The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-04-09

them say that / was to be buried that day
at two o'clock, and was beginning to feel
decidedly shaky, when Jerusha and her
mother came into the room and began ar
ranging for the funeral.
"Rusha," said her mother, "here is that
| snuff-colored suit of poor Ben's of course
he'll never have any more use for clothes, so
just put them away among your carpet-rags
they'll make splendid stripe"
Now that particular suit of clothes was
just the neatest one | ever owned, arm holes,
collars, wrist bands, buttons, all just the
thing and my blood boiled to hear them tai k
so cody 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 4his year." said Jerusha, cheerluily,
and as soon as we are married we are going
to housekeeping in that little cottage close
to the road. Now l must get my carpet
done as soon as possible, for want it in that
| little front room. These duds of Bens will
make out rags enough, guess. His folks
live so far away they will never inquire
about his clothes Now, if it wasn't for the
looks of it, we would ask old Mother Smith
about coloring yellow; she's sure to be here
to-day"
l was getting very mad now, indeed.
felt that the crisis was near, and that | should
either die or explode if they did not let my
snuff-colored suit alone. Jerush picked them
| up-I knew it for l heard the buckles and
buttons jingle-and made for the door
| tried to shake my fist and yell at her, but all
in vain. | laid there, outwardly as quiet as
a lamb, inwardly boiling with wrath. 1t
was too much; the deepest trance could not
have held out against the loss of that suit.
With powerful effort l sprang up and
screamed. Jerusha dropped my clothes and
her mother the duster, and both fled from
the room and the house, never stopping I'M
til they reached DIR. Browns across the
street. With difficulty | managed to get
my clothes. / had just got them fairly on,
when Mrs. Jones and her daughter, followed
by numerous company of men, women and
Children came peering cautiously into the
room. | sat on my board and looked at
them Such a sacred looking crowd was
enough to amuse an owl, so | laughed;
knew it was unbecoming; but I couldn't
have helped it if they had chucked me into
my cotfin-which the undertaken was just
carrying past the window and buried me the
next minute. l laughed until Jared the
chair out from under one end of the board,
and down | went with crash. Then the
doctor ventured into the room, saying, rath-
er obviously:
$50 you are not dead yet, Benz"
"Well, no, not exactly" replied, "sorry
to disappont my friends about the funeral
however"
Yes" he said, rather absently, "bad
rather-that is-ahemw
| "Fooled ont of that snuh-colored stripe p
l thought as looked at Jerusha.
"Go and speak with him." said her father
in stage whisper. "He's got the stamps
and you had better marry him after all.''
They began to gather around me and con-
gratulate me Oh my escape. | noticed thai
they cried great deal more now than when
| was dead. Jerusha came and hung arount
my neck, shivering desperately. gave hel
a not over gentle push and told her to wait
next time until was safely buried until she
set her heart on my old clothes.
ooh, am so glad !" she slid sweetly
without appearing to notice what said abou
clothes-"that you are not dead, Benny
dear. My heart seemed all withered and
broken to see you lying all cold and white
, l wept bitterly over your pale face, my
beloved"
"Yes," | replied, 81 heard you and Bob
taking on terrible. 1t was a lucky die 70
f me-"
Gould you hear?" she gasped.
81 rather think could some" l replied
| She looked toward the door, but it was crowd
ed full, so she made q dive for the open win
dow, and went through it like a deer. Sh
e shut herself up in a smoke house, and woul
' not come out until had left the house.
Bob. would not fill his promise of marriag
, with his cousin because she tried to make II
with me again; she is living life of singl
v blessedness.
: While l am writing my wife is cutting II
r my snufI-colored clothes to make stripe
a carpet for our front room.