There are persons now living in Bennington who remember old Billy B----, of
whom it might be said he furnished an example of the "ruling passion strong
in death." When very ill, and friends were expecting an early demise,
his nephew and a man hired for the occasion had butchered a steer which
had been fattened; and when the job was completed the nephew entered the
sick-room, where a few friends were assembled, when, to the astonishment of
all, the old man opened his eyes, and turning his head slightly, said, in a
full voice, drawing out the words:
"What have you been doing?"
"Killing the steer," was the reply.
"What did you do with the hide?"
"Left it in the barn; going to sell it by-and-by."
"Let the boys drag it around the yard a couple of times; it will make it
weigh heavier."
And the good old man was gathered unto his fathers.