Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-08-07


there, until call for you with The child
There is no time to lose-.o 20 at once a.
tell you, think the funeral will take
place"
al know It will" said Julia.
"fndeed ?'
ayes. wen, 10 the Bige's cottage, sir
after you lef, here last night, and listened a,
the door. heard Bigg' say in a loud
voice, "You have been dreaming woman
No one has been here. Look here is the
coffin all nailed down, as left it," "Open
i-Oh open it," she cried and then he
svore fearfuly, and replied. "The worms
will open it BY degrees in the church.yard."
This was quite conclusive, and just as
expected il would be ; so | packed of
Spragg with the child a, once, aud followed
myself. It only wanted ten minutes 10
twelve when we reached the sacred edi6ce,
and Spragg went inside, while |, seeing all
individual with white handkerchief, al the
door said 10 MIN
"ls there any funeral this morning ?'
"Two," said he "Mr. Bumpus i. 10 be
buried and a child will be put into the
same grave BY leave of Mrs. Bumpus, who
is quite convinced that the child is respecta-
BILE -
"This is very liberal of Mrs. Bumpus,"
said I.
"Oh very, very" he replied, without al
all perceiving tina, intended paying Mrs.
Bumpus very ironical compliment indeed.
Al ,ha, moment, | saw John Biggs stink into
the chnGch.yard.
"Who is tha, man ?'' said |.
Il don't know, sir. think he is one OF
MIR. Lanes set They don't belong TO the
church. Prayer meetings, you know, sir,
and all ,ha, sor, Of thing. Very bad, SIR
Nothing like the regular parson, and the reg
nlar service. Blu, here comes poor Mrs
Bumpus'"
A funeral cavalcade wound lis way in al
he church yard gates, and almos, immedI-
aley following, there came man with a
chld's coffin on his shoulder, followed by
one woman--ihal woman was Mrs Bggs.-
| could no, see what sort OF expression was
on her face, for the mourning hood she
wore entirely covered it, but could see that
she shook and staggered SO mnch as rhe
walked, as 10 be scarcely capable Of getting
on along the churrh-yard path. carefully
KEEP, ou, of her way, for she had seen me
although her husband had not. There was :
| of bt.s 10 he MIA a
coffin, containing the remains Of the respect
able Mr. Bumpus was brought 10 the edge
OF the deep grave. The clegyman made
his appearance, looking as solemn as possible
and the funeral service began, amid whispe
among the friends Of Mr.. Bumpus of what
very respectable man he was, and how sa'
thing il was that he should 90 so soon, &c
Sc The service was soon concluded, ant
then I, who stood nearly behind The parso
10 screen myself from Mrs. Bjggs, heard III
clerk whisper TO him
"a beg vonr pardon, sir, but if you Plea.
there's chiI 10 b. pnt in h" same grave
through The kirdness Of Mrs. Bnmnus."
30! very we'll. The child will te colsi
cred as included in the prayer"
The cleWvman turned aside, and one {
the grave diggers said:
"Where is the child's coffin3"
"Here,n said Biggs, and handel il int
the grave. stepped up and cast handfl
: of earth upon it.
"Dust 10 dust" said I, "ashes TO ashes"
"No no." shrieked Mrs. Biggs, THROWN
off the insignia Of morning emo, no-help
save the chld-oh, God save it It is nj
dead: only sleeps. Have mercy, mere
Are yon all sticks and stones ! say ii
child sleeps onlv-it is not the sleep
death Break open the conin-save ii-sa'
= it. Help help God-oh, God Air
=, lair-air :"
e She fell into the arms Of one Of the teri
n fed hys,anders, and her husband made
rush toward her with knife in his hand
l had jus, time TO put my foo, in his wa
Il and he fell headlong into the grave.
Ii is impossible TO give anything like
= idea of the general scene Of confusion III
!, now ensued. The people seemed to
!. panic stricken and it was not until rails
my voice TO high pitch that got he;
ing
"The child is preserved" said | n
II Spragg come forth"
Mr.. Spragg, with the child in his arm
made his appearance from the church.
'' was as white as sheet from fear, but I
;, momen, Mrs. Biges saw his little compani
; she stretched forth her arms, and an expr
sion of great Joy came across her face. S
:, tried 10 speak, but nature was overcome
- she fell corpse upon the mound of ea
- by the side Of the grave.
n Biggs was transported for life !; and h
" the happiness of restoring the child to
10 mother, who was found by an adverl
NJ ment, for Biggs would not tell her adore
m As for Mr.. spragg, | think the whole aft
had very beneficial effect upon him,
IN now and then that aiterward encounter
him, he was not above half as ridiculous
he used 10 be.