His grandfather, his mother's father, had been in a similar condition for years before his death.
People called that to mind, and so did Barney.

"He's goin' to be the way his grandfather Emmons was," the men said in the store.

Barney could dimly remember that old figure bent over almost on all-fours like a dog; its wretched, grizzled face turned towards the earth with a brooding sternness of contemplation.

He wondered miserably where his grandfather's old cane was, when he should be strong enough in his pain-locked muscles to leave his rocking-chair and crawl about in the spring sunshine.

It used to be in the garret of the old house.