The Van Buren press., 1875-10-05
MISCELLANY.
The Snuff Colored Suit,

! scarcely know bow it happened, bu
a timber must have fell and struck me OF
the head
The first thing that | realized after i,
was that l was straight and still on some.
thing hard, and when | tried to move my
self and speak, found it impossible to
+ do so. | concluded that I must be in
some very tight, dark place, for could
not see In fact, | soon learned that,
though perfectly conscious, | could do
nothing but hear. A door opened, and
footsteps approached; but felt cloth
taken from my face, and voice which |
recognized as that of Mr.. Jones, the
father of my wife that was to be, said:
He hasn't changed much and his
companion, whose voice knew to be the
village undertaken, Hopkins by name
said lightly;
Better looking dead than alive How
does Jerusha feel about it2 Take on
much ?
.Oh. no; she had her eye on another
fellow, anyhow, and better match except
the money part. Though | had nothing
against Ben, only he didn't know much,
knew. Such mouth! why, it really
seemed as though he was going to swal-
low knife, plate and all, when he opened
it at dinner
Well, said the cheerful voice of Hop-
kins, he'll never open his mouth again,
and then he proceeded to measure me
for my coffin, for it seemed that | was
dead, or they thought | was, which was
all the same to the greedy undertaken. l
had heard of undertakers who always
whstled when they got measure, but
never believed it before, But that man
actually whistled suhaued dancing tune
me lu--S measured me. and it seemed to
down my back To uue r",.I--. ----~~ .nll;,,
tie.
His duty done, they covered nv face
again, and left me to my own reflections,
which we're not particularly comforting,
although have often heard it remarked
that meditation was good for the soul,
and this was the best chance / ever had
of trying it.
An hour must have passed when the
. door again opened, and two persons came
whispering along to where lay. and the
voice of my promised wife fell upon my
ears.
Il dread to look at him, Bob; he was
, so mortal homely alive, he must be fright
$ full dead
5 | ground my teeth in Indignation, as
3 remembered how often she had gone into
raptures, or pretended to, over the noble
= brow and expressive mouth and how
- she often declared that if l were takei
away from her shc would surely pin
away and die.
One of them raised the cloth, and
knew they we're looking at me, Bob wa
her second cousin, and | knew he wa
that ether fellow whom her father ha
mentioned.
," Seems to me you don't feel very ba
about his dying, Rusha,' remarked Bot
meditatively.
well, to tell the truth said my deH
betrothed, Il don't care very much abou
it. If he had lived should have maj
ricd him. because he was rich, and lathe
wanted me to; hut | was getting aoot
sick of my bargain, for knew shsul
n. always be ashamed of him. he looked
+, much like a baboon.'
: But you loved him. remarked Bob.
No, didn't! My affection was waste
long ago upon one who never returne
my love, aud the fast fading idol sghe
=, heavily
/. They had covered my face by tn
time, aud were standing a few steps fro
where lay.
About how long. 'RushaT aske
Bob.
"A year, or such matter, with a
'' other deep sigh. which ended IN III
sneezing.
- About the time | went awayT inte
=, ropated the cautious Bob, coughing
little
well, yes, some'eres near, assentt
my dear atiianced.
Now. Jerusha, you don't mean to i
sinuate that =
. Il don't mean to insinuate anythin
- Bob Smith y and the angelic sweetness
her voice was somewhat sharpened
Now, see here, Rusha, | loved "
ever since you were knee high to g
is, pher, but | thought, when you car
home that YOU was sweet on that oth
chan: but | swan believe you liked
%. all the time
ST. Oh, Bob, said my was to be. in
gushing sort of way
Mine own Jerusha!' remarked Bol
- Then | heard subdued rush. acco
panied by violent lip explosions. trl
to kick or CRATE my teeth, or do son
thing to relieve my outraged ieennB'
not kick or CRATE could | raise
was an awful fire to he in, but had
pe stand it. or, rather, lay to il. So lay S
and let EN- alone, until they got tlred
it. and then they went out, aud ag'
] ] 81 % was left to my own pleasant reflection
2 90 Night came. and Sc did lot oil you
it.d ,,, fellows with their girls to sit up with n
slec- and they had jolly time OF IT. ailnou
Gus. Gus. it was against my principles to ENJOY
St M on so solemn an occasion
y