The Old Gentleman of the Black Stock (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897. Excerpt: ... EX In my time of tribulation I began to think of many persons and things which I had rather forgotten in the times of my prosperity, and among them was old Mr. Basham Miles. I had not seen him on the street the whole fall, as I generally did at that season of the year, and one day I asked William about it. He told me that he was at home ill; he had come back from the country sick, and had been confined to his room ever since. "Fact is, suh, I's mighty troubled 'bout him," said theold servant. "Heain'tgittin' no better: jes gittin' punier an' punier. I don' b'lieve he's gwine to last much longer." This was serious, and I questioned him as to what the old gentleman did. "He don' do nuttin', sep' set dyah all day in de big cheer," he said. "He use' to read--read all de time, night an' day; but he don' eben do dat no longer." "Who is with him?" "D'ain' no-body wid him, suh. He won' have no-body. He never wuz no han' for havin' folks 'bout him, no-how, strange folks expressly; he wouldn' even have a doctor to come to see him, after old Doctor Thomas die. He used to come sometimes. Since den he wouldn' have no-body; but me and Jane got him to le' me go and ax Doctor Williams to come an' see him, an' he say he pretty sick, an' gi' him some physic, but he wouldn' teck it, suh. He say he gwine die anyhow, an' he ain't gwine take no nasty physic. He got de bottle dyah now in he room, an' it jes full as 'twuz when I bring it from de drug-sto'." I said that I would go and see him. "Yes, suh, wish you would; maybe he would see yo', and maybe he won't. He mighty fond o' you. He won' see many folks. Several ladies been to inquire after him, and Mrs. Miller, she an' annur lady too, sen' him things; but he won' see no-body, an' he won' eat nuttin. I's right smartly troubl...