The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-09-21

other deep sigh, which ended in fit OF
sneezing.
"Abcdt the time I went away2" in
terrogated the cautious Bob, coughing
a little.
''Well, yes, some'res near" assented
my dear affianced.
'.Now, Jerusha, you don't mean to in
sinute that Il
II don't mean to insinuate anything,
Bob Smith," and the angelic sweetness
of her voice was somewhat sharpened.
s'Now, s9e here, 'Rusha, l loved you
ever since you were knee high to
gropher, bat ] thought when you come
home thatxou was sweet On that other
chap. but swan / believe. you. liked
me all The limb. . =
sOh, Bob" said my was to be, in a
rushing sort Of way.
"Mine own Jerusha?" remarked Bob.
Then heard a sublued rush, accom-
panied by violent lip explosions. l
tried to kick or CRATE my teeth, or do
something to relieve my outraged feel
ings, but not kick nor CRATE could ]
raise. 1t was an awful fix to be in, but
1 had to stand it, or rather lay it, so l
laid still, and let 'em alone until they
got tired Of it, and then they went out.
and was again left to my own pleas
ant reflections.
Night came, and so did a lot of young
fellows with their girls to sit up with
me; and they had jolly time of it, al
though it was against my principles to
enjoy it ON so solemn an occasion.
1t seemed an age until morning, but
it came at last, and they went away. ]
heard them say that vas to be buried
that day at o'clock, and 1 was begin
ming to feel decidedly shaky, when -Je-
rusha and her mother came into the
room and began arranging for the fu.
neral
"Rusha," said her mother, "here is
that snuff colored suit of poor Ben's; o
course he will never have any more use
for clothes, so just put them away
among your carpet rags; they'll make s
splendid stripe"
Now that particular suit of clothes
was just the neatest one 1 ever owned
arm holes, collars, wristbands, buttons
all just the thing, and my blood boiled
to hear them talk so coolly Of using
them for stripes in rag carpet. They
kept on talking as they swept, busted
and cleaned up the room.
"Bob says he will take the Martin
farm to work this year, said Jerusha
cheerfully, sand as soon as we are mar
ried we shall 60 to housekeeping in thai
little cottage close to the road. Nov
l must get my carpet done just as soor
as possible, for l want it in that nics
little front room. These duds of Ben's
will make out enough rags, guess
His folks live so far away they will nev
er inquire about his clothes. Now, i
it wasn't for the looks Of it, we nigh
ask old Mother Smith about colorin.
i yellow; she's sure to be here to-day"
l was getting very mad now, indeed
I felt that the crisis was near, and tha
l should either die or explode if they
did not let my snuff colored suit alone
Jerusha picked them up-I knew it, fo
l heard the buckles and buttons jfngl
l-and male for the door. / tried tt
shake my fist and yell at her, but all il
vain. laid there, outwardly as quie
as lamb, inwardly boiling with wrath
1t was TOO much! The deepest franc,
would not have held out against tn,
lloss of that suit With powerful Ell
fort 1 sprang up and screamed. Jeru
sha dropped my clothes and her mothc
the duster, and both fed from the room
and house, never stopping antil the.
reached DR.. Browns, across the street
With difficulty managed to get m.
clothes ! had just got them fairly On
when Mrs Jones and her daughter, fol
, lowed by numerous company of men
women and children, came peering eau
tiously into the room. sat on m.
board and looked at them, Such
scared looking crowd was enough t.
amuse an owl, SO laughed; I knew j
was unbecoming, but l couldn't hav
helped it if they had checked ME int
my coffin-which the undertaken wa
just carrying past the window-and bu
: ried me the next minute. laughed un
til jarred.the chair out from one ent
of the board, and down l went with
crash. Then the doctor ventured int
the room, saying rather obviously: as
you are not dead yet, Benz"
swell, no, not exactly" / replied
"sorry to disappoint my friends abou
the funeral, however"
} "Yes," he said, rather absently, "bai
rather-that is-ahem."
s'Fooled out of that snuff-colore
stripe!" I thought, as looked at Jeru
3 sha.
, $50 and speak with him." said he
,: father in stage whisper. "He's &C
the stamps, and you had better MARI
!, him after all
! They began to gather around me an
congratulate me on my escape. | nc
e ticed that they cried great deal NOR
than when / was dead. Jerusha cam
:, and hung around my neck, snivelin
desperately. I gave her no over ger
lie push, and told her to wait next tim
until l was safely buried before she ST
e heart on my old clothes.
20, l am so gladH' she said. sweetly
s without appearing to notice what l sal
Q about the clothes, ''that you are NJ
y dead, Benny, dear. My heart SCENE
q all withered and broken to see you |,