The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-08-27

The Captain was sorry, so sorry that
he sent waiter for brandy. But the
Captain was human-business was bust
ness-the rain was falling, and big log
was across the boats bow, SO he shout
ed:
"Hurry up and bury 'em, then. You
ought to have let the second boats crew
gone on with that, and you have gone on
with your soundings. They Was the
Chums, to be sure, but now they're only
dead roustabouts. Below there. Pass
out couple of shovels "
"Perhaps some ladies would go down
with the boat, Captain-and preacher,
too. if there's one aboard, remarked the
mate, with an earnest out very mysteri
GUS expression.
"Why, what in thunder does the fell
low meant" soliloquized the Captain,
audibly. Women and n preacher
for dead roustabouts9 What do you
mean, Mr.. Bell2"
"Red's a woman" briefly responded
the mate.
The passengers all started-the Cap
tain brought his hands together with
tremendous clap, and exclaimed:
w uIutI Will Out Dun WIZ Il nave
thought 1 was to be the man to find out
the secret of the Carmi Chums3 Guess
I'll be the biggest man on the New Or
leans levee after all. Yes, certainly-of
course some ladiesll go-and a preacher,
too, if there's such a man aboard. Hold
up, though-we'n all go. Take your
soundings, quick, and Wen drop the
steamer just below the point, and tie up.
1 wonder if there is preacher aboard r.
No one responded for a moment; then
the Judge spoke.
"Before went into the law 1 was the
regularly settled pastor of q Presbyteri-
an church" said he. "I'm decidedly
rusty now, but little time will enable
me to prepare myself properly. Excuse
me, ladies and gentlemen.
The sounding-boat pulled away, and
the Judge retired to his stateroom. The
ladies, with very pale faces, gathered i'll
q group and whispered earnestly with
each other then ensued visits to each
others staterooms, and the final regath-
ering of the ladies with two or three
bundles. The soundings were taken,
and, as the steamer dropped down
stream, men were seen cutting path
down the rather steep clay bank. The
Captain put his hands to his mouth and
shouted:
"Dig only one grave-make it wide
enough for two"
And all the passengers nodded assent
and satisfaction.
Time had been short since the news
reached the steamer, but the Bennett S
carpenter, who was himself married
man, had made plain coffin by the time
the boat tied up, and another by the time
the grave was dug. The first one was
put upon long handbarrow, over which
the Captain had previously spread a
tablecloth, and, followed by the ladies,
was deposited beside the body of Red.
Half an hour later, the men placed
Black in the other coffin, removed both
to the side of the grave, and signaled the
boat.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen" said
the Captain.
The Judge appeared, with very
solemn face, his coat buttoned tight to
his throat, and the party started. Col
oneI May, of Missouri, who read Vol
taire and didn't believe in anything, ma
liciously took the Judges arm, and re-
marked:
You didn't finish your story,
Judge"
The Judge frowned reprovingly.
" But, really" persisted the Colonel,
81 don't want curiosity to divert my
mind from the solemn services about to
take place. Do tell me if they ever
caught the rascals."
They never did, replied the Judge.
"The Sheriff hunted and advertised,
but he could never hear word of either
of them. But I'd know either one of
them at sight. Sh-h-h-here we are
at the grave"
The passengers, officers, and crew
gathered about the grave. The Judge
removed his hat, and, as the Captain I'M
covered the faces of the dead, COM
menced:
" am the resurrection and the life
Why, there's the horse-thief now, Col
onel L beg your pardon, ladies and
gentlemen. He that believeth in"
Just then the Judges eye fell upon
the dead woman's face, and he screamed
"And there's the Sheriff's assailant "