260 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



coction of herbs and potions, is hastily summoned to the bedside ; and 

 the unfortunate man would probably be left to perish without intelli- 

 gent advice, unless the pastor, hearing of his illness, takes it upon him- 

 self to send for the nearest physician. 



By the time the doctor has arrived, the illness has made rapid 

 strides, and most likely the assistance comes too late. The first care 

 of the doctor on entering the room will be to remove the warm fur cap 

 and the heavy blankets, which are well-nigh stifling the patient, and 

 order him to be undressed and comfortably laid in his bed. He pre- 

 scribes cooling compresses, and a medicine to be taken at regular 

 intervals, but shakes his head and gives little hope of recovery. 



Already this death is regarded as a settled thing in the village, for 

 many of the gossips now remember to have heard the owl shriek in the 

 passing nights, or there has been an unusual howling of dogs just about 

 midnight. Others call to mind how over-merry the old man had been 

 four weeks ago, when his youngest grandchild was christened, and that 

 is ever a sign of approaching death. " And only a week ago," says 

 another village authority, " when we buried old mother Barbara, there 

 was an amazing power of dust round the grave, and the Iferr Vater 

 sneezed twice during his sermon ; and that, as every one knows, in- 

 fallibly means another funeral before long. Mark my words, ere eight 

 days have passed he will be lying under the nettles." 



The village carpenter, who has long been out of work, now hangs 

 about the street in hopes of a job. " How is the old man ? " he anx- 

 iously inquires of a neighbor. 



" The pastor has just gone in to knock off the old sinner's irons," 

 is the irreverent answer. 



"Then I may hope to be called in soon for making his coat (coffin). 

 High time I was able to turn an honest penny again. I have a heap 

 of damaged boards which were refused by the railway engineers still 

 lying on my hands." 



Sometimes, however, it is the thrifty peasant himself who, knowing 

 the ways of village carpenters, and foreseeing this inevitable contin- 

 gency, has taken care to provide himself with a well-made, solid coffin 

 years before there was any probability of its coming into use. He has 

 himself chosen out the boards, tested their soundness, and driven a 

 hard bargain for his purchase, laying himself down in the coffin to 

 assure himself of the length being sufficient. For many years this 

 useless piece of furniture has been standing in the loft, covered with 

 dust and cobwebs and serving perhaps as a receptacle for old iron or 

 discarded shoes ; and now it is the dying man himself who, during 

 a passing interval of consciousness, directs that his coffin should be 

 brought down and cleaned out, his glassy eye recovering a passing 

 brightness as he congratulates himself on his wise forethought. 



Death is indeed approaching with rapid strides. Only two spoon- 

 fuls of the medicine prescribed has the patient swallowed. " Take it 



