GOOD-BY, JOE. 6l 



of natural leaf, with a cherry-stem attachment, 

 could make me : when suddenly my reveries were 

 slightly disturbed, and the book fell from the mad- 

 am's hands, as Charlie repeated the question, wh ; ch 

 he at first pronounced as if thinking aloud, 



"Do you expect to die a natural death?" 



Now, of all subjects in the range of my thoughts, 

 this was about the farthest removed ; and, though 

 in some situations this was a question which might 

 very naturally have been asked, it fell like a thun- 

 derbolt in our midst ; and I, recovering my wan- 

 dering senses, Yankee-like, answered his question 

 by asking another : " Why ? " 



" I was only thinking : travelling as much as you 

 do, and tumbling about as you are in the habit of 

 doing, that it would be a wonder if you should not 

 some day break your neck, run off the track, or 

 drown yourself." 



"Thank you for such interesting reflections in 

 regard to my earthly exit. As for the latter, I don't 

 believe that fate is ordained for me, as three times 

 I have been overboard, and once'remained so long 

 in the water that those most interested in my fu- 

 ture existence had about given me up. The old 

 adage, ' A man that's born to be,' c., you know ; 

 and, as for a sudden death not being a natural 

 death, in a great many cases of course it is, and 



