Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1878-05-09
HOW A GRIEF STRICKEN PA
RENT BOUGHT A COFFIN.

The Memphis Avalanche says:
The customer was a stranger, atl as
he sat down On coffin-box he dop-
ed his arms on his knees, put his
fingers together, and his head for
ward in bargaining way that fore.
armed the transfer agent for the coIr>
ing struggle.
I'm poor, very. poor"-the first
line of skirmshers in the attack
''Fye scarcely enough to carry the
poor boy home that his mother nay
take one last look at her idols fee"
-sniffles making the first column "
the advance corps-''I ask you, sil,
to pity my condition, and do the best
you can for me-
That grave-faced undertaken shook
the strangers hand, in frcnled
and professional sympathy, and, IN
husky tones, said, as he thumped a.
pine coffin to show its soundnes 4
Here's pretty one; strong woed,
elegant polish, soft lining, and I'll
put It, sir, to you below cost-S1s"
Cant pay it, sir; cant pay it,
disappearance of agitation. ''Therr's'
a knot there, and you see the piltw
is soiled. It's too dear entirely"
They fought sharply and ferceF,
and the undertaken fell back to If-|
teen 1oIlags, swearing it was giving
the case away. 5s = ( E.ss ~
"Wcll. you viii pack it in ice prl
that, l suppose, said the generos,
grief-stricken parent.
Great grave close no! 1t viii
cost three dollars to pack it in ice atl
the lowest figure" -
HostilGes were resuned, and tie
fight waXed hot, but the treat of seeG-
ing another coffin dealer forced tie
undertaken back to fifteen dollars for
coffin and packing. ]
''WclI," said the poor sutfcroe.s
'I'm too poor to luxuriatc ice, %
we won't pack him. That puts The
coffin at twelve dollars. - r
/ mo, Stree it don't" Is
l But you said tue packing os
three dollars, and taking that fl
t.s:ecn 4olIars- leaves twelve do.ias, j
"But-.''
You wouldn't swindlc poor n
guish-smitten father?'-hc capp,
the intcrrogativc with tears, and b.
undertaken despairingly gave in.
The coffin has no handles" 81,
the parent, blowing his nose. &
"Of course not"
"Wcll, | can't take it then
"Why, man cried the cXaspl
atcd dealcr-''thc handles are vol
one dollar and fifty cents
You must throw them in, or i
throw up the trade
But I've already lost five dolls
in this bargain
Cant help it. viii you not p,
my poverty
The handles were thrown in
twelve dollars for the rig.
5 The purchaser paused and mcdit;
D ed, and the salesm ans face wore
u puzzled "what-ne Xt' look.
/ I'm too proud. too eXtravagant
J mused the parent, What matt
pomp and show over the dealt
: Away with vanity! l wont take t
D handles" o." To the undertake
+ Take Off 81 30. l wont take I
: handles"
WHAT" screamed the coffin ma
: Mildly and logically the pareLt p
: it: "You gave me the coffin Al
handles for Sl2. You said, MOI
over, that the handles were wor
: 81 so. l don't want the handle
S and that makes the coffin $40 80.
Il you say, now, $40 for tlIe coffin,
take it. - "No!" "Then adie
|, sir, adieu. l will go where a poo
5 smitten father, too deep in sorrow
;, business, can find one who viii n
c take advantage Of his situatio
!, Adic, ORR.
). "Stop! stop. take it," called
# coffin man. Its ruinous, but y
3 can have it. - sys
d Then the parent pulled out his W
let most plethoric, smiled sadly, d
II paid over his $40 to the conquer
/ tradesman.