five weeks, not counting this one.

FOURTH PALLBEARER

A body don't hardly know what to think of it scarcely.

FIFTH PALLBEARER

That's what _I_ always say: you can't tell who'll be next.

SIXTH PALLBEARER

Ain't it true! Just think of _him_.

FIRST PALLBEARER

Yes; nobody woulda picked _him_ out.

SECOND PALLBEARER

Nor my brother John, neither.

THIRD PALLBEARER

Well, what _must_ be _must_ be.

FOURTH PALLBEARER

Yes; it don't do no good to kick. When a man's time comes he's got to
go.

FIFTH PALLBEARER

We're lucky if it ain't us.

SIXTH PALLBEARER

So I always say. We ought to be thankful.

FIRST PALLBEARER

That's the way _I_ always feel about it.

SECOND PALLBEARER

It wouldn't do _him_ no good, no matter _what_ we done.

THIRD PALLBEARER

We're here to-day and gone to-morrow.

FOURTH PALLBEARER

But it's hard all the same.

FIFTH PALLBEARER

It's hard on _her_.

SIXTH PALLBEARER

Yes, it is. Why should _he_ go?

FIRST PALLBEARER

It's a question nobody ain't ever answered.

SECOND PALLBEARER

Nor never won't.

THIRD PALLBEARER

You're right there. I talked to a preacher about it once, and even _he_
couldn't give no answer to it.

FOURTH PALLBEARER

The more you think about it the less you can make it out.

FIFTH PALLBEARER

When I seen him last Wednesday he had no more ideer of it than what you
had.

SIXTH PALLBEARER

Well, if I had _my_ choice, that's the way I would always want to die.

FIRST PALLBEARER

Yes; that's what _I_ say. I am with you there.

SECOND PALLBEARER

Yes; you're right, both of you. It don't do no good to lay sick for
months, with doctors' bills eatin' you up, and then have to go anyhow.

THIRD PALLBEARER

No; when a thing has to be done, the best thing to do is to get it done
and over with.

FOURTH PALLBEARER

That's just what I said to my wife when I heerd.

FIFTH PALLBEARER

But nobody hardly thought that _he_ woulda been the next.

SIXTH PALLBEARER

No; but that's one of them things you can't tell.

FIRST PALLBEARER

You never know _who'll_ be the next.

SECOND PALLBEARER

It's lucky you don't.

THIRD PALLBEARER

I guess you're right.

FOURTH PALLBEARER

That's what my grandfather used to say: you never know what is coming.

FIFTH PALLBEARER

Yes; that's the way it goes.

SIXTH PALLBEARER

First one, and then somebody else.