The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-01-27

nor dared his relatives press him to do
30. But the dreadful sickness de-
veloped more and more, and the dread
of contamination was increased there
by, so that the relatives actually pro-
posed to the unfortunate man to put
an end to bis miserable existence
They made him present Of q long
coat for shroud, but the leper could
not make up his mind to die yoluu-
tarily. Still, from that time be pur-
chased quantity of opium and kept
it in readiness, to be used for commit
ting suicide whenever he should zee
his necessity for doing 30.
Lately it happened that the leper
was lying asleep in his hut. His con
came in and wanted to bring him
something to eat, but calling into his
hut be received no answer from his
father. There was soon a gathering
of people, but no one ventured to 60
inside the hat. Some stones were
thrown at the door, to see if the man
took any notice oft, and as there was
still no sign of life in the hut the gen.
eral impression was that the occupant
was dead.
1t is well known that the Chinese
are afraid of a dead body, and in the
case of a leper this fear is greatly in
creased. There is also an opinion
that the disease is propogated By GER
tain flies found feeding on the corpse
and carrying the poison of leprosy
everywhere, 80 that even vegetables
growing in the neighborhood a:e con-
sidered to become infected and are
therefore destroyed. The resolution
was forthwith taken to have the lerer
buried, and villagers pressed his son
to make haste and have the business
done. He therefore went to q neigh
boring village to engage coolies for
digging a grave and carrying the
corpse out. During the absence of
the son the elder of the village came
to the scene, and learning how matters
stood, boldly opened the door and en-.
tered the hut to convince himself
whether his relative was really dead,
when 10 and behold it turned out that
the leper had only enjoyed a sound
sleep, from which all the noise and
even the throwing of stones at his
door had not been able to disturb him.
Seeing that there had been a mistake,
the elder sent at once message to
the SON to inform him that his father
was not dead, and no coolies were
needed to bury him.
However, the coolies had been en-
gagged for a certain sum of money and
came along with the soil, ready to dc
the work which was required of them,
or at all events, to receive the prom.
Used pay. After some deliberation
the villagers unanimously put it before
the leper that as things had come to
this pass he had better make up his
mind to allow the funeral of himself
to 20 on. To this the unfortunate
man consented and took leave of bis
daughter-in-law and two grandchil.
dren, esjoining her to feed the two
pigs well and also take care of the
poultry. A coffin was now provided
and the shroud redeemed from the
pawnshop. A fowl was killed and
rice and pork provided rs farewell
dinner for the leper.
Next morning very early the pro.
cession started from the hut. First
came the coffin carried by the coolies
and behind it walked the leper to bis
grave, the SON and the elder bringing
up the rear, carrying the shroud and
the pot which contained the opium.
After this he put on the shroud and
pair of shoes and laid himself down
in the coffin, when the coolies put the
lid on it, without waiting till the leper
should have lost consciousness, and
lowered the coffin into the grave.
TO- The Nh,,roh