The Van Buren press., 1875-10-05

came at last, and they went away Iheard
them say that was to be buried that day
at 2 O'Clock, and was beginning to feel
decidedly shsky, when Jerusha and her
mother came into the room and began ar
ranging for the funeral
Rusha, said her mother, here's that
snuff-colored suit of poor Ben's, OF
course he will never have any more use
for clothes, SO just put them away among
your csrpet-rags; they'll make q .splen
lid stripe
Now that particular suit of clothes W as
past the neatest one | ever owned, arm
sh,les, collars, wrist bands, buttons, all
'pdst the thing, and my blood boiled to
+; hear them talk SO cooly of using them
ilfor stripes IN rag carpst They kept on
ltalking as they swept, busted and cleaned
lIup the room
Bob saws he will take the Martin farm
/ to work this year. said Jerusha, cheer.
fully, aud as soon As we are married. we
will go to housekeeping in that little cot.
tage close to the road. Now, must get
my carpet done as soon as possible, for l
want it in that nice front room These
duds of Ben's will make out enough rags
| guess. His folks live so far away they
will never inqaire for his clothes. Nov,
If it wasn't for the looks OF it, we could
ask old Mother Smith about coloring vel
low; she's sure to be here to day
| was getting very mad now indeed l
felt that the crisis was near, and that
should either die or explode if they did
not let my snuff eolored suit alone. Je
rusha picked them up-I knew it, for
heard the buckles and buttons jingle
my fist and yell at her. but all in vain. l
lay there, outwardly as quiet as lamb,
inwardly boiling with wrath. 1t was too
much The deepest trance would not
have held out against the loss of that suit
With a apowerful effort, sprang up and
screamed Jerusha dropped the clothes
and her mother the dustcr, and both fed
from the room and the house, never stop
ping Until they reached Dr. Browns,
across the street With difficulty / man.
aged to get my clothes, and had Just fair
ly got them on, when Mrs Jones and her
daughter, followed by numerous com
pany of men, women and children came
peering cautiously into the room sat
on my board, and looked at them Such
scared looking crowd was enough to
amuss all owl, so | laughed; | knew it
was uabecoming, but / couldn't have
helped it if they had chuckcd me into my
coffn-whieh the undertaken wa. Just
carrying past the window-and buried
me the next minute laughed until l
Jared the chair out from one end Of the
board, and down | went with crash.
Then the doctor ventursd into the room,
saying rather obviously: : SO you are
not dead, yet, Ben !?
,,,,,W We'll. no, not exactly, l replied Very
Yes, he said. rather absentiy, uau,
rather-that is--aheM
Fooled out Of that snufcolored
striper | thought, as ! looked at Jeru
sha
Go, and speak with him. said her
father, in stage whisper. He's got the
stamps, aud you had better marry him,
after ALL
They began to gather round me, and
congratulate me on my escape. noticed
that they cried great deal more now
than when | was dead Jerusha came
and hung around my neck, sniveling des'
perately l gave her no over gentle
push, and told her to wait, next time, un'
til was safely buried before she set hel
heart on my old clothes.
%, am so glad" she said, sweetly
without appearing to notice what l sale
about the clothes that you are no
dead. Benny dear. My heart seemed al
withercd and broken, to see you lying al
cold and white wept bitterly over you
pale face my beloved
Yes, replied, l heard you and Bo
taking ON terribly. II was very luck
die for me-
Gould you hear P she gasped.
Il rather think | could some, l re
piled
She looked toward the door, but it wa
crowded full, so she made dive for TIA
omen window, and went through it like
deer. She shut herself up in the smok
house, and would not come out until
ter had left the house.
Bob would not fill his promise OF ma
riagc with his cousin, because she tired
make up with me again; so she is livin
a life of single hlesse lness.
While | am writing, my wife is cuttlr
up my snuff colored clothes to make
stripe in lew carpet to our fro
4 room