Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-18

liiC ilihSlo plOISSu, 81 dill diIt Ou W
do, Spragg, is to take the greatest care
of the child, until I come to you in the
morning. and to keep the whole transac-
ton profoundly secret"
But [ must tell julia
"Who is Julia?''
"Oh! my-my servant. always tell
her."
ooh! indeed! Call her in then: I
must judge how far she is to be trusted.
Shall I ring?'
"No-no stop. II always call her.
Julia don't like to be rung for. Julia
Julia. Ahem! Juliar'
Stop" [ said. "I perhaps might
trust you, but won't trust Julia. Just
tell her to get me a post-chaise, if she
can, and then you need make no explana-
ton at all. [ will take the child with
me-"
".You needn' t" said the servant. open
ing the door; 81 have heard it all, and
will take care of the child. Mr.. Spragg,
I'm quite ashamed Of YOU"
"Of me, Julia? Ashamed of your own
Spraggy-wsggy Oh, dear!''
L laughed III spite OF myself.
julia" | said, you will greatly
oblige me; and | shall be here to-mor-
row morning at halfpast seven o'clock
precisely"
The reader may be quite sure that |
was, upon the following morning, quite
punctual at my friend Spragg's, when I
found the child, to whom both he and Ju-
liza had paid the greatest attention, per-
fectly recovered.
"Now," said, q the church will be
open: and what want you to do, Mr..
Spragg, is to watch here until | call you,
with the child There is no time to lose
so 60 at once. As | tell you, think
the funeral will take place.
q know it WILL" said Julia.
Indecdn'
"Yes. l went to the Biggs' cottage,
sir, after you left here last night, and
listened at the door. | heard Biggs say
in loud voice:
* You have been dreaming, woman.
No one has been here. Look-here is
the coffin all nailed down just as when I
left it.
open it-oh! open it y she cried !;
and then he swore fearfully and replied:
The worms Will open it by degrees
in the churchyard y"
This was quite conclusive, and Just as
expected it would be: SO [ packed off
| Spragg with the child at once, and fol-
lowed myself. 1t only wanted ten min
utes Of twelve when we reached the
sacred edifce, and Spragg went inside,
while |, seeing an individual with white
handkerchief at the door, said to him:
:" Is there any funeral this morning O.
Two" he said : g Mr. Bumpus is to
be buried, and child is to be put in the
same grave, by leave of Mrs. Bumpus,
who is quite convinced the child is res
pectable.'
That's very liberal of Mrs. Bumpus, -
I said.
"Oh very, very,' he replied, without
at all perceiving that | intended paying
Mrs. Bumpus very ironical compliment
indeed
At that moment I saw John Biggs
stink into the churchyard.
''Who is that man g. | asked.
&" don't know, sir. / think he is one
of Mr.. Lanes set. They don't belong to
the church prayer meetings, you know
sir, and all that sort of thing. Very,v
bad set. Nothing like the regular parson
and the regular service. But here comes
Mr.. Bumpus."
- 4 funeral cavalcade wound its way in
at the chnrchyard gate, and almost imme-
diately following there came a man with
a child's coffin on his shoulder, followed
by one woman. That woman was Mrs.
Bggs. | could not see what sort of eX-
preston was on her face; the mourning
hood she wore entirely covered it,. but ]
could see that she shook and staggered
so much as she walked, as to be scarcely
capable Of getting along the churchyard
path.
There was a subdued sort of hustle in
the place as the remains Of the respectable
Mr.. Bumpus were brought to the edge of
a deep grave. The funeral service began,
amid whispers among the friends of Mr..
Bumpus, of what very respectable man
he was, Sc.
The service was nearly concluded,
when heard the clerk whisper to the
clergyman
Il beg your pardon, sir, but if you
pleaSe. there's a child TO he mt in the