The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-11-03
THE DAILY EMPIRE.
THE FALSE FUNERAL


brought me mp as his own son. The good
man had no children. His wife was long
dead; and he had an honest old woman for
a housekeeper, and flourishlng busine
IN the undertaking line, Go leave to some
body, but he did not leave it TO me, and III
tell you the reason.
When had been about five wears with
him, and had grown worth my salt, as he
used TO say, death occurred In our neigh
borhood, which caused greater lamentaifon
than any we had heard OF since my appren-
ticeship began. Thedeceased gentieInad WAS
q Mr.. ElswOrthy. The family had been
counted gentry in their day. | should
have said my uncle lived In York, and all
the world knows what Yorkshire families
are. Well. the Elsworthy's were Of good
family, and very proud of IL. though they
had lost every acre of good old estate
which had belonged 10 them time out of
mind. am not sure whether 10 was their
grandfther's dice and cock-flghting. or
their fathers going surety for friend who
did something wrong In a government
Office that brought them to this poor pass
but there was no house in all York where
candles went further and tea leaves
were better used up. There was
mother, two sisters, and cousin
who lived with them. The mother was
4 stately lady, never seen out of black
broeado. The sisters were not over young
or handsome, but they dressed as fine az
they could. The cousin was counted one of
the prettiest women in Yorkshire, but she
walked with crutch, having met with an
accident In her childhood. Master Charles
was the only son, and the youngest of the
tAmily. He was n tall, handsome dashinu
young man, uncommOnly polite, and a
great favorite with the ladies. Ii is said
there were some red eyes In the town.
when the story got wind that he was going
to be married to Honorable Miss Westbay.
Her father WAS younger brother to the
Earl of Harrowgate, and had seven girls
beside her, without a penny for one Of
them but Miss Westbay was beauty, and
the wonder was that she had not got mar
ried long ago-belng nearly seven years
out. dancing, singing, and playing tip-top
pieces at all the parties. Half q dozen
matches had been talked of for her, but
somehow they broke down one after
another. Her father was rather impatient to
see her off; and so were her sisters poor
things aud no wonder, for, growup they
might, not one of them would the old lian
suffer to come out till the eldest was dis
posed of. and at last there seemed some
thing like n certainty of that business.
y oWng MIR. Elsworthy and she struck up
courtship. lie WIS lascinatcd-isn't that
The word Pat an assize ball. paid marked
attentions at the bishops party, and was
believed 10 have popped the question at
picnic, after Lord Harrow gate, the largest
shareholder IN the North Eastern Bank
got him promoted from clcrksbip 10 he
manager. It's true he was some years
younger than Miss Wcstbay. and people
said there had been something between
him and his pretty con in; but n lords
niece, with beauty, accomplishments and
u serViccable connection does not come III
every young mans way so the wedding
day was liked for the first of Urinary, and
all the millncrs were busy with the brides
bonnets and dresses. rut.
It was Just month 10 come. and every
body was talking of the match. when Mr.
ElswOrtliy fell sick. AZ first they said It was
Il cold then Il turned to a brain fever: no
last the doctor gave no hopes, and within
the same week Mr., Elswoltly died The
whole neighhOrhood was east into mouru-
ing \ promising young man, Ia "A manner
the only dependence Of his family, newly
promoted to u station OF trustand Influence.
and OF the eve of marriage, everybody La
mcnted his untimely death, aud sympathiz-
ed with his bercaycd relations and his in
tended bride. ! think my uncle lamcnted
most of all. None of his customers, to my
knowledge, ever got so much of his sorrow.
Whom he was sent for In the way of busi-
ness, il struck me that he staid particular
ly long, The good man could talk of moth
ing but the grief of the afflicted family
how the mother went into fits, and the sis
ters tore their hair-how the cousin talked
of wearing mourning all her days-and
how it was feared that Mrs. Westbay, who
insisted ON seeing him, would never re-
cover her senses. The county papers gave
expression TO the public GRIEF. There Mere
u great many verses written about It, No
body passed,the house OF mourning without
n sigh or n suitable remark. My uncle su >
perintended the making of the coffin, as
a Ia 4.
the wOrkmon had gone home he spent hours
at night, finishing it by himself, u. I-...
The funeral was TO set out for the family
vault, i'm the Minister church mt Beverly
abont three o'elock In the afternoon II
was made u strictly private affair. though
hundreds of the townsmen would have
testified their respect for the dead by ac-
eompanyin it all the way. The members
OF the family In two mourning coaches,
and the undertAker's men, were alone allow
ed to follow poor Ellsworth TO his last rest
ing place, and the coffin was not TO be
brought till the latest hour. Ny uncle lad
got IL finished to his mind, but evidently
did not wish me 10 look at his work. He
had long talk with steele aud Stoneman.
two of his most confidential assistants, IN
the workshop after hours, and they went
away looking remarkably close. An was
in trim, and the funeral 10 take place the
next day, when coming down his own
stairs--thcy were rather steep and mar
row. for we lived IN one of the old houses
OF Iork--ny uncle Slipped, fell. and broke
his leg. I Thought he would have
gone mad when the doctor told him he
must not attempt to move or mind amy
business for weeks to come, and tried 10
nacify him by offering to conduct tile nl-
neral with The help of Steele and Stone-
man. Nothing would please the old man;
/ never saw him so far out of temper be-
fore. He swOre at his bad luck. threw tho
pillows at his housekccper. ordered me to
bring him up the key Of the workshop. and
kept Il fast clutched in his hand. ! set up
with him that night. In a couple of hours
he grew calm aud sensible, but could not
sleep, though the house was all quiet. and
the hOusekeeper snoring ia the corner.
Then he began 10 grOan, as IL there was
something worse than a broken leg on his
mind, and ''Iom,n said he, "haVen't been
always kind 20 youY
mo doubt of it, uncle" said |, ..,
SWELL Tom, want you to do me great
servioe--a particular service, Tom. and III
never forget II to you. You know Mr..
Elswerthy's funeral comes OF tomorrow
at three, and they re very high people,
'Neyer fear, uncle; N take care of It as
well rs ii you were there yourself" '
II knew Won WOULD Toni knew Ixou