The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-11-07
ABOUT COFFINS.
incro3iE

We have not just now the testimony on
hand to prove ''that there is skeleton in every
house, but we are morally convinced of the
truth of the proposition, however. Neither
have We the witnesses to put upon the stand
to satisfy an average jury that every man
carries little coffin in his breast pocket, yet
we are perfectly satisfied such is the case, and
| the reason is this We had an opportunity
yesterday to feel in the pockets Of several Of
our most cheerful light-hearted friends-it
is true, under the pretense of hunting for
cigars-and there, snugly hidden away be-
meath handkerchief, memorandum book and
cigar-case laid little coffin, packed with the
ashes and dust of the bygone.
Tom Bangs, the stylish old gent who talks
so much of Thackeray and the mock sentimen-
tality of the world, positively had most Ca
pacious, yet diminutive sarcophagus, that he
tried to palm off upon US as snuff-5ox until
we happened to pass vacant lo:, where some
laborers were sprinkling sawdust for circus
ring. The aromatic fragrance of the pine came
Ike some Oriental relish to the nostrils, and
then Bangs confessed.
"It's long tine, To-Whit, "a pet name he
used tor US as milder term for Owl, which
he applied to US when younger,) its long
time, old boy, since I've stood in a circus
ring, and | want to acknowledge that snuff
box of mine is coffin, after ell, and this saw
dust has touched the spring and the lid has
opened. ..
"You know we can't always tell exactly what
has this effect. Sometimes lis the drumming
~ |; D, f,iy nIn Of
perfume Of the past, and sometimes it's a face
of woman, but be what it may, they come
along when least expected, and click the
coffin lid is up, and there lie exposed the locks
of hair, the fragrant billet-doux, the rings
that once adorned. fingers now grown puffy,
giving pap to the children. l didn't Want to
deceive you, old fellow, but this ere sawdust
ring upsets me, and for this reason:
ats about thirty five years ago -you
needn't mention that fact, for everybody don't
know I dye-that sat on the upper tier of
seats of Stckneys Circus, near Poydras Mar
ket and b: side newell young lady, for
you don't want to know her name. had felt
like turning somersaults myself that night, for
it was the first time this Heloise Of mine had
permitted = e. eseo,t cca.. sssaW.
d q ttsns les s,isnsais do % .aoa clos ii n5
eye.noS .tsl sss u ssolsci1p t!ssoeaa, the
weashsr.v ssa th spa1g,sI an sss
clown.
"Wha tn .horsss did that night, what
capers the trick ponies cut up I'll never
know. l didn't see them, neither did she,
for we looked only into one another's eyes,
and spoke of-well, you know all'aoout what
young folks say on such occasions. By the
time the ring-master cracked his whip for the
finale she had promised we should trave
through lifs's circus ring on the same horse.
and was happier than the man who rode the
four horses. Everything went along we'll
until was called up the Teche on business
for a month, and my little one left for sum-
ner trip to New York; and, by thunder, sir,
she came back the wife OF - crony OF
yours, l believe"
Bangs didn't show to advantage as he looked
down into his pet coffin. There was a Novem-
Der fog in his clear blue eyes that gave portent
of rain, and in nervous, abstracted manner he
marked out srabesque carpet designs IN the
sawdust with his cane. He made feeble at
tempt to whistle bar from Madame Angot,
but could get no further than wheezy sound,
not unlike an escape Of steam.
Nature at last, however, reminded him that
dinner did not have any sympathy for what
he called "mock turtle sentiment" and he,
like ten.year-old baby, took hop, skip and
a lump and was out of the ring. The lid
flew back with snap, and Bangs was the
same cynical old fellow as before.
1t is rarely we expose to even the neare.t
and dearest these mummies of ours. We
carry them around all day with us, slip them
slyly beneath the pillow at night when Mrs.
jenkins is sleeping soundly, wearied out with
waiting for US to come home, and that partner
Of our joys knows nothing of it. We all have
them. however, but the undertaken never bur-
les these collins Of ours until he puts our own
bodies quietly away. Who can tell, whether,
when the great awakening comes, the bodies
of past hopes and past joys may not be resur-
rected with us Bangs hopes so.