76. RULING PASSION
There are persons now living in Bennington who remember old Billy B——, of whom it might be said he furnished an example of the "ruling passion strong in death." When very ill, and friends were expecting an early demise, his nephew and a man hired for the occasion had butchered a steer which had been fattened; and when the job was completed the nephew entered the sick-room, where a few friends were assembled, when, to the astonishment of all, the old man opened his eyes, and turning his head slightly, said, in a full voice, drawing out the words:
"What have you been doing?"
"Killing the steer," was the reply.
"What did you do with the hide?"
"Left it in the barn; going to sell it by-and-by."
"Let the boys drag it around the yard a couple of times; it will make it weigh heavier."
And the good old man was gathered unto his fathers.