The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-06-28
A Cemetery Without Grass.


turned our steps from the busy city of
Pueblo, making our way to the cemetery
which lies mile to the northward. True,
our eyes had grown somewhat accus.
toned to the dry, sandy waste of coun-
try which stretches about this city Of
Colorado; but we had not thought that
the desert could extend within the sa-
cred spot; and the cemetery of the east
naturally rose in our imagination.
Think of that in spring or summer, and
a vision of flowers and living green is
presented; i'll autumn, and there is the
gorgeous October foliage;-even winter
seems to lay his hand lightly upon the
beauties that surround the quiet sleep.
ers.
The little mounds were in sight at
last, but the grass and the flowers did
not appear; on the contrary, the earth
with the surrounding sand hills, pre-
scented a scene so dead that all things
seemed hopeless of the resurrection
morn. The chief object which called us
to the quiet spot was desire to see the
grave of Chinaman. The funeral had
taken place some two weeks before. The
potters field contained the grave, which
was easily recognized by the curious ar
ray upon it. 1t was shaped as the others,
no stone, but wooden slab marked the
head and foot; the one at the head bore
some Chinese characters, while the one
at the foot told in English the name and
date. Over the head was plate upon
which lay roast chicken, then bowl
of rice, some Joss-sticks stuck in the
earth, after these small cup with kind
of outs, bottle half buried in the cal tn,
another small cup, and lastly plate with
the head of the chicken upon it, and an
other Just over the foot containing kind
of meat. Everything bore the marks of
fire, and by the side Of the grave we're
| the remains of fire, in which were frag-
ments of Chinese paper and half-burned
Joss-sticks. After gazing for Q time
upon these marks of very different civ
ilizstion, we passed on to the other por-
tons Of Gods acre." and found them
scarcely less strange than the one Just
left.
The desire to, in some way, beautify
the last resting place Of loved ones seems
breast that, if one means fails, another is
employed. Though not tree nor spear
of green turf greeted the eyes, yet all
hIOuuu were tuc yOhcub VI lOVluy ubuub,
hands impelled by q motive so sacred
that they will not be gainsayed. Here
we're the tiny mounds, whose brown
earth was strewed with playthings that
the little hands had ceased to grasp.
There two graves side by side, whose
surroundings betoken poverty rather
than wealth; the one glittering mass of
blue; the other q cleaning red. Upon
nearer approach. the blue and the red
proved to be glass in tiny pieces. The
hills about Pueblo abound in small stones
which, though not valuable, are pleas
ing to the eye. Many of the graves are
covered with these stones, nicely fitted
together. those of the more wealthy show
ing that the ornamental stone-work had
been done by the hands Of Q skillful
workman. The sides only were covered
with the stones. while upon the Fat top
was kind of coarse sand 10 which the
name was often traced with stones.
Many we're the ways in which the friends
of the sleepers had proved their desire
to do what they could.
Daily the tices life 60 eobing and flowing beside
Thousand. Of throbsins hearts where .hsin Ire .
Thousands Of aching brains where theirs NO longer
fhousands Of toiling hands where thsirs have
ceased from their labor.
Thousands OF weary feet where theirs have com
pleted their journey