"'He 's got to die anyhow,' says Dock Brainerd; 'an' I don't suppose the beans 'll make any diff'rence.'
"'That's the way I figger it,' says Dock Smith; 'in all my practice I never knew of beans hurtin' anybody.'
"So Sary went down to the kitchen, an' brought up a plateful of hot baked beans. Dock Smith raised Bill up in bed, an' Dock Brainerd put a piller under the small of Bill's back. Then Sary sat down by the bed, an' fed them beans into Bill until Bill could n't hold any more.
"'How air you feelin' now?' asked Dock Smith.
"Bill did n't say nuthin'; he jest smiled sort uv peaceful-like, an' closed his eyes.
"'The end hes come,' said Dock Brainerd sof'ly. 'Bill is dyin'.'
"Then Bill murmured kind o' far-away-like (as if he was dreamin'), 'I ain't dyin'; I 'm dead an' in heaven.'
"Next mornin' Bill got out uv bed, an' done a big day's work on the farm, an' he hain't hed a sick spell since. Them beans cured him! I tell you, sir, that beans is," etc.