The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-08-23


his customers, to my knowledge, ever got
so much of his sorrow. When he was
sent for in the way of business, it struck
me that he stayed particularly long. The
good man could talk Of nothing but the |
grief of the afflicted family-how the |
mother went into fits and the sisters tore |
their hair-how the cousin talked OF
wearing mourning all her days-and how |
it was feared that Miss Westbay, who IN |
sisted on seeing him, would never recover |
her senses. The county papers gave eX-
pressions to the public grief. There were |
great many verses written about 1t No |
body passed the house of mourning with |
out sigh, or suitable remark. My |
uncle superintended the making OF the
coffin, as | had never seen him do to any
other; and when the workmen were gone
home, he spent hours at night finishing 1t
by himself
The funeral was to set out for the tami
" vault III the Minister church, at Beverly,
about three o'clock in the afternoon. 1t
was made strictly private affair, though
hundreds OF the townsmen would have tes-
titled their respect for the dead hy accom-
panying it all the way. The members ct
the family, in two mourning coaches, and
the undertakers men, were alone allowed
to follow poor Esworthy to his last resting
place, and the coffin was not TO be brought
till the latest hour. My uncle had got it
finished to his mind, but evidently did not
wish me to look at his work. He had
long talk with Steele and Stoneman, two
of his most confidential assistants in the
workshop, after hours, and they went away
looki ing remarkably close. All was in train,
and the funeral to take place the next day,
when, coming down his own stairs-they
were rather steep and narrow, for we lived
in one OF the old houses of Iork-my un-
Gle slipped, fell, and broke his leg. l tho't
he would have gone mad when the doctor
told him he must not attempt to move, or
mind any business for weeks to come, and
| tried to pacify him by Offering to conduct
the funeral with the help of Steele and
Stoneman. Nothing would please the old
man; never saw him so far out OF temper
before. He swore at his bad luck, threw
the pillows at his hOuseAeeper, ordered ME
to bring him up the key OF the workshop,
and kept it fast clutched in his hand.
sat up with him that night. Ia a couple
Of hours he grew calm and sensible, but
could not sleep, though the house was all
quiet, and the housekeeper snoring in the
corner. Then he began to groan, as if
there was something worse than broken
leg on his mind, and Tom" said he,
"haven't | always been kind to you!"
''No doubt Of it, uncle" said |.
DWELL, Tom, / want you to do me
great service-a particular service, Tom,
and I'll never forget it to you. You know
II r,,,,,,,1 a.,
row at three, and they are very high peo-
pie"
'sNever fear, uncle; I'll take care of it
as well as if you were there yourself
| II knew you would, Toni knew you
would | could trust you with the hears
! ing Of an earls coffin; and for managing
mutes, | don't know your equal But
| there's something more to be done. Come
over besides me, Tom; that Old woman
/ don't hear well at the best, and she's sleep
! ing now and no mistake. VIII you prom
! ise me"-aud his voice sunk to whisper
-.'that, whatever you hear or see, you'll
make no remark to any livirg, and be as
cautious as you can ABOUT the body? There S
| foul play" said he, for | began to look
! frightened; ''but maybe this legs a judg-
ment for taking on such business. How
/ somever, / IN to have three hundred pounds
for it; and you'll get the half, Tom, the
full half, if you'll conduct it properly, and
give me your solemn promise. | know
you'll never break.
"Uncle," said |, '.Tll promise, and keeE
it too; but you must tell me what 1t is. ,
"Well, Tom, and he drew lons
breath-.its a living man you're going tc
put in that coffin in the workshop: I've
made il high and full Of holes he'll lie
quite comfortable Nobody knows abou
it but Steele and Stoneman and yourself
they'll 90 with you. Mind you trust NJ
one else Don't look SO stupid, man; can
YOU understand? Mr.. Elsworthy didn'
die at ALL and never had brain fever; bu
he wants to get off with marrying Mis-
Westbay, or something ofthat sort. They r
taking "a queer way about it, must say
but these genteel people have ways Of thei
own. 1t was the cousin that prepared m
mind for it in the back parlor; that VIC
man up to anything. | stood out agalns
having a hand in it TIL | heard that til
sexton of Beverly Church was poor rel;
ton OF theirs The key of the coffin is
; be given to him it viii be locked, and ut
E screwed down, you see; and when. all's owe
at the vault-it will be dark nightly ths
' time, for we don't move till three, an
! these December days are shcrt--he'll coa
I and help Mr. Elswortby out, and smusgl