Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-11-13

Over the nameless graves,
Doth seek thee cvermorc-
TIE FALSE FUNERAL.
I never liked my uncie,s business. though,
he took ME when my father died aud brought
me up as his own son The good man had
no children. His wife was lony dead. and he
had an honest old woman for d; housekeeper.
aud hourlshing business in the undertaking
line, to leave to somebody, but he did not
leave to me, and III tell you the reason
When L had been about five years with
him, ana had grown worth my salt, as he
used to say, death occurred in our neigh
borhood, which caused greater lannentation
than any we had heard OF since my appren-.
ticeship began. The deceased gentlemen was
"a Mr. Elsworthy. The family yshad been
counted gentry in their day. j Should have.
said my uncle lived in Yorl and all the
world knows what Y orkshire families are
Well, the Elsworthys were of good family.
and very proud of 1t, though they had lost
every acre of good old estate which had be-,
longed to them time ont ofsmind / am not
sure whether it was their grandfather,s dice.
and cock hting. or their father going se-'
curity for q friend who did something wrong
una government Office, that brought them to.
WIS
where candles went further, and tea leaves
We're better used up. There was a mother
two sisters and consinswho lived with them.
The ! mother was a stately LADY, never seen
ont OF black brocade The sisters were
not over young and handsome but they
dressed as fine as they could. The cousin
was counted one of the prettiest women In
SYorshire, but she walkedswith crutch. hay
ing met with an accident in her childhood -.
Master g Gharies was the yonngest of the fam.
Ily. He was a tall, handsome dashing young
man uncommonly polite, andla great fayorite
with the ladies' 1t is said there were some
red eyes IN thetpwn, when the story got wind
that he was going to be married to the Hon
orable Miss W Westbay. Her father was yoilt,as
zer brother to the Earl of Harrowgate. and
had seven girls beside her without a penny
for one of them; but Miss Westbay was a
beauty, and the wonder was that she had not
got married long ago-being nearly seven.
years out, dancing, singing, and playing tip
top pieces tall the parties Halfa dozen
matches had been talked of for her: but
somehow they broke down one after another.
Her father was rather impatient TO see her
oil andsso were. her sisters, poor filings, and.
no wonder, for. grow mp as they might not.
one OF them would the old man suffer to come
out till the eldest was disposed.of and at last
there seemed something Ike certainty of.
that business. Young Mr. Elsworthy and
she struck up a courtship. He was tascina-
ted-isn't t that the word ---at an assize ball.
paid marked attentions at the bishop S party,
and was believed to have popped the uues.I
ton ata PIcsnie. after Lord lIarrowgat the
largest shareholder IN the Northwestern
Bank, got him promoted from clerkship 70 be
manager. 1t is true he was some years
younger than Miss Westbay, and tho people
sald there had been Something between him.
and his pretty cousin but lords neice.
with beauty, accomplishments and services
able connection, does not come IN every man S
way; so the wedding day was fxedsfor the
hfst OF January, and all the miliiners were
busy with the brides bonnets and dresses.
1t was just month to come, aud every.
body was talking of the match, when Mr.
Elsworthy fell sick. AT first they said it was
cold at last the doctor gave NO hopes. and
within the same week Mr. Elsworthy died.
The whole neighbofhood was cast into mourn
ing. A promising young man, in a manner
the only dependence of his family, newly
promoted to station of trust and Influence.
and on the eve of marriage, everybody. la
mented his untimely death, and sympathized
with his bereaved relations and his intended
bride. think my uncle lamented most of.
all None Of his customers. 70 nv knoS7I.s
/ ee'ge ever got so much of his SORROW. When.
he was sent for in the way of business. Il
struck me that he staid particularly long.
The good man could talk Of nothing but the
griefo the afflicted family ily----how the mother.
went into fits. and the erstorc their hair
how the cousin talked Of wearing nsournins.
all her days-and how il was feared that Miss
ltAYestbay who insisted on seeing him. would
never re- cover her senses The county pa
pers gave expression to the public grief.-
/ iTheresvere great many verses written about.
it's Nobody passed the house Of mourning.
without a sigh or suitable remark Ny uncle
sRperintended the making Of the coffin Us i.
hadnever seen him do any other; and when
the work men had gone home he spent hours
atnight. finishing it By himself
The funeral was 70 set cut for the farnilyi
vault. in the Minister Church at Beverly.
about three o'clock IN the afternoon 1t vas
made strictly private affair, though hundreds
softhe townsnen would have testified their
respect for the dead by accompauyin It all
the way. The members Of the family, in two
mourning coaches, and the undert ker,s
men, were alone allowed to follow poor
Elsworthy to his last resting place. and the
colin was not to be broaghl till the latest
hour. Ny uncle had got ii tsfinished TO his
mind. but evidently did not wish me TO iook
at his work He had long talk with Stsele