River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-11-15

Death, their unfailing antidote, is neat.
If my lord had seen Tots face then
he would have been frightened. But
he was listening, wrapt up in pleasure {;
forgetful of everything but mans
voice singing, and the words were :.
"Comfort We, my people, saith your
God speak We comfortably to Jerusa-
lem, and cry unto her that her iniquity
is forgiven. The voice of him that
crieth in the wilderness, prepare yet the
way of the Lord, make straight in the
desert a highway for our God"
Then my lord signs, turns his head,
and looks at Tot.
Tot is seated, white and motionless,
in the comfortable chair her dirty lit
tie hands folded In one another, and
her dirty little head thrown back. A
change has come over the face; there
is no wonder, no awe in it now, only a
look, despite the dirt, gentle reader, Of
infinite calm and rest.
My lord is startled; he places his
hand fearfully on her forehead, and sud
denly with shiver draws it back.
"God, how cold |" he whispers,
&c he must have tainted" Then in a
lovier tone, speaking that he may be
heard by those around, he says, els
there doctor heres"
Some catch the words and stare Gu
riously at him, but grave man rises
from his seat, and answered the call.
He feels Tots pulse, and puts his hand
on her heart, and shakes his head.
"Quite Dead" he says, and looking
at her shrunken face. " Effusion Of
blood on the brain, 1 imagine, caused
by want of the necessaries of life and
=" with q glance round the mighty
building, bright with light and color;
possibly accelerated by unusual ex-
element. Nothing to be done, moth
ing. If you please, will give you my
card"
Ny lord, without taking his eyes off
Tots face, receives it, and the grave
man goes back to his place; he is a
passionate lover of music.
For a minute, my lord stands in
doubt, but the British public is begin.
ming to whisper and stare at him, il
scents food for its curiosity so, with
a smile, he takes Tot gently in his arms
and carries her away. At the great
door is a policeman, who seems un-
settled in his mind as to whether it is
not his duty to stop my lord and exam
inc his burden. But he is so perfectly
calm that policeman persuades himself
it must be all right, and the way is
left free for Tots exit.
Nv lord 81, c4 To- e
course, no belief in immortality; and
he objects strongly to the customs of
burial prevalent among so many ma.
tions. In his will, indeed, (most care
fally prepared), he has bequeathed
"his body to the nation in order that,
etc., ETC., science, etc., human progress,
ETC., on condition that all of the afore-
said body not permanently required
may be burnt to ashes, etc."
But my lord forgets to do unto 9TH
ers as he would others should do unto
him. He finds out Tots mother-no
easy task-and then finds himself, to
his own surprise, questioning her as to
Tots baptism. Tot, it seems, has been
baptized, and possesses therefore re-
versionary interest (vesting on her
DEATH in grave-yards.
So, On the advice of my lord, advan.
tage is taken of Tots interest and she
is buried; far away from the houses
and smoke, far away out in the coun-
try, under tiny cross in the shadow
OF an old square-towered church. And
my lord is present at the burial, and
listens to and hears every word of the
sermon from beginning to end. And
my lord, journeying back to London,
rug over his knees, foot-warmer be-
meath his feet, cigar in his mouth, and
forty miles an hour, thinks to himself,
"There's something in these barbar-
GUS ceremonies after all not prejudice
Dust to dust, ashes to ashes. :.
In the hope OF glorious resurrec-
ton. Poor Tot. -"
Hanson, sir9 No other luggage,
sir?" %
'Curzon street, Mayfair, as hard as
you can."