Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-09-07
A Strangers Chance.

other morning. Men were seen to enter
a certain house, or pass around to the
rear, and mems heads could be seen over
high board fence hiding the back yard
from public view. One man stood at the
gate, looking up and down the street, as
if expecting the undertaken, and as men
passed in he was heard to say:
"Died about an hour age, and his family
feel awful about it!''
He was looking very sad when stran-
ger came across the street, peered around
the corner of the house, and confidential
ly inquired:
"Went off rather sudden, did he?"
eyes, rather sudden, was the reply.
These sudden deaths are tuff, and that's
a fact Leaves a family sometimes with
out a loaf Of bread in the house. I had
an uncle drop off just that way, and the
only provisions in the house was jar of
pickles and pound of candles. Was
the late deceased prepared, do you
think?"
eyes, as much as one in his station of
life could be-" answered the man at the
gate.
"Wasn't regular in his church attend
ance then9"
"No; he was never inside of church
in his life."
Gland save us! but that's sad! Mebbe,
though. he was cripple, and couldn't
get there2 I had an uncle once in iust
, that fix, but I believe hes in Heaven all
| the same. Was the late deceased of a
| serious turn of mind?"
HE was. He would 90 days and days
and days without speaking
"Ah! then the chances are that he's all
right. Didn't leave any will, did hep
II think not"
! "Well, it's just as well. The family
feel terrible over it, Of course?"
! "They are all crying"
. Just so. had an uncle die once,
and his family didn't stop crying for a
week. On such occasions I never try to
prevent a liberal flow of tears. Has any
one been in to console the family2'''
~ think not"
II used to be great consider some
years past, but I'm kinder rusty now,
! and guess won't go in. had an uncle
die once, and they sent seventeen miles
for me in one-hoss wagon to come over
and console the family. I had every
thing as smooth as Sunday morning in
an hour after I got there. Will the iu.
neral be held at the houseg''
"Thc ceremonies will take place right
here" sighed the man at the gate.
"Just so. That's my idea Of it. had
an uncle died once, and we had the funer.
al at the house, and made success of it
When I die, want the funeral at the
house, with the best chairs saved for the
rich folks who drop in. I used to lie &
sort of head man at funerals. Perhaps
could be of service in here.'
"Well, I dunno"
81 shouldn't go slamming through the
house and peeking into all thecorners, az
some head men do at funerals. No, my
plan is to work on the quiet. I never
have much to say OH such occasions, but
I'm there, just the same. had an uncle
die once"
"Perhaps you are good on the lift9" in.
terrupted the man at the gate, as a dray
hove in sight.
"You-have- struck it!' drawled the
stranger, as he slapped the other on the
back. II wanted to say that when il
comes to a lift, I kin beat any two under
takers riveted together, but l didn't want
to seem too forward. If there's any lift
ing to be done in there, let me go in.
had an uncle die once, and
/ "Come along" quietly remarked thu
other, as the dray entered the back yard
The two passed around the house. Th,
crowd in the yard respectfully opened
for them, and the man who had leaned or
the gate softly said:
"Now, stranger, you may tackle ont
end of him.
It was dead horse!