The old lady did not seem as well as usual, and "wished heartily," she
said, that Josiah wasn't going away.
"Why, I shall be back," said he "in six days, and can come sooner, if
any of you need me."
"You should not speak so positive about it," said aunt Eleanor, "you
may never come back again."
"Oh fye, auntie, you've got the blues this morning! I shall be back
just as sure as Saturday night comes."
"Don't be too certain my boy; life and death are not in our hands; you
may be called any hour."
[Illustration]
"Now auntie, don't get gloomy about such a hale stout boy as I am;
who never saw a sick day in his life, and don't know what pain is. Why
see how strong I am," and laughingly he bent down, and lifting his
cousin with one arm and his great dog with the other, he tripped
lightly over the threshold. "There, auntie," he cried, "I could carry
off your whole establishment, almost as easy as Samson did the gates
of Gaza."
Though the old lady smiled at the moment the cloud came back again to
her face, and through the open door she watched him as long as her
misty eyes could distinguish him in the distance.
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