Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-09-30
Poor JOS Death.

The narrow bigots who so little share
the intense humanity of Christ that
they cannot appreciate its spirit in
Charles Dickens, and know only that if
he is Christian, they are not, ought to
be treated to course of New Testament
reading in alienation with the Dickens s
novels, from the Old Curiosity Shop
through the long list. They would not
find in literature more exquisite embod-
iments of the gospel than this man has
given, if they could only bring the eyes
to see it. For only one touch thereof,
read from Bleak House about the DEATH
bed of poor Joe:---
After watching him closely little
while, Allan puts his mouth very near
his ear, and says to him in low distinct
voice.
"Joe F! did you ever know prayer"
Never knowed nothink sir"
"Not so much as one short prayer?"
"No, sir. Nothnk at all. Mr.. Chad
bands he was a-praying wunst at Mr..
Sangsby's and l heered him, but he
sounded as if he wos a-speaking to his
self and to me. He prayed a lot, but l
couldn't make out nothing on it. DIFF
ferent times there wos other genlmen
come down Tom All Alones prayin,
but they all mostly sed as the t'other
wuns prayed wrong, AMI all mostly
sounded to be a-talking to themselves, or
passing blame on the t'others, and not
a-talking to us. We never knowd no.
think. / never knowed what it was all
about"
1t takes him long time to say this;
and few but an experienced and atten-
tive listener could hear, or hearing, un-
derstand him. After short relapse in !.
to sleep or stupor he makes, Of sudden,
a strong effort to get out of bed.
"Stay Joe. What now? p
It's time for me to go to that there
berryn ground, sir" he returns, with
wild look.
"Lie down, and tell me. What bur-
rying ground, Jo?'
Where they laid him as wos very
good to me, very good to me to indeed.
he was. It's time for me to go down to
that there berryin sir, and ask to be put
along with him. wants to go there and
be put along with him. l wants to go
there and be berried. He used for to say
to me, 1 am as poor as you to-day, Jo,'
he ses. 1 wants to tell him that | am
as poor as him now, and have come to
be lain along with him."
"By-and-bye, 10. By-and-bye.'
"Ah! P'raps they wouldn't do it if
l wos to go myself But will you prom
ise to have me took there, and laid along
with him."
az will, indeed"
"Thank' 'ee sir. Thank'e SIR They'll
have to get the key Of the gate afore
they can take me in, for its allus locked.
And there's step there, as / used for
to clean with broom. It's turned very
dark, sir. Is there any light a-comin ?"
as is coming fast, Jo."
Fast. The cart is shaken all to pieces,
and the rugged road is very near its
end
Jo, my poor fellow
~ hear you, sir, in the dark, but I'm
a-gropin-let me catch hold of your
hand"
"Jo, can you say what I say?"
"I'll say anything as you say, for |
knows it's good" ~
sour Father"
"Our Father! yes that's very good,
SIR"
(Which art in Heaven"
(Which art in Heavens the light
comm, sir ?"
cit is close at hand. HalIowed be
Thy name."
"Hallowed betty
The light is come upon the dark be-
nighted way. Dead
An apothecary's boy was lately sent
to leave at house box of pills, and at
another six live fowls. Confused on the
way, he left the pills where fowls should
have, gone, and the fowls at the pills
place. The folks who received the fowls