The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-12-26
"TaE TnIRD DAY COMES A FROST"
Old Age Creeping upon Isaac Brown, the
Sexton of Grace Church.

Sexton of Grace Church.
A World reporter called recently on
Mr. Isaac Brown, of Grace Church, and
said, "How do you do, Mr.. Brown?'
Mr.. Brown was sitting with some
difficulty in a wide armchair in the par
Tor Of his house, in Twenty first street,
| surrounded by those numerous articles
of vertu which he took such pleasure in
collecting during his great European
tour some years since.
"Pm SICK" Mr.. Brown said calmly g,
in answer to The question.
"NObody would suppose it from your
hearty look," pursued the reporter gay
ly, and smiling.
tP'raps he wouldn't" returned MIR.
Brown, coolly; 'll he don't want to
believe it after Pve said ii, its no great
matter any way"
"Mr. Brown, you have been a sexton
great sexton-for many years."
"WelI, every fool knows that"
"Yes, but Mr.. Brown, do you intend TO
90 on being a sexton toreverp One
would suppose that you Of all men
would be apt 10 go The way Of flesh at
some period OF time or other"
This is folly" said the wide man
picking up vase of sculptured lava
from a chair at his side and absorbing a
MS giant stomach was plunged in
series of appalling conyulslons: ~ sup
nose Brown must die th4 same as an
other"
"lhe same as five others, you would
saw. MI. Brown. But L have no wish to
gall you lightly. should like to know
in the interest of the public how long
YOU intend to live, or TO pub it more dell
calely, how long you intend to be the
ieadlng seX{2n ot AmerIcap
II am wifling,o said Mr.. Brown, max
ing an attempt to clasp his hands above
his stomach and failing, ''to enlighten
the public in any reasonable matter. l
am no longer the sexton L was"
'You afe still an ample sacristan, Mr..
Brown"
II am no longer what / was, sir, |
can no longer throw myself lightly into
social festivities and pleasures. Age is
creeping over me, and though age has
been some time in doing it, he has sur
mounted me at last. l have no objec-
tions 10 telling you, sir, that l have al
most entirely relinquished my W ork. l
am to old too stay up nights knocking
about with young people. tripping here
and there until the sun comes up. | am
no longer a young buck, sir; am an old
buck"
wNonsense, Mr.. Brown; you are
hearty and we'll preserved. Why, one
of your limbs is as big as my body.
Now, confess, you have good appetite,
and you could cuff a fellow that ran
| over you-and you take snuff, Sir, with
| the vigor OF a man Of ftive-anu-twenty."
"WelI," said the great sexton, smil-
ing, "I guess 1 am all right If take
| care of my self. l don't want to be out
gadding around nights; but wouldn't
advise any man of my siZ3 TO tackle me.
| | can strike a bow Of two hundred and
thirty pounds now Just the same as
could when knocked this knuckle here
OUT of gear on fellows head"
| "Were you good deal of an ath hlete,
| Mr.. Brown, when you were youngerp
| "Well, yes. didn'G go in for trapezes
much, or horizontal bars, or that sort of
| thing; but | was a pretty good one for
| natural strength. now, L tell you."
| you did not do the lighter gymnas-
tics, Mr.. Brown; you never rode horse
| back on your head, ana never was
| known as an 'lndia-rubber man or q
'boneless beingr"
Nobody ever called me homeless
being sir," said the great sexton, with
digntty.
i'No offense meant, Mr.. Brown-"s
| "And none taken, sir. l merely wish
| it to be understood that NOBODY ever
EXPRESSED to Inc doubt aB to my having
| bones, and. should not take it kindly,
sir, II anybody said l didn't have as
| many bones as anybody else, sir"
"Ot course, Mr.. Brown; you under
sland me, l think. But was about to