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Show Life's End Sometimes Welcomed as Friend I went ln where he sat groaning beside his fire on a warm spring day. and I said. "What makes you do that grandfather." "Do what?" "Groan like that." "Groan?" he said. "When did I groan ?" "Just now. For that matter, you do it dozens of times a day." "No I" he said, and he seemed surprised sur-prised "Do I? I think you must be mistaken." Then he looked dreamily at his tire for a moment, seeming to forget both me and my questic u. "Oh. ho. ho. ho. ha. hum I" he said. "Therel You did it just then, grandfather. I'idn't you know it?" "I believe I did pr..su tle'ti." he s;:ld. Terhnt-i you're right. Yos. I suppose you must bo." "i'on't yo-,i feel woii" 'Well? ' Yos. I'm not ill." "Then why do you pr.::n so often?" "It rmt be." he ar.wore I t'.or.ght-fully. t'.or.ght-fully. "it mu.-t he because I'm not d-nd." That startled r.u "Gee,! g: n, l I" I cried. "You c.-u't '-: i" die. d you?" I 1 might ss we'.! hr.vo K.-.-n !::: ! i by a s-arlr.- man's ..: ' : -' '"' '- r.e'r-M soul; h'.:t I ti.lr.k he may hav been ;.-r.:; :e-i to call ;:.; an Idiot. . "I'on't I. though?" he said testily., "What do you imagine I want to stay like this for? Byes alnxist useless, teeth gone, hearing bad, legs bad. lack bent, fingers too warped nnd shaky to serve me and till "f nie useless to any one. to myself inoM of all. 'I'on't want to die!' What on earth do you mean?" Prom "The Golden Age" by I'.otth Tarkingtou. |