't take away nun of her pretty.--She was more
tenderer like, and when she spoke tu me about it, the tears
cum into her bright eyes, jest like the pearls sot around the
diamonds in her ring. I'm kinder thinkin we shall talk that
are matter over when she comes back.'

"Up to the last day he was hopeful of getting well, and none
of us felt specially concerned about him. The doctor came
and went with words of cheer, and I was making preparations
to go home, when the unexpected summons came. His pain seemed
suddenly to change to the region of his heart, and I heard
him say to Fanny, ''Tween you an me, Fanny, the pain is in my
heart. I believe I'm called fur, and I ain't done no good in
the world yet. My temperance lectur didn't amount to nothin.
I'm glad I never delivered it, fur it ain't got none of
Jesus's love in it, and men du need the Almighty's lovin hand
in that are thing. Fur it's the devil's pison and mighty hard
to fight agin. Wouldn't the Honey be glad though, if she knew
what a fine man that are Sherman is since he give up drinkin.
Tell her that poor old Daddy blessed her with his dyin
breath. Call Recta, Fanny.'

"I sprang to his bedside, and in a moment Recta was there
also. The dying man took my hand and thanked me for all my
attentions to him, and then his eyes rested tenderly upon his
wife. He tried to speak, but a spasm of pain checked him, and
Recta bent low to catch the words. He pointed upwards, threw
his arms around her neck, and was gone.

"We buried him at the left of your parents beside mammy, and
when I left a mantle of soft, white snow was flung over all.

"I brought Fanny home with me, and Recta is living with Dr.
Goodrich's family. Having previously been so many years their
servant, she is much attached to the doctor's wife and Edward
Sherman.

"Edward Sherman was very attentive to Daddy during his
illness, frequently riding down with the doctor and remaining
until his next morning's visit. There is certainly a striking
change in his appearance. I honor him for the
straight-forward, high-minded course he has of late taken.
Having learned his weakness before it was too late, it has
become to him an element of strength, and his influence over
his associates speaks well for his future usefulness.

"We all long to see you again, Fanny in particular wishes for
your return every day, although she seems quite content with
us, and is a great favorite with Tom, who amuses himself by
plying her with difficult questions, which she patiently
puzzles her ingenious little brain to answer.

P.S. I obtained permission of Recta to send you Daddy's
temperance lecture, with the request that you carefully
preserve and return it to her."