"Sill was a good fellow and a ginerous," said Tom Gladding, wiping
away a tear, with the rough sleeve of his coat.

"He was a clever fellow, was Sill," added another.

"I've known him more than once," said Tom, "give half his fish away to
a poor family. Josiah tried to make everybody comfortable."

"When I was sick, a year ago," said one of the men, "and the neighbors
thought I was going to die, Josiah set up many a night with me, when
he had to work all the next day for his wife and children. I had no
notion, then, he'd have to go afore me."

"It's true what the primer says," said another--

"Xerxes the great must die,
And so must you and I."

"It don't need the primer or Xerxes either to tell us that," said Tom.
"Now, it looks kind o' hard to have a young man like Josiah go; but,
seeing as how he must die, sometime or other, I guess it don't much
consarn him whether it's to-day or to-morrow, when you think of
etarnity. Howsoever, it's no use standing here sniveling; so, let's
get on. Miss Sill will be glad the body's found, though it will 'most
kill her to see it."

Thereupon, Tom and his friends took up the corpse, and pursued their
way to the village.

Armstrong stood still, and looked after them till they were out of