Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1875-06-13

oh'eu beSsenSer having Deen ulS-
patched to see the sexton and give him
the usual shilling for tolling the bell,
three old women entered the cottage of
the dead. They hustled about in chuck
ling, unfeeling way, as if the scene were
one of rejoicing rather than otherwise.
lhey had come to wash the body and
clothe 1t in its shroud. The linen of
which the graveclothes were made had
been spun by the deceaseds wife, and
had lain twenty years in the house await
ing this occasion.
When | entered the house, after the old
crones finished their CHASTITY task, I found
the body laid on spot!ess bed. The face
had been shaven, the white hair neatly
brushed, and the face decenty covered
with ''face-cloth,' or snow-white nap
kin. The shroud had sleeves ruffled at
the wrists, and the opening at the breast
was similarly OrnameEted. 1t was about
ten inches longer than the body, and the
feet OF the deceased were wrapped as in
bag. Upon the head, when the corpse
was full-dressed, was white cap which
was fastened with broad chin-cloth, and
round the neck a white linen cravat.
was informed that during the sewing
OF the shroud, great care had been taken
that no tear of Esther's or the other
mourners had been allowed to drop upon
it, lest peradventure the ghost of the de-
parted might be disturbed, or bad luck
might accrue to the living. The under
clothing was considered the perquisites
of the crones who "laid him OUT" and
learned that it is customary to divide this
undertaking, and "give" portions to
such villagers as may, by financial dou-
ceurs to the crones, approve themselves
worthy. They who can obtain any por-
ton regard it as an omen Or presage of
good luck to them and theirs. Old Isaac
being highly esteemed among the simple
souls, his mementoes were in great re-
quest. Something like three pounds ster-
ling were realized by the old women for
the flannel undershirt, drawers and stock
ings.
White cotton gloves ultimately covered
the hands Of the body; and the thumbs
were doubled and clasped in the fingers.
This is popularity believed to prevent the
power of evil spirits over the deceased
but local antiquary afterward suggested
to me that the thumb in that position
forms the similitude of the character in
the Hebrew alphabet commonly used to
denote the name of the Deity. The reader
may choose between the two explanations.
A pewter plate containing salt reposed
on his breast, and the eyes were each
weighted with George III. penny that
had been used on fifteen similar occa-
sions. could not help rejecting in ref
erence to the plate of salt, how beautiful
was the symbolical exploitation, "1e are
the salt of the EARTH but my reverence
for the figure received shock when |
was told that the plate and salt are laid
on the breast to hinder air from entering
the bowels, and swelling up the belly so
as to occasion difficulty in closing the
coffin. The window-shades were drawn,
the looking glass was covered with cloth,
and the cat and the old mans pet terrier
were ruthessly banished from the room.
Toward sunset liberal supply of to-
bacco and long clay pipes were provided
for the "watchers" who were to sit up
with the corpse. About seven o'clock p.
NJ. two sons-in-law and an elderly fish
wife sat down by the open CRATE. where a
rousing fire was built, to 'watch' for the
night They al smoked-the woman Wig
orously and continuousl y-and between
puffs talked about "the storms the de-
ceased had weathered; how daring and
generous he had been; what noted and
successful smuggler he was in the good
old time when viii Watch was on the
wave; what judgment he had in stricking
the herring shoal; and what Draw coble
the Castle was, and how she acted when
he was at the helm, asif she kenned about
danger herself" About midnight the de
ceased's only sister,-a crooked and wrln-
killed. dame-entered, and, after looking
steadfastly at the corpse a few minutes,
said:
save, ave, surs. Ike's as like hissel as
he can be, poor sowl-God bless HIM
Then she reverently knelt and kissed the
cold lips, remarking, as she quietly rose
and took a seat, "Itll be nav turn next.
We hev a to gaun that road sumo or syhe,
when the Lord pleases.' Soon she gre"
garrulous and related that, while sitting
knitting that afternoon in her cottage at
Craster, six miles distant, she had heard,
lust about the time his breath would flee,
three heavy knocks on the inner door; that
she had gone to see who was so impatient,
but nobody was there, and the knocks
had been caused by mo levin thing put
by poor Isaac's spirit on his way to glory.
dts AWAY sae," she said; II aye Ken
when onvbody belanging to mes deed
Next day son of the deceased went
round the hamlets in the nei9hborhood,
"bidding to the funeral;" and l was sur
prised to learn that he scrupulonsly 1or-
bore to use the knocker OF any door
whittier his sad mission led HIM. Such
death heralds always rap with a Key,
which is carried for that especial purpose.
In this instance the key was used that
had done service twenty years before IN
the demise of the deceased
wife.
The second night young fisherman and
his sweetheart sat up with the corpse; and
there was no lack of remarks and innuen-
does that Bob and Rachel were fused to
sittin' up sweethearting through the
Saturday night being the recog-
nized Boulmer custom.
The next night the Joiner brought the
coffin. 1t was huge, clumsy box-much
too long and wide and deep for the body
and was strongly constructed OF Nor
way pine. painted black. Over the breast
was a black japanned tin plate, with the
Inscription: Isaac Gair, died March 5,
1874, aged seventy-four years" A crowd
of friends assembled to witness the 'coffin-
inp:" fresh tears were shed: and bread,
cheese and beer were lavishly consumed.
In order that the corpse might "lie easy v
the bottom of the coffin was covered with
bran and shavings to the depth Of three
inches; and sprigs of rosemary and laven-