River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-09-11
A Strangers Chance.


Death was busy on Baker street the
other morning Mer were seen to enter
q certain house, or p S. around TO the
rear, and mems heads could be seen over
a high hoa&d fence hiding the back ward
from public view. One man stood at the
gate, looking up and down the street, as
is expecting the undertaken, and as men
passed in hc was heard TO say:
"Died about an hour ago, and bis family
feel awful about itP
He was looking very sad when Stran-
ger came Gcross the street, peered around
the corner Of the house, and confidential
ly inquired:
Went off rather sudden, did heln
''Yes, rathey sudden was the reply.
These sudden deaths are tuff, and that's
fact Leaves a family sometimes with
out a leaf of bread in the house. had
an uncle drop off just that way, and the
only provisions in the house was jar OF
pickles and a pound of candles. Was
the late deceased prepared, do you
thinkl"
"Yes, as much as one in his station of
hfe could be, answered the man at the
gate
"Wasn regular in his church attend
ance thent"
me; he was never inside of church
in his life"
Land save us but that sad Mebbe,
though. he was cripple, and couldn't
| get lheT | had an uncle once in just
that fix, but believe he S in Heaven all
the same Was the late deceased of
serious turn Of mindl'
"IIe was He would 90 days and days
and days without speaking"
"Ah! then the chances are that he's all
right. Didn leave any will, did hel"
Il think not"
"Well, it's just as well. The family
feel terrible over it, Of course}"
"They are all crying
Just so. had nm uncle die once,
and his family didn't stop crying for a
week. On such occasions never try to
prevent liberal flow Of tears. Has any
one been in 10 console the familYf
81 think MT"
II used to be a 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 a one-hOsS wagon to come over
!
thing as smooth as Sunday morning in
an hour after got there. Will the iu-
neral be held at the housel"
"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 a success OF j..
When | die, want the funeral at ,he
house, WITH the best chairs saved ior Inc
rich folks who drop in. ] used TO 80 .
sort OF head man at funerals Perhaps !
could be Of service in here"
"Wel. ! dunno"
II shouldn't go slamming through the
house AMI peeking into all the corners, as
some head men do at funerals. No, my
plan is 70 work ON the quiet 7 never
have much to say on such occasions, but
I'm there, Just the same. had an uncle
die once"
"Perhaps you are good on the liftln in.
terruptei 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 It
comes TO "A lift, Kin beat any two under
takers IlNeled together, put ulun WANT
to seem too forward If there any lift
ing To be done in there, let me go in.
had an uncle die once, and
"Come along quietly remarked the
other, as the drav entered the beck yard
The two passed around the house The
crowd in the yard respectfully opened
, for them, and the man VINO had leaned or
the gate softly said
Now, stranger, you may tackle one
end OF him
1t was dead hOrsel