The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-12-21

elbow would this dor suggested Mr..
Phipps, Indicating plain rosewood.
"What's the price OF thatf You see,
boss, we live over in Baxter Plain. 1tis
q small place, an there amt much style.
We don't want to 60 in too heavy. you
know.O
"Certainly not; but this is very neat
looking article"
"Yes," coincided the widower, SIT does
seem as If one needn't feel uneasy with
that coffin in the front room, am the room
full OF people,"
II can let you have that for S45."
"Jee-Oh, l couldn't think OF paying
thai. Forty-fiye dollarsi Why, you kin
You see, boss, this 10 plain country
funeral, and not q torchlight procession .
| feelingly explained the widower.
"How will this do, thenw next In
quired the undertaken, hastily pointing
| to another article OF common wood,
brightly stained.
"HoW much is thatr
"Only eighteen dollars."
"Eighteen dollars, heyi Well. that's
much more like it. Still, don't it strike
you that eighteen dollars is pretty steep
for these times?"
"Not for an article like that, sir. I
can assure you that such a coffin could
not have been bought for cent less than
$22 one year ago."
ut may be cheap, as you say" rumi-
big pile OF money. Iwant something
nice, mic Of course, but I don't want to jump
In SO mighty heavy as to make people
think I never had funeral before. You
get what meanw
"Oh, yes, perfectly. You want an arti-
Gle that will look respectable and in
keeping with your circumstances, but
yet you do not wish to be too demonstra.
tive in your sorrow"
"By jinks, guess you've got it square
on the head" said the pleased sufferer.
sNow this is an article that just an
swers the purpose, in my judgme ent, and
/ have had years of experience"
"Yes, yes, you must 'av tucked in a
heap Of 'em," said the stranger, in tone
OF unqualified respect. "rhis is a sound
one, l suppose he continued, tapping
| its sides.
"Perfectly so; we use the very best
kinds of wood,o explained Mr.. Phipps.
"Just see here a minute," exclaimed d
the stranger, suddenly and impressively
drawing the undertaken to one side.
"You say that coffin is sound as a nut,
an you want eighteen dollars for it?-
Now, want you to understand there
amt anything small about me, am that
| I've got just as much respect for the
dead as any other man living, don't
care where you snake him from. But
winter is coming on, you know, and we
owe little to the living as well. That's
sound coffin, am sound coffin does
well enough in the right place, you
know; but 1 want to ask you as a man
of experience in these things, an under.
standing what grief is, il you amt got q
box Of that pattern that's got some sort
of defect in the wood, mat you could
knock of little on?"
~ haven't, sir"
"Just think mint, please" he anx.
iously resumed. "Nothing little rot.
tedW
The undertaken shook his head.
"With worm-hole or SO in-I don't
mind a dozenw suggested the sorrowing
one.
sNo."
cor little sappy? Don't answer toe
quick. Take time. just little sappy
where it wouldn't be seen by the public
you knewW
II haven't such piece of wood in the
establishments. We use none that is i'm
perfect"
Eighteen dollars it is, thenp sighed
the afflicted.
Eyes, SIR"
| 81 must take 1t, 1 SUPPOSE" he oh
served, 'but when the neighbors see tina
coffin they'll swear old j. has STRUCK
a gold mine. Now, mark my words.'
| And he passed gloomilY cut.