The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-12-23
Consulting an Undertaken.
lDanbury News.

lDbuputy NcWbsl
Mr.. Phipps, of the firm of Phipps &
Hodge, the Danbury undcrtakers, was
sitting In his shop, Saturday afternoon,
ruminsting gloomily upon the dull times,
when the door opened and in came a
stranger, The visitor was a slim-faced
man, dressed in a dun.colored suit OF
rather tight fitting clothes. He looked
clear around the room, carefully avoiding
a glance at the undertaken until the cir
cult was completed.
Then he looked curiously at him, and
said:
lis the boss in ?'''~
Yes, sir, Pm one of them. Is there
anything can do for you, sir p
"Well, that'll depend on how we can
deal, reckon" replied the stranger, in
a tone of subdued shrewdness. "I have
just had to shoulder pretty heavy afflic-
ton. My old woman went under yes
terday." He paused and looked inter
negatively over the array of coffins and
caskets.
"Your wife is dead ?" inquired Mr..
Phipps with professional anxiety.
"You've;hit it square, boss" replied, the
stranger with an approving nod.
"What time yesterday did the sad
event OccurW
"About five p. m. as near as we kin
reckon"
"Passed away peaceiully?"
Lit out without a groan," explained
the bereaved. "She'd been SICK of an
on for about two years an better. Not
right down sick all that time, but then !
don't think she done square days work
in two years. It's been great expense
all through but don't complain, how
sumever. l came in to-day to see about
fixin' her up"
"Ah, yes; you wish to secure a burial
case. We have, as you see, various kinds.
You will want something rather nice, /
fancy?" said Mr.. Phipps.
"Well, yes, / want something that
will show considerable grief an sorrer,
but nothing that's going to upset folks,
you know. We are plain people, boss,
an at time like this-with great af-
fiction shouldered on us-we don't feel
like riling up the neighbors. If it was
a huskin' bee, now, or a barn raisin' even,
I'd calculate to make their eyes prance
right around in their heads. But" and
he sighed heavily, {" this is hOss of an
other color"
How would this do? suggested Mr..
Phipps, indicating plain rosewood.
whats the price of that? You see,
boss, we live over in Baxter Plain. It's
a small place, an there amt much style.
We don't want to go in too heavy, you
know"
Certainly not, but this is very neat
looking article"
eyes" coincided the widower, "it
does seem as if one needn't feel uneasy
with that coffin in the front room, an
the room full of people"
81 can let you have that for forty-five
dollars"
"Jee-Oh, couldn't think of paying
that. Forty-fve dollars! Why you kin
get wagon in two colors for that
money. You see, boss, this is plain
funeral, an not torch-light
procession" feelingly explained the
widower.
Chow will this do, then T' next in
quired the undertaken, hastily pointing
to another article, of common wood,
brightly stained.
"HOw much is thatg'
"Only eighteen dollars"
Eighteen dollars, hey? 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. /
can assure you that such coffin could
not have been bought for a cent less than
dollars, one year ago."
1t may be cheap, as you say" rumin-
ated the bereaved, "yet eighteen dollars
is good big pile of money. want some
thing nice, of course, but don't want
10 jump in SO mighty heavy as to make
people think that never had funeral
before. You know what l mean?"
"Oh, yes, perfectly. Youwant an ar
ticle that will look respectable and in
keeping with your circumstances, but
yet you do not wish to be too dem0nstra-
tive in your sorrow"
"By jinks, / guess you've got it
square on the head" said the pleased
sufferer.
"Now this is an article that just
answers the purpose, in my judgment,
and have had years of experience"
Yes, yes, you must 'av' tucked in
heap of 'em," said the stranger, in tone
Of unqualified respect. "This is
sound one, l suppose" he continued tap
ping the sides.
Perfectly so; we use the very best
kinds of wood" explained Mr.. Phipps.
"Just see here minute" exclaimed
the stranger, suddenly and impressively
drawing the undertaken to one side.
You say that coffin is sound as nut,
an you want eighteen dollars for it?
Now / want you to understand there
amt anything small about me, an that
I've got Just as much respect for the dead
as any other man living, l don't care
where you snake him from. But winter
is coming on, you know, an we owe a
little to the living as well. That's a
sound coffin, and a sound coffin does
we'll enough in the right place, you
know; but want to ask you as a man of
in these things, an under
what grief il, IL you amt got a
box of that pattern that's got some sort
of defect in the wood, which you could
knock of little on ?"
"I haven't, SIR"
"Just think a mint, please" he anx-
iously resumed. Nothing a little
rotted ?'
The undertaken shook his head.
"With a worm-hole or SO in-I don't
mind dozen 2" suggested the sorrowing
one.
"No."
cor little sappy9 Don't answer too
quick. Take time. Just little sappy