at this was for his sake for two whole days, and in his horror of
mind he went and brought a clergyman to see her. This clergyman," says
the Honest Abe, with reverence of manner, "this clergyman was not one
of those sombre, forlorn pastors, who would make you think that it is a
grievous thing to be a priest unto your benignant Creator; he rather
indicated by his ever-cheerful manner that the only perpetual happiness
is to be found in a life of pious ministrations. When he followed my
friend Podger to the bedside, he smiled encouragingly at the sick Mrs.
P., and rubbed his hands, and says he: 'How do we find ourselves now,
my dear madam? Are we about to die this pleasant morning?' She answered
him feebly," says the Honest Abe, feelingly, "she answered him feebly,
for she was very weak. She said that she feared she had not spent her
life as she should, but trusted that the prayers she had breathed
during her hours of pain would not be unanswered. 'Ah!' said she, 'I
feel that I could suffer still more than I have suffered, for my
Intercessor's sake!'

"The moment she uttered these last words," says the Honest Abe, "the
moment she uttered these words, my friend Podger, who had been standing
near the door, the very picture of misery, suddenly gave a start,
brightened up with a look of intense joy, beckoned the clergyman to
follow him into the kitchen, and fairly danced down stairs. In fact,
the good minister found him dancing about the kitchen like one
possessed, and says he:

"'Mr. Podger! Job Podger! I am shocked. What can you mean by such
conduct?'

"My friend Podger caught him around the neck, and says he:

"'She's going to get well--she's going to get well! I knew she wouldn't
go and leave her poor old silly Job in that way. Oh, an't I a happy old
fool, though!'

"The clergyman stepped back in alarm, and says he:

"'Are you mad, sir? How do you know your wife will get well?'

"Poor Podger looked upon the parson with a face that fairly beamed, and
says he: 'How do I _know_ it? Why, didn't you hear her yourself? _She's
commenced to call me names!_'"

Here the Honest Abe smiled abstractedly out of the window, and says he:

"She did get well, too, and lived to suffer often again for Podger's
sake: You see," says the Honest Abe, turning suddenly upon the
political chap, as though he had not seen him before,--"you see, Mrs.
Podger had been so much in the habit of suffering everything for my
friend Podger's sake, th