The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1874-02-13
Strange Resurrection. or the
Power Of Money.

n day or Two ago most aVJect "h"
poverty-stricken female called on one of
our most prominent merchants, well
known for his liberalty and kindness of
heart, and after unfolding an appalling
tale of misfortune and wretchedness,
stated that her husband had died forty
eight hours before.
The merchant was profoundly moved
BY this revelation of distress, and when
his visitor graphically describing her hor-
ror of public burial, stated that she
was unable to defray the expenses her
self arl that the body was beginning to
decompose in the room iphabited by her
self and her orphaned family, his pity
rose to an extreme pitch. Hastily put
ting on his hat, he led the woman into
the street, saying he would accompany
her to the place, and not only see to the
funeral, but make some arrangements for
the comfort of the afflicted ones thus left
desolate in cold and heartless world.
]
They were soon en- route, the benevolent
gentlemen caring nothing for the glances
of surprise and suspicion and with which
his friends regarded this incongruous
compauionship. and the woman alternate
ly weeping and adding further particu-
lars of the woeful history whose culmi-
nation they were about to witness.
Arriving at the house, which. by the
way. was specially forlorn and unclean
establishment on the river front Of the
Second district, the woman's action was
confused, not to say peculiar. She
seemed overcome; crazed with grief, first
knocking violeutly ON the door, and
then Jerking the old widowed bell-han>
die, aud finally entering without waiting
for an answer to the summons. They
went upa rickeity, rotten, staircase, and
on the fourth Aoor, entered a room whose
door consisted of blanket hung on
nails. Two dirty, cadaverous children,
crouched near the fireplace, and in
rough hewn box of coffin lay swollen
and discolored corpse. Its face was un'
clean, and blue and red spots about the
ewes and mouth seemed 10 Indicate that
decomposition had set in. The gentle
man was horriieG. This was more than
he could stand. A sodden odor prevail
ed the room; a frightful atmosphere Of
death aud abject poverty sickened him
Z He thought he would 60. lie felt sor'
nv that he had ever come. II would
have been SO much better TO give the wo
, man money without bringing himself il
= contact with all this horrible misery,
lie took out his poeket-book, and, hand
ing the woman its contents which hap
E pened to he only fourteen dollars, told
! her to call again and he would do more
!. for her. Then be He'd.
/, But at the foot of the stairs h
found he had left his umbrella,
handsome $40 affair, presented OF
? Christmas by his most intimate
j. friend. lie hated to do it-he positive
4 ly recoiled from entering that room agaiI
but il seemed unfeeling to call the NO
man down. and he must return. lie die
: so. lie hurried quickly but softly Vi
3 stairs, tip,oed TO the door, lifted tn
= blanket, and saw-ihe corpse setting al
/. in the coffin counting his sli over Yer.
A DELHI rately.
lie clutched the umbrella without
J. word and returned 10 his place If bgsl
n,ss, specially diseontented and sheep
a ishlooking man.