The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1885-01-22
A SAD FUNERAL.

Poverty, Sorrow, sickness, Dcati-A Wan
Of Heart-lsendIng Grief
Detroit Free Press
Il was here in Detroit 1T one Of the
city hospitals that | saw the saddcst
funeral ceremony ever witnessed.
1t was that Of a woman who had
literally died by inches. Poverty, sor-
row, and sickness had been her constant
companions for years, and when at last
on hospital bed she drew her last
breath it seemed as if there could DO
nothing left to feel the pang of dissOlu-
ton nothing but skin and bone.
She had been well cared for in her
last sickness by those who gave their
time and service to the work Of charity,
bnt it is doubtful If she knew it. Her
mind lived In the past, and she muir
INJURED in delirium OF happy home,
and seemed to he always carcssing a
little child. Now she would talk to it
in q sweet mother tongue, using the
fond, endearing language Of love to
call it to her again; she seemed to
dread some terrible fate for it, and be-
sought God to take it, oven to take it
away from the evil to come. Always it
was the child that was present with her
SO that pain WAS naught-thc child that
she continually addressed AZ Darling
Emma" and sho died with that name
on her lips.
This was all there was Of the dead
woman.s history. The pail of dark
past had fallen upon her. It was only
known that the child about whom she
had ravcd and prayed was still alive,
and somewhere in the city. But SO far
all search had failed to find her.
The brief funeral cercmonies-at the
expense Of the city, for hers was pau.
per burial --wcrc held in the large par
Tor Of the hospital. A young clergyman
who had Just entered upon his work,
the assistants Of the hospital, the under
taker, hat III hand, and one or two
strangers, were all who were present.
The dead woman lay in q highly var
nisled pine coffin. from which the metal
shells were already falling id q shower
Of tawdry splendor, 80 imperfectly were
they fastened on. Her face was COM
posed aud peaceful. Life and death
had done their worst-the battle was
now over.
In the chill and silence tho voice Of
the young minister, cultured and tune
full, sounded like a strain of music. All
heads bowed as he recited:
am the resurrection and the life
There was scream-a wall Of heart
rcnding griet, and the service was in.
tefrhpted, us a woman, young and hag.
gard, rushed into the room and threw
herself on the coffin; she was dressed
gaily in silk attire. A long feather
dangled from 4 gaudy hat-eyerything
about her bespoke death Saddcr thar
that in the coffin.
Mother, mother" she moaned. why
did you net let me know. oh,
would have come to you ant
worked my fingers to tho bone to SAVE
you. oh. mother, mother! come bacl
to me just to say you forgive me
Mother. it is your own little Emmy. DO
you hear met 1t is Emmy! oh, m,
Cod! | am too late. She will never
speak to mo again"
Pitying friends drew the frenzicd
woman away. In q moment she hat
dashed them aside, and leaning agar
over the dead mother she pressed he
lips onc-twico-thricc to the cold lip
of the dead. Then she clasped he
hands and lifted her eyes to heaven
whilo her lips seemed to DO recording ,
vow. The wintry sun shone out at tina
moment from tho western sky, an(
touched with golden finger the sad, sac
sceile Ut death id life, and life III death
and tho minister resumed the servic
where no had been interrupted.
am tho resurrection and the life.