The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-07
AGEM or PURrsr Raj SERENE.
Positively the Masterpiece Of the Muse Of q.
Mashington ChiIds. A. N.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. A-The obituary
clerk in the Philadelphia Le,iger once was ex-
ceedingly busy when | called upon him the other
dy. lie was pointing out models OF mortuarg
verse bv @. ". Childs, A. NJ, In the great ONCE
scrap book, to the score OF solemn vlsaged APP
plicants who 1led no to the desk. The obituary
clerk nodded pleasantly to me and beckoned ME
Co stand by him, thinking, doubtless, that had
como to study with him the latest shadows Of
the sombre mind Ct q. w. Childs, A. NJ. lie WIS
mistaken. Mine was even a sadder errand. My
cousin, Hans Oppenheimer. the kalsomino manu-
facturer, had departed this life on the day
previous, and had, wish nnal cxertlon, request
cd tina, secure 1t;ina poem from the hand
tombstone and be published in the LefIqer
Months AGO | procured poem upon the death
as follows;
Q, dc,th comes when least expect.
Inc chosen people to select
Was carried "a by bilious s' fcveri
Upon reading this. Hans, who had not previ-
omsly manifested much concern, was prostrated
by the violence OF his emotion and never rccov-
cred Thus 1t seemed fitting hat he, too, sh ould
receive poetic honor after death.
when was left alone with the clerk stated
nv wishes to him. Fortunately, q. W. Guilds.
a. NJ, was ut his desk up stairs, and upon in
sadness. he clerk dashed on the words " Ham
-kalsotniuer-orlslnsl," on piece
OF paper, and sont II mp NV the dumb-waiter. In
one mi ute and thirteen seconds the following
verse was In the clerks hands:
Life is pathway to the tomb
The tonb e out m op'n door,
Through which to eyerla.il1g H. ht or gloom
with rs theres one isss snI,9mner,
But lsav, y has gained an Oop.sghelmer.
Ihen Why fhese ierr this grief?
Poor oppenbrinie-'s got rcief
Conc to OeT g. ~ %. esrp e. m mesSsri
"what T. screamed the clerk, noticing the
expression OF disappointment on my face.
What You don't-you can't-you dare not
quite the contrary" replied, "ony would
"umphl reel" tho clerk sneered. After
send nR another missive 10 the master poet. he
continued uitifuly But, after sill. you're not at
fgult; you're as God made you. But shakespeare
over the art, the nnisn OF this httle verse, ami
Mutton would have envled Its composer The
81 rs was interrupted by the descent OF the
dumb waiter with this from up stairs
The oppenhcliner-. deep in gloom,
Tars les Hans IN IN de su f reei iuInp
Tirc1 Of lie ana kslsomnng.
Long their face, deep their sighs,
Drsped tneir door Knobs. wet their eyes
O. ". c.. a. M.~Sa.el.
was not assembling when allowed a smile
clerk leaped over the counter and EMBODIED me
In his arms whdtI said he; lie could
Of jov Tor other words. Then the clerk seized
my hand and seemed To try to give utterance to
what he feli within him. When our happiness
had been thus expressed, counted out the
money for the poem. and as did, there came
arattilng az the rome Of the dumb waiter. The
clerk pulled the waiter down. and brought from
It scrap Of PAPER upon which this was written:
"CAtch that Cppcuhclmcr man and show him this. /
consider Il Me crVWHing SVoIe ="
@. W. CmLDs. A. NJ
Oppcnhcinier -Oppcnhein-
Yesterday began to clnah
To the regions & the blest,
To tie laId % tnd cts rest.
On IT." fuTthi shur. he's cunning,
Troubled act With sal omimlng.
Observation-Disclosures elmer
Has become q heavenwerd climber.
g. W. c.. A. M.-tb
will not eDdeavor to describe the scene that
followed the fe. ding OF this marvel Of poesv.
Suffice 1t TO saw had II published IN the Lsdgcr,
engraved on the coffin plate, embroidered on
SILK and fr med, and intend to order II carved
cEualIL'a finn Letnnn- hHIA IL hall f..r.