Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-03-29

/ mat MT. Feter dodgson accepted hl:
! presence almost rs a matter of course
His attention, however, was directed tc
the anomaly by Tom Pouton's first re
mark.
Whose funeral is this o said Tom.
Peter turned dead white.
why, it's-it's yours, Tom,' said
Peter.
.Minea'
Yes, Tom-yours.'
This is scarcely place or time for a
joke, Sir said Tom sternly.
'JokeP said Peter; lis 90 joke! Did mt
you die last week.
Il! Nonsensep
well, any way, we're burying you,
Tom PouItonl'
why do you call me Tom Poulion Z
Aren't you Tom Poultoni'
Certainly not--I don't even know The
name-I happened to be passing through
the cemetery, and seeing large crowd
of mourners. joined them from motives
of curiosity
Then, Sir said Peter Hodgson, Il
never saw such wonderful likeness of
the very man we are burying in the
whole coure of my lifer
Tom glided mysteriously away from
Peter Hodgson, and made hi. way into
the throug Of mourners.
Tom? said another; why, we are
burying your
my name. Sir. is not Tom, and l have
never teen buried in nv life.'
Tom Poulton ? Tom Poulton! p Tom
PouIton's alive anil PRESENT. came from
every mouth, as the astounded Serious
Family gazed 10 horror on his familiar
but by no means vulgar features.
Gentlemen said Tom Poultou, Il
must again assure you that you are de-
ceived by an accidental resemblance.
am rot Tom PouIton, and | never heard
of him.
And with a slight bow he walked
The principal topic of conversation
that night at the meeting of the Serious
Family was the miraculous appearance
of somebody very like Tom Poulton at
Tom Poulton's funeral. 1t WAS held that
it couldn't possibly have been Tom Poul
ton, because Tom Pouton was dead and
buried, and Tom Poalton's will had
been opened, by which be left thirty or
forty thousand pounds in ready money
TO the Serious Family. This was held
by implication only rs it never entered |
any body's mind to suggest that the mys
ferrous stranger could possibly have been
Fnpi. Pegdt'"u.u Issoivcu IIsen INTO
TO consider the best means of
INVESTING or otherwise disposing Of the
landaoms legacy which Tom Poulton
had left them.
1t was decided, as first step, as a
mark of respect to poor Tom Poulton's
und scheme. every member should be
permitted TO borrow twenty four pounds
rom Toms estate.
The question then arose whether it
would be better to apply the balance to
blowing every member a reasonable
quantity of spirits and tobacco for life,
without any payment whatever, or to di
ride it equally among the surviving
course OF procedure that
would give every member, after allow.
ng for probate and execulorisl expenses,
nearly one hundred pounds each.
AS this interesting question was being
put to the meeting by Mr.. Richard Har-
is. Nr. Tom Poulton walked in.
Every body looked very uncomforta
Die. Mr.. Peter Hodgson, however,
quickly recovered himself.
Sir said he, this is private club
'oom, and strangers are not admitted un
ess they are intro luced by members
Ha, ha! said Tom; 'trayo Peterp
Sir, said another, we don't know
who you are, but we must request you 10
withdraw
ALLOW me to introduce myself said
Tom, with much mock gravity. Il am
Mr.. Tom Poulton, whose funeral you at
tended this morning. And he took a
chair AMI filled pipe.
If you imagine, Sir, that because
you bear a distant resemblance to our
poor frieRd Tom PouIton, you are justi-
led in horrifyipg his friends with high
y indecent practical joke began Peter
Hodgson.
"A distant resemblance.
"A very distant and shadowy resemb.
lance, Sir. Nothing more assure you
Don't be fool, Peter said Tom
We've had enough of this, haven't we,
Dick?'
we have, Si:.' said Dick. i must
insist on your Withdrawing Immediately
Come, COME said Tom. rather chap
fallen; it was only my joke. person.
ated poor old chap who happened to
bear my name, in order to sell you all.
Dick Harris and arranged it together;
didn't we Dick?
Sir said Dick, i haven't the flea
ure of your acquaintance. You will be
good enough to withdraw, or we shall be |
under the necessity of expelliug you by
force
And as the members of the club rose
in body with the evident intention of
carrying Dick Harris's threat into effect,
Mr.. Tom Poulton withdrew with very
blank expression Of countenance.
In order to test the feeling Of the
club on the subject, it was Immediately
proposed by Mr.. Dick Harris and second
ed By Mr.. Peter Hodgson that Mr.. Tom
Poolton xpas daad and huried The mo.