Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-10-04

afflicted family--how tho mother went in
to fits and the sisters tore their hair-how
the cousin talked of wearing mourning all
her days-and how it was feared that Miss
Wcstbay. who insisted ON seeing him,
would never recover her senses The
country papers gave expression to the pub
lie grief. There were a great many vers-
es written about it. Nobody passed the
house of mourning without u sigh or suita-
bic remark. My uncle .superintenlcd the
making of the coffin, as | had never seen
him do any other; and when the workmen
had gone home he spent hours at night,
finishing it by himself.
The funeral was to set out for the fami
y vault. in the Minister church at Beyer-
". about three o'clock in the afternoon
1t was made a strictly private affair, though
hundreds OF the townsmcn would have
testified their respect for the dead by ac-
companYing it all the way. The members
OF the family in two mourning coaches and
the undertaiicrs men, were alone allowed
to follow poor Elsworthy to his last rest
Ing place and the coffin was not to be
brought till the latest hour. Ny uncle had
got to finish it to his mind, but evidently
did not wish me to look at his work. He
had long talk with Stecl. and Stonellam
two OF his most confidential assistants in
the work shop, after hours. and they all
vent away looking remarkably close. All
was III train, and the funeral to take place
next day. when, coming down his own
stalrs-they were rather steep and mar
row, for we lived in one of the old houses
of York, my uncle slipped, fell. and broke
his leg | thought he would have gone
inad when the doctor told him he must not
attempt to move or mind any business for
weeks to come. and tried to pacfy him
by Offering to conduct the funeral with the
help Of Steele and Stoneham. Nothing
would please the old man; | never saw
INN SO tar out OF temper before. He
sWorc at his bad luck, threw the pillows at
his housclieeper, ordered her to bring MP
the key OF the work shop, and kept i'll fast
clu;ched i'll his hand. | set up with him
that night. In II couple of hours he grew
calm and sensible, but could not sleep.
though the house was all quiet, and the
lionSckccper snoring in the corner. Then
he began to groan. rs if there was some
thing worse than broken leg on his mind,
aud Tom, said he, haven't | been al
ways kind to YOU :
No doubt OF it uncle.
Well Tom, want You to do me a
great seryiee-a particular service, Tom.
and I'll never forget it of YOU. You know
Mr.. Elsworthy's funeral comes of to-mor-
row al ,. and they re very high people
Never fear. uncle; I'll take care of it
as we'll as if you were there yourself
Il knew You would Tom, | knew you
would. | could trust YOU with the hears
q
mutcs | don't know your equal. Bit
there's something mere TO he done. Come
over beside me. Tom; that old woman
don't hear well at the best, and she =
asleep now, and no mistake. Will You
promise me and his voice sunk to a
whisper-that whatever You hear or see.
you viii make 10 remark to any one living.
and be cautlnus as y0n can about the
body ! There's no foul play, said he,
for began to look frightened; but may
be this leg Il ,julgment for taking such
business. HoWsoinever, I'm to have three
hundred pounds for it; and you'll conduct
it property. and give me your solemn pron-
Use. know you'll never break that.
Uncle, said |, I'll promise and keep
it too; but yoa must tell me what it Is
Well, Tom, and he drew u long breath
Its living man you're going to put in
that coffin in the work shop! ! have made
it high and fell of air holes he'll lie quite
comfortable. Nobody knows about it but
Steele. Stoncham and yourself; They'll 20
with You. Mind you, trust no one else.
Don't look SO stupid, man can't vou un-
dcrstand. Mr.. Elsworthy didn't die at all,
and never had brain fever; but he wants to
get off from marrying Miss Wcsthav, or
something of that sort. They're taking a
quccr way about it, must say, hut these
gentecl people have ways Of their own.-
1t was the cousin that prepared my mind
for ii in the back parlor; that woman is up
to anything. | stood out against havin,
hand in it, til | heard that the sexton of
! beverly Church was q poor relation OF
theirs. The key of the coffin is to he Civ
en- to him; 1t will be locked, no. screwd
down. You see and when al's over at the
.vanlt-it will be dark night by that time.
for We don't move till three. and these De-
ccmber davs are short he'll come and
help Mr.. Elsworthy out, and smuggle him
oil to Hull with his son, the carrier.-
I There's ships enough there to take him
anywhere under a fcigncd name.'
Gould he get off the marriage no easier!
said |, far the thought of taking a living
man in Il hcarsc, and hearing the service
read over him, made my blood run cold.
You see was Young then.
There's something more than the mar
riage in it, though they ddn'. tell me-
Odd things will happen in my business and
this is one OF the qaecrcst. But yoa' II man
age it Tom, and get my blessing. besides
your half of he three hundred pounds and
don't be afraid Of anything coming wrong
to him, for never saw any man look so
like Il corpse
| promised my uncle to do the business
and keep the secret. a hundred and fifty
pounds was no joke to Il yonng man begin
ming the world in the undertaking line;
and the old man was So pleased with what
he clllcl NV sense and understanding,
that before falling asleep, close upon day
break, he talked of taking me into partner
ship, and the jobs we might expect from
the IIaTogate family; Tor the dowager
countess WAS near four score anl two OF
the young ladies' were threatened with de-
cline. Next day, early in the afternoon,
Steele, Stoneham, and | were at work.
The family seemed duly mournful. sup
pose on account OF the servants. Mr.. Els
worthy looked wonderfully we'll in his
shrona ana if one had hot looked close III
to the coffin they never would have seen
the air holes. We'll. we set ont, mourn
iny coaches. hparsc and all through the
yellow fog of December day. There was
nothing but sad faces at all the windows
as we passed heard them admrng
St.nl. and StannlOan for the fcplin,r hnarts