The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-01-06
Il GLOOMY NEGOTIA TION,



Hodge, the Danbury undertakers, was
sitting i'll his shop Saturday afternoon
Illuminating gloomily upon the dull times,
when the door opened and in came a
stranger. The visitor was a slim-faced
man, dressed in a dun-colored sut of
rather tight-ftting clothes. He looked
clear around the room, carefully avoiding
a glance at the undertaken until the cir
cult was completed.
Then he looked curiously at him, and
said
els the boss in ?''
eyes, sir, l am one of them. Is there
anything | can do for you, sir ?''
''Well, thatll depend on how we kin
deal, I reckon" replied the stranger, in a
tone Of subdued shrewdness. 81 have
just had to shoulder pretty heavy afflic-
ton. My old woman went under yester-
day." He paused and looked interroga-
lively over the array of collins and caskets.
''Your wife is dead ?'' inquired Mr..
Phipps, with professional anxiety.
''Gou've hit it square, boss" replied the
stranger, with an approving nod.
"What time yesterday did the sad event
occur?''
"About p. NJ, as near as we kin reck-
on"
''Pass away peacefully?"
''Lit out without a groan," explained
the bereaved. ''She d been sick off an on
for about two years an better Not right
down sick all that time, but then don't
think she done a square days work in two
years. It's been great expense all
through, but l don't complain, howsum-
ever. | came in to-day to see about fixin'
her up"
''Ah, yes; you wish to secure a burial
case. We have, as you see, various kinds.
You will want something rather nice,
fancy?" said Mr.. Phipps.
''Well, yes, l want something that will
show considerable grief and sorrer, but
nothing that's going to upset folks, you
know. We are plain people, boss, an at
a time like this-with a great aflliction
shouldered on us-we don't feel like riling
up the neighbors. If it was a husllin' bee
now, or barn raisin' even, I'd calculate
to make their eyes prance right around in
their heads. But" and he sighed heavily,
''tbis is Il hoss of another Color
GLOW would this do you ?'' suggested
Mr.. Phipps, indicating plain rosewood.
''What's the price of that? You see,
boss, we live over in Baxter Plain. It's a
small place, an there amt much style.
We don't want to go in too heavy, you
know"
"Certainly not but :his is very neat
looking article
eyes, :" coincided the widower, sit does
seem as if one needn't feel uneasy with
that coffin in the front room, an the room
full of people,
81 eau let you have that for S45."
"Jee-Oh, | couldn't think of paying
that. Forty-fve dollars. Why, you kin
get wagon il two colors for that money
| You see, boss, this is a plain country
| funeral, an not a torchlight procession, ,
feelingly explained the widower.
"How will this do, then ?'' next inquired
the undertaken, hastily pointing to an
other article of common wood, slightly
stained.
''How much is thai ?'
"Only S1S."
Eighteen dollars, hey? Well. that.
much more like it. Still, don't it strike
you that SIS is pretty steep for thes,
; times ?'
'Not for an article like that, sir. car
assure you that such coffin could no
/ have been bought for cent less than 50:
one year ago."
cit may be cheap, as you say" runina
| ted the bereaved ''yet S1S is good big
/ pile of money. | want something nice, o
| course, but | don't want to Jump in 81
mighty heavy as to make people think
never had a funeral before. You get wha
l mean?''
'Oh, yes, perfectly. You want an arti
Gle that will look respectable and in keep
ing with your circumstances, but yet yo,
do not wish to be too demons.rative il
yonr SORROW"
''By jinks, / guess you've got it squar
on the head" said the pleased sufferer.
''Now this is an article that just answer
the purpose, in my judgment, and l bav
had years of experience
eyes, yes, you must 'av tucked in n heal
of 'em," said the stranger, in tone o
unqualified respect. ''This is a sound one
l suppose" he continued, tapping tn,
sides.
Perfectly so ; we use the very hes
kinds of wood" explained Mr.. Phipps.
'Just see here minute" exclaimed tn
/ stranger, suddenly and impressively draw
/ ing the undertaken to one side. ''You sa,
that coffin is sound as nut, an you wan
SIS for it? Now, I want you TO under
stand there amt anything small about me
an that I've got just as much respect 70
the dead as any other man living, | dom
care.where you snake him from. But win
ter is coming on, you know, an we owe