Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-01-29
A LONELY DEATH.
Pathetic story OF Low Life Told by a De-
troit Journalist.

Patheti story OF Low Life Told by n De-
troit Journalist.
t+-Tas-rcrc IN Detroit NJ one OF the
ci;y hospitals that ! saw the saddest
funeral ceremony | ever witnessed.
II was thai Of a woman who hal
literally died by inches. Poverty, sorrow
and sickness had been her constant
companions for years, and when a. last
on a hospital bed she drew her hast
breath. it seemed as If there could be
nothing left to feel the pang Of dissolu-
tion-nothing bu. skin aud bone.
She had been well cared for In her
last sickness 10y those who gave their
time aud service TO the work Of charity.
but il is doubtful IL she knew Il. Her
mind lived in the past, and she muir
INJURED in delirium Of a happy home and
seemed TO be always care.slng a little
child. Now she would talk to it in a
sweet mother-tonguc. u ing the fond,
%endeariag language Of love 20 call il 10
her; again she seemed TO dread some
terrible fate for il. and besought God to
save il, even TO take it away from the
evil 10 come. Always il was the child
that was present with her, so that pain
was naught-the child tina. she con
~tinually addressed as Darling Emma"
and she died with hat name on her
lips.
This wa all there was Of the dead
woman's history. The pail Of a dark
past had fallen upon her. II was only
known that she child about whom she
had rayed and prayed was still alive,
aud somewhere in the city. But SO far
all search hal failed 10 find her.
The brief funeral ceremories-at the
expense Of the city, for hers was a pau
per burial-were held in the large par
Tor Of the hospital. A young clergy
man who had just entered upon his
work, the, assistants Of the hospital,
the undertaken, hat in hand, and
one or two strangers, were all who
wero present. The dead m lay in
a highly varnished pine collin, from
which the metal shells were already
falling In "A shower Of tawdry splendOr,
so imperiectly were they fastened on.
Her face was composed and peaceful.
Life and death had done their worst
the battle was now over.
In the chill and silence the voice OF
the young minister, cultured and tune
ful, sounded like "A strain Of music. All
heads bowed as he rec.ted;
II em tho resurrection and the life"
Thete was n scream-a wall Of heart
repding grief, and tho service wa, in
terrupted. as "A woman, young and bag
gard, nj he'd into the and threw
herself on the coffin; she wa DIRE sed
gaily in silk attire. A long feather
dangled from a gaudy hat-eyerything
about her bespoke a death sadder than
that in the coffin.
"MOther, mother, - she moaned, .'why
did you not let me know? Oh / would
have come 10 you and worked my
fingers 10 the bone 10 save youl Oh
mother, raotherl come back 10 me Just
10 say you forgive me. Mother, II Is
your own little Emmy Do you hear
me? IL Is Emmyl Oh. my Godi I am
too lriel She viii never speak 10 me
again.
Plying friends drew the frenzled
woman away. In a moment she had
dashed them asida and leaning again
over the dead mother she pressed her
lips ones twicc-thrice 20 the cold
lips d the dead Then she elasped her
hands and lifted her eyes to Heaven,
Nhils pgr lips seemed 70 be recording 4