<TITLE>20. Par 62-63</TITLE>L-62 She said, "You remember that time you wanted to go hunting so bad, and we was at Louisville. You seen that little .22 rifle that you wanted? And it cost three dollars and something to pay down on it, and you didn't have the money to pay on it? It's been about two years ago?"
I said, "Yeah, I remember that."
She said, "Bill, I've always wanted to buy you that rifle." She said, "I won't be with you but just a few minutes longer now." But she said, "When you go home, look up on top of the old folding bed under that paper. I've been saving nickels to buy the rifle." She said, "Will you promise me you'll buy it?"
Oh, my. When I went home and found that two dollars and something laying under there, like to killed me. I said, "Sure." But I said, "Honey, you're not going away."
She said, "I--I hate to leave you." But said, "I must." She said, "I don't mind it." She said, "It's all right." Said, "Now, another thing I'm going to ask you. Don't stay single."
I said, "Oh, oh, don't ask me that."
Said, "Promise me. Promise me that you--that you won't stay single, my children will have a home to go to, not be drug around everywhere."
I said, "Honey, I--I can't do that."
And she said, "Promise me, won't you?" Said, "I--I--I can go a little easier."
And she didn't mind it no more than you mind taking a drink. She said, "I--I just..." Said, "I hate to leave you and the babies, but," she said, "oh, Bill, it's so wonderful to go like this."
And I said, "Well, I will do the best I can."

L-63 And she said, "Another thing." She said, "You realize why I'm going, don't you?" Oh, that's what hurt. She said, "If I wouldn't have listened to mama, and...?... would listened to..." Said, "It would've been different, wouldn't it."
I said, "That's right, honey." I said, "Oh, what will I ever do?"
She said, "Do this. Don't be ashamed of this Holy Ghost religion." She said, "It's the greatest thing in the world to die by it." She said, "Stay and preach as long as..." Said, "Promise me you'll go right out into the fields where we was supposed to go." And said, "Promise me that you'll do everything you can." Said, "And tell everybody, that it's glorious when you get ready to leave here. It's wonderful."
And I said, "Oh, honey. It's so good to see you go like that."
And she said... I--I said, "Where do you want me to place you?"
And she said, "You take me up on the hill."
I said, "I will take you out to Walnut Ridge, and I'll--I'll bury you there at the hill, your body." And I said, "Honey, I promise you, I'm going, if God won't... spare me, I'm going right out into the field, and I'll never stop until the last drop of blood or life is gone from my body, to do, or try to make an atonement." And I said, "I'll do everything that I can to live right; I'll do right." And I said, "Look."
And she said, "Good bye."
And I said, "Are you going?" I said, "Look, on that morning," I said, "so we'll be able to get together now," I said, "i--if... On that morning, I want you to go to the East side of the gate," and I said, "I want you to stand there. And when...?... It'll be terrible down here." I said, "If--if I die before He comes, I will be sleeping out there." I said, "We'll get together. But if I'm somewhere on the field and be taken up," I said, "you go there and wait for the children, and stand there by the side of the gate. And then when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob coming in, start screaming, 'Bill, Bill, just as loud as you can." I said, "I'll answer you there."
She raised up her feeble hands. I kissed her good bye. That was my last date with her. I'm on my road. That's right. Someday, someday, I shall go.


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