The Van Buren press., 1871-08-01
MISCELLANY.
NV Nephew Fred. and his Two Funerals

Yes aunt. you must excuse me. "
But, Fred -
There are no butts about it, my dear
aunt. | cannot and will not be taken
down to the drawing room to night "
Then shall certainly be compelled
to excuse YOU" l replied, striving hard
to keep the tears which some way would
ill my eyes every time attempted to
reason with the fellow lying 50 helpless
before me.
Months before the opening Of this sto-
ry, Fred Travers, in attempting to ascend
scatfolding raised upo1 building OF
which he was the aseihveet, was preclpi-
tatcd to che pavement, striking Gpen bis
feet The effect was partial paralysis OF
the lower limbs. Everything that medi
cal skill could suggest was promptly at
tend to, but with very little success and
the poor fellow had about decided that
he must remain n helpless cripple the rest
Of his life | shall never forget the day
he resigned himself to his fate.
Every member of the family was re-
quested to keep out Of his room until he
signihed his desire to be visited.
About o'clock in the evening was
summoned to Frcd's department.
"W,l, said /, taking his outstretch-
ed hand, " what is IT,
"Oh, nothing, aunt; only | have had a
funeral; and the strangest part of it all
is, was chief mourner. | have buried
all ny youthful hopes and aspirations ;
and heuceforth there will be no more
sniveIng over the inevitable. ,"
Since nv nephew's accident | had not
held nv usual Wednesday evening recep.
tions; but he was now so far recovered
that | thought it best to begin again. All
nv attempts to have him make one Of the
party were useless He saw that | was
grieved, aud said, while a bitter smile
played round his handsome mouth -" 1t
would be pretty sight now, wouldn't It,
to see me, a great, strapping iellow, SIX
feet in my stockings carried by loot
man down into the pallorT'
But, Fred, Ben can take you down
before any one comes. And all my
friends know that | never entertain com
pany after eleven; so you will not be
come tired Of sitting.
My dear, precious little aunt, dom t
you sec that am not yet able to con.
quer the modification this helplessness
entails upon me? shall lie on the sofa
in the library, and you can leave the
doors open, SO that the strains OF music
will float up to me: and | shall enjoy
myself quite as much as if one OF the
crowd.
/ don't know why / was unable TO
keep my thoughts with the company as
sembled; but they would stray off up
stairs, and several times | caught myself
whispering, Poor Fred, poor Fred !
More than one inquiry was made Tor him
for he was favolite with us all-but to
no one dill say, Go up stairs. knew
be did not wish it,
The belle Of the evening was Miss
Griffin, an intimate friend Of one OF my
boarding school cousins. but stranger
to me. She sang exqusitely, played with
a skill truly professional, conyersed IN
telIgently and intelligibly and these lat
ter accomplishments were 50 rare among
Young ladles generally that iou"u NY
self quite attached to her Some one vol
untecred to play waltz, and rs the
Young folks flew around the room to the
fascinating strains Of Strauss ! ran up
stairs to see how Fred was enjoying him
self. The gas was turned quite low, but
the CRATE sent out cheerful light which
Illuminated the center Of the room, leav-
ing the sides and corners in deep shad-
ow.
What sight met my eyes
Miss GriIlln, supposing herselfthc sole
occupant Of the room, had taken seat
upon the carpet in front Of the IRE, and
there, her quaint little head bent on one
side, canary fashion, she sat mutterIng to
herself stopped and listened;
couldn't help it to save my life,
"Why, isn't this jolly This seems
homelke. don't believe like parties
Oh , forgot my boot hurts me. That's
my excuse for running away from that
horrid waltz | wonder what dreadful