The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-10-30
HER CORNER IN IOMBSTONEs.

HER CORNER IN IOMBSTONES.
The Widow Smyth called at Mr.. Mix's mar
Die yard the other day. when the following
conversation took place:
Mrs Smyth-Mr Mix, 1 am anxious to
have my cemetery lot fixed up, to put in new
sombstones and reset the railing, and |
called to see if l could make some satisfactory
arrangement with you.
Mix-Certainly, madam; tell me precisely
what it is you want DONE
Mrs. Srnyth-" Well, I'd like to have new
tombstone put over the grave of John, my
Ansband, YOU know, and to have nice in
scription cut on it-Here lies John Smith
etc, you know-the usual way, of course. and
may be some kind of design on the stone,
like broken rosebud, or something.
Mix understand.
Mrs Smyth-Well then, what'll you charge
rae for getting up headstone, just like that,
Dat of pretty good, white marble, and with a
little picture of torch upside down, or q
weeping angel on it, and the name of Thomas
lamyth cut on it
BIix-John Smyth, you mean?
Mrs. Smyth-No, / mean Thomas.
Mix-But you said John before.
Mrs. 81 know, but that was my first hus-
band and Thomas was my second, and L want
a new maidstone fer each Of them. Now it
seems to me, Mr. Mix, that where person is
buryng more than one that way you ought
10 make some reduction in the prics-throw
off something, you know-though of course
want pretty good article at all the graves.
Nothing gorgeous, but neat and taste
sul something calculated to please the
eye. Mr.. Smyth was not man who
WINS fond Of show. Give him a
Ahine that is comfortable, and he was salts
Sed. Now, which do you think is the pref
Mest-to have the name in rails ed letters
IN straight line over the top of the stone,
or lust to cut the words Alexander p. Smyth"
IN a kind Of a semi circle in sunken letters.
Nix-Did l understand you to say Alexan-
aer p? Were you referring to John, or
Thomas
Mrs. S.-Of course not. Alexander was my
shird husband. I'm not going to neglect
his grave while L am fixing up the rest.
Eish to make complete job of it, Mr. Mix,
while am about it, and am willing for you
30 undertake the job if you are reasonable in
your charges. Now, whatll you charge me
ior the lot, the kind l have described-plain
but substantial, and sunk about two feet, /
should think, at the head of each grave
wbat'll you charge me for them-the whole
Jour?
Mix-Well, I'll put you in those three head
stones
Mrs. S.-Four headstones, Mr.. Mix, not
Aree.
Mix-F6ur was it? No-there was John,
md Thomas and Alexander p. that is all you
said, think. Only three.
Mrs. S.-Why, l want one for Adolph, too,
rs matter Of course-the same as the others.
thought you knew | wanted one for Adolph.
One made just like Johns, only with the
name different. Adolph was my fourth hus-
Rand. He died about three years after l
buried Philip. | am wearing mourning for
Aim now. Now please give me your prices
kor the whole of them.
Mix-Well, madam, want to be as reason
able as | can. I'll tell you what I'll do. You
give me all of your work in the future and I'll
pat you in those five headstones at hardly
ANYTHING above cost. Say -.
Mrs. S.-Four headstones, not 1--WE.
Mix-I think you mentioned five.
Mrs. $40; only four.
Mix-Let us see. There was John and
Thomas, Alecb, Adolph and Philip
Mrs. S.-Yes, but Aleck and Philip were
She same one His middle name was Philip,
aud always called him Phil.
Mix-Mrs. Smyth, I'll be much obliged to
ron If you'll tell me precisely how many hus
hsnds you have planted up in that cemetery
Ao1 This is getting little mixed.
Mrs. S-What doyou mean, sir, by planted?
1 never planted anybody in my life. 1t is
.lisgraceful to use such language.
Mkt is q technical term, madam. We
always dse it. l don't see as it is going to
Eurt any old row of corpses named Smyth.
Planted is good enough for other men and it
Is good enough for them.
Mrs. Sod row of-what did you say?
what do you mean, you impudent vagabond
Iyouldn' t let you put headstone on one my
amyes if you'd do it for nothing.
Then Mrs. Smyth founced out of the shop,
and Mix called after her as she went through
she door:
"I.emme know when you go for another
man, and I'll throw him tombstone for
wedding present; be will want it soon.
Mrs Smyth is now looking at headstones In
, marble yard ON Washington street.