Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-08-07
= GbrilIiuo 5krttI).
THE CHILD's COFFIN; Or,
A MYSTERY EXPLAINED AT A FUNERAL

In q recent reprint OF book Of English
stories, entitled IS cond rirs Of the Dia-
ry of London Physician" we find the
following thrilling narrative:
was coming home one night from at
tending a patient who resided at HrndOn,
and who promised not TO be long Tor this
world, when, as | crossed a stile which led
me into the high road, after making which,
| had a near cut across some fields, heard
words of contention between man and d
woman. 1t was an autumaal evening, and
twilight was fast disappearing, yet there
was sufficient 10 enable ne to see the figures
of two persons, who were intent upon
their quarrel TO see me- as they passed the
stile, particularly as | paused and drew
back little.
"You shall carry it," cried the man, with
brutal oath, You shall carry it. ! know
we'll that if don't take care that you have
a good hand in it, You will be- preaching
upon the whole affair SOM OF these days"
"Oh! john, John, am lll-so ill.,"
"l'l be hanged. Come on. I's an eX-
cuse. You don't like 10 carry a coffin,
but YOU shall"
"l-l am faint, John. I do not know
what it is that has come over me, but-I-
am very faint and i'll. Oh, if this should
be some Judgment OF God. Oh John, lct
US repent"
"SiIence, will you? D--n it--how
do know but some one may be listening
Give me the coffin. Confound You, won
you come on ! wish had the buying o
your own coffin, instead of the chid'S.-
Come on, will you! What, you will Ii,
down, will you! Take that, then"
heard a blow or a kick given; and
commenced whiStling with all my might a
tramped on after them with quick step
This had the effect Of stopping any furthe
violence, and all was still Till reached tn
spot where the man and the woman were
The latter was upon the ground, while tn
man bad an odd shaped bundle Of some
thing upon his shoulder, which was S
well disguised, that il had not, from thei
previous conversation, known it was a cot
fin, | certainly should not have at all re
cognized il as 50 dismal an object.
"a fine evenings" said-"halloa! any
thing amiss ~
"Oh dear-God bless you-no sir,
said the man, in a canting voice-''th
Loid be good TO uS-no, sir. It's my wife
bless her heart -shr's a little tired or so
that's all. Come old woman, get up. Tn
Lord will help YOU"
The woman struggled TO her feet, an
tottrred on with difficulty.
Good evening, SIR" said the hypocritt
cal scoundrel; "good evening, thank yc
sir"
+ "Oh Pm going your way," said I.
He paused a moment.
"Oh :" said he; ''to Hampstead, sir,
, suppose. Come old woman, keep up
Think Of the Lord, and cheer up"
"Parily to Hampstead," said I, "an
}. partly not. It's a bracng night, ain't it
! have come across the fields, and do n,
2 know much about here. Is that publ
u house Z"
IS eyes, sir. This is a resort of sinner
If called the "Bull and Bush" All, sir,
prople would think of their immortal stat
ID 1t would be better Tor all. Why-wh
Nd OLD woman, can't you get onl Dear, dea
re The Lord help u.s."
20 Bot for the offered assistance Of nv arr
tn" woman must have fallen. Dim as II
- light was, | could see vexaiion depictpd
: the mans face; and he shifted ii be coli
ri first on TO one shoulder and then on 10 #
n other, to see il he could not MANAGE
no no help the woman without me, but tha,
II. took good care he should not do; and
Il. said
on "She seems very i'll, indeed. I W
re help you to your own door, if you are
OF going far"
=. ,s "But we are going far" said he, ct
10 Lord willing"
" "Oh, WE'LL" replied /, "never mind
have plenty Of time"
There was no such thing as getting
- Of me- without a quarrel, and that he see
ed to b. afraid Of; SO we all walked on
;cS silence for some distance down daIk to
ess ing, and then down another, untI we ST
ped at the door OF cottage, when
said
On "Good night, sir-good night. We
" at home now. Good pight. The /
Ia NTH cir