Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-11-24
NO. 279
Misfellanepus.
THAT BURIAL LOT.
BY MARK TAwIN.

nau oeeu purely IN the way OF business.
The pleasant May weather suggested a
novelty, namely, trip for pure recrea-
alton, the bread-and-butter element left
out. The Reverend said he would go, too
"a good man, one of the best OF men.
although clergyman. By II at night,
we were in New Haven, and on board the
New York boat. We bought our tickets
and then went wandering around. here
and there, in the solid comfort of being
free and idle, and of putting distance be-
tween ourselves and the mails and tel.-
graphs.
After a while | went to my state-room
and undressed; but the night. was to en-
ticing tor bed. We were moving down
the bay now, and it was pleasant 10 stand
at the window and take the cool night
breeze and watch the gliding lights on
shore. Presently two elderly men sat
down under that window and began con-
versation. Their talk was PROPERLY no
business of mine, yet was feeling friend
ly toward the world and willing to be en-
tertaned. l soon gathered that they were
brothers. that they were from a small
Connecticut village, and the matter in
hand concerned the cemetery. Said one:
"Now, John, we talked it all over
among ourselves, and this is what we've
done. You see. everybody was a-movin'
from the old buryin' ground. and our folks
was almost about LETT to themselves, as
you know; lot wasn't big enough in the
first place; and last year, when Seth's
wife died, we couldnt I hardly tuck her in.
She sort o. overlaid Deacon Shorb's lot,
and he soured on her, so to speak; and on
the rest OF us, too. So We talked it over,
and was for layout in the new SINH
terry on the hill. They want unwilling, if
it was cheap. Well. the two best and
biggest lots was No. 8 and No. 9-both of
a size; nice comfortable room for twenty
six-twenty-six iull crowns, that is; but
you reckon in children and other shorts.
and strike an average, and should say
you might lay in thirty-two or three. pret-
ty genteel-no crowdin' to signify"
That's a plenty, William, which one
did you buy ?"
"Well, I'm a-coming. to that, John. You
see, No 8 was $l3. No. 9 S14-v
Il see. Sos 7 you took No. 81
You wait. l took No. Q. And I'll
tell you for why. In the first place, Dea-
con Shorb wanted it. Well, after the way
he'd gone on about Seth's wife overlap
PIN his premises, I'd "A beat him out of
that No. If I'd a had to stand two dol
lars extra. let alone one. That's the way
| felt about it. Says l, what's a dollar,
any way3 Life's on y pilgrimage, says
L; we halnt here Tor good, and we can't
take it with Us, says |. So just dumped
it down, knowin' the Lord don't suffer a
good deed to 60 for nothin'. and calklatin'
to take IL out o somebody in the course O.
trade. Then there was another reason,
John. No, IS long way the hapdiest lot
IN the simertery, and the likeliest for Sit
uation. 1t lays right on top of knoll in
the dead centre OF the buryin' ground;
and you can see Millport from there. and
Tracy's, and Hopper Mount. and raft o.
farms, and SO on. There amt no better
outlook from buryin' plot in the State.
81 Higgins says so, and reckon he
ought TO know. Well, and that amt
all. Course Shorb had to take No. &;
want no help fort. Now. No. ines
on to No. 9, but it's on the slope OF the
hill, and every time 1t rains it II soke right
down ON the Shorbs, 81 Higgins says It
when the deacon's time comes, he better
take out fire and marine insurance both ON
his remains
Here there was the sound of low,
placid. duplicate chuckle of appreciation
and satisiacton.
Now John. here's little rough draft
OF the ground, that I've made on a piece
OF paper. Up here in the left hand cor.
ner, we've punched the departed; took
them fIom the old graveyard. and slowed
them one along side o t'olher, on first
commissioned plan, no partialities,
with gran ther Jones for a starter, on'y
because it happened so, and windin' up
indlscrimnate with Seth's twins. A little
! crowded towards the end OF the lap-out,
| w a aH xUa NJ nj hao
scatter the twins. Well. next comes the
livin'. Here, where it's marked A, we're
gon' to put Mariar and her family when
they re called; B. that's for brother Hosea
and his'n &c. Calvin and tribe, What's left
in these two lots here-just the jem of
the whole patch for general style and
outlook; they're for me and my folks, and
you and yourn. Which OF them would
you ruther be buried in ?" sf
81 swen you've took me mighty unex-
pected. William! 1t sort of started the
shivers. Fact is, l was thinkin' SO busy
at out maxim things comfortable for the
others, hadn't thought about being bur-
led myself"
Lilies on'y tleetin' show. John, as
the sayin Is. We've all got to 60. sooner
or later. To 60 with clean record 8 the
main thing. Fact is, it's the ON y thing
worth strivin' for, john
"Yes, that's 50, William, that's SO there
amt no getting around it. Which would
you recommendP' a&
well. it depends, John. Are you par
ticular about outlookp ?"
81 don't say am, William l don't say
amt Reely, don't know. Bot main
ly. reckon, I'd set store by asouth ex-
posure." vev
That's easy fixed, John. They're both
south exposure. They take the sun and
the Shorbs get the shade.n s
"How about siie, Williamp"
'D's sandy sile, Els mostly loom."
You may gimme E. then, William;
sandy slle caves in, more or less, and
costs Tor repairs" at
'All rightr ;set your name on here, John.
under +. Now, If you don't mind pawn
me your share OF the Sl4, John, while
we're on the business. everythlng's fixed.n
After some higgling and sharp bargain
ing the money was paid, and John bsde
CONCLUDED ON FOURTH PAGE.1