Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-11-23

self.
The funeral was to set out for the family
vault in the Minister church at Beverly,
stout three O'clock in the afternoon. 1t
was made strictly private affair, though
hundreds of the townsmen would have
testified their respect for the dead by ac-
companying it all the way. The mem
bers of the family, in two mourning coach
es, and the undertaker's men, were alone
allowed to follow poor Elsworthy 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
Ievidently did not wish me to look at his
work. He had long talk with Steele
and Stoneman, two Of his.most confiden-
tial assistants, in the workshop, after hours,
and they went away looking remarkably
lclose. 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 York-my uncle slipped,
fell, and broke his leg l thought 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
l tried to pacify him by offering to con
duct the funeral with the, help of Stes and
Stoneman. Nothing would please the old
man; l never saw him SO far out of tenn
per before. He swore at his bad luck,
| threw the pillows at his house-keeper, or
dered me to bring him up the key of the
workshop and kept it fast clutched in his
hand. 1 set up with him that night In
a couple of hours he grew calm and SEN
sible, 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 l been always
kind to you!"
eNo doubt of it, uncle" said l.
"WelL Tom, l want you to do me a
gIeat service-a particular service, Tom,
and I'll never forget it to you. You know
how Mr.. Elsworthy's funeral comes off to-
morrow at three, and they're very high
people"
"Never fear, uncle: I'll take care of it
J as well as if you were there yourself"
81 knew you would, Toni knew you
would. l could trust you with the hears
ing of an earPs coffin; and fol. managing
mules 1 don't know your equal. But
t there's something more to be done. Come
over beside me, Tom; that old woman
don't hear well at the best and she's sleep
, ing now, and no mistake. Will you
promise me"-and his voice sunk to a
whisper-'that whatever you hear or see,
: you'll make no remark to any one living,
and be cautious as you can about the
, body! There's no foul play" said he, for
l began to look frightened; 'but may be
this legs judgement for taking on such
business. Howsoever, Pm 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. l know you'll never break that. "
"Uncle," said l, "rll promise and keep
it too; but you must tell me what it is.
"Well, Tom"-and he drew a long
breath-"its living man you're going to
, put in that coffin in the workshop
have made it high and full of air-holes;
he'll lie quite comfortable. Nobody knows
, about it but Steele and Stoneman and
yourself; they'll 60 with you. Mind you
trust no one else Don't look so stupid,
man; cant you understand, Mr.. Elsworthy
r did't die at all, and never had brain fever;
J but he wants to get off from marrying Miss
f Westbay, or something of that sort.
. They're taking queer way about it,
! must say; but these genteel people have
8 WAYS of their own. 1t was the cousin
e that prepared my mind for it in the back
: parlor; that woman's up to anything. |
| stood out against having hand in it, till
/ | heard that the sexton Of Beverly Church
/, was poor relation of theirs. The key ot
). the coffin is to be given to him, it will be
S locked, not screwed down, you see; and
: when alps over at the VAULT will be
dark night by that time, for we dom
Y move till three, and these December day:
a are short-he'll come and help Mr.. Els
worthy out, and smuggle him off to HUI
v with his son, the carrier. There's ships
enough there to take him anywhere under
l
. feigned name"
# "Could he get off the marriage ne
n easierl 2" said l, for the thought of taking
r living man in hearse, and hearing the
r services read over him, made my blooc
:, run cold. You see l was young then.
n "There's something more than the mar
L riage in it, though they didn't tell me
It Odd things will happen in my business
y and this is one of the queerest- But you'll
Y manage it, Tom, and get my blessing, be
S sides your half of the three hundred
+ pounds; and don't be afraid of anything
e coming to him, for l never saw any maj
e look so like a corpse"
II l promised my uncle to do the business
r and keep the secret A hundred and fifty
: pounds was no joke to young man be
:. ginning the world in the undertaking line
n and the old man was so pleased with wha
he called my sense and understanding
: that before falling asleep, close upon day
:, break, he talked of taking me into part
+ nership, and the jobs we might expec
g from the Harrowgate family; for the dow
q aper countess was near fourscore, and two
/ of the young ladies were threatened witt
S decline. Next day, early, in the after
noon, Steele, Stoneman and l were a
: work. The family seemed duly mournful
:. | suppose on account of the servants. Mr.
it Elsworthy looked wonderfully well in hi
:; shroud; and if one had not looked clos
d into the coffin, they never would have
!. seen the air-holes. Well, we set out
o mourning coaches, hearse and all, through
n the yellow fog of December day. Their
/ was nothing but sad faces at all the win
vt dows as we passed; heard them admir-
}, ing Steele and Stoneman for the feeling
!, hearts they showed; but when we got ou
i on the Beverly road the cousin gave us ;
y sign and away we went at rattling pace
: L.