The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-04-16
POLL IS DEAD.
A Touching Scene Among the
Southern Mountaineers.
nj. Quad In the Guise of Comforter to the
Bereaved-He Assists as Best He Can in
the Funeral Serviees-Doubts of
the Mother Removed.


When / reached Morgan's, on the
Yadkin river, North Carolina, there
we're several people about the door,
and three or four mules hitched to the
fence 1t looked as if the family were
in trouble. and | was passing on when
Morgan himself came out and stopped
me and said:
Il couldn't let you go by. nohow.
Deed, but I'm glad you've come"
You seem to be in trouble?"
AN that's one reason why you
must stop. My Poll is dead. She
was bit by a RATHER early this morn
ing on yon hill Come in an chirk
the ole woman Bit"
1t was a specimen mountain cabin,
and they were specimen mOuntaineers.
The mother sat rocking, with an apron
covering her whole head, and a boy OF
ten sat in corner wiping his eyes and
nose with utter impartiality on the
family towel. Such of the neighbors
as had come in were awed TO silence
by the presence of the corpse on the
bed. Poll was girl of eighteen, poor
and scrawny, and her face having that
pinched look which the face of every
mountain female bears as something
natural to it. 1t appeared to be a
great relief to all to have a stranger
arrive, and after a few minutes Mrs.
Morgan uncovered her head and ex-
planned.
The Lord jist brung it about His
self He said to Pol: You 60 up
yon hill and git some sassafrax root
for coffee, and she went. Then He
said to the snake: When Poll Gums
you bite her in the calf OF the left leg
and he bit her. 1t was the Lord and
nobody else"
Eyes. that's so. Jenny" said the
husband.
I'm sartin it's So" chorused all the
others, while the boy added:
Eyes. but what did the Lord want
to hev Poll bit fur? Was He'un down
on she'un?"
angel, and she couldn't be an angel till
she was dun gone dead" answered the
mother.
'Thet's jist it," sighed the father
ut is hard for you TO lose her, but
she is better off" said, to break the
long silence that followed.
Reckon she ar" replied the moth
er. Poll was a good gal. an she'd a
bin mar'd this fall, and the Teller she
was to 5ev mar'd has got a mewl and
three hogs an gun, but the Lord
knows best. When He wants any
body fur an angel they has got to go
somehow. Stranger, do you know
about Heaven"
81 have read about it."
''Do they hev rich buds and good |
Twin up th4.?"
The very best. Mr.. Morgan"
I'm glad ont. Poll never had nuth- I
ing better'n cheap calico to war and |
pone an bacon to eat, an hope she'll |
now git as good as any body. Hev
angels got to be eddecated?"
mo, ma'am. All are alike"
That's powerful right. Poll never
went to skule but two days, an if the
Lord should ak her how fur it was to
Greensboro, Or whar the Tennessee
begun she'd hev been up tree Yes,
that's powerful right"
AN gwine b'arfut. an smokin'
pipe or dippin' snuff wouldn't count
agin her, would it?" asked the father.
81 think not. There was nothing
evil in that"
mot bit Poll was a powerful
good gal It's like losin' teeth to lose
her"
The boy was evidently a little jeal-
GUS, and he suddenly spoke up:
"Wish snake would bite me?"
Hiram. don't you 90 fur to consider,
to remember any SIGH wicked thingr"
sharply exclaimed the mother. when
the Lord wants you He'll send for YOU.
Meb be He'll hey you bit by snake,
an meb be He'll hev We clawed by a
wildcat, or pizened by jim-weed."
Yes, Hiram. you shetr' sighed the
father.
wanted to go on that evening, but
Morgan said he'd take it as a great
favor If I'd stay over to the funeral
next day. and so i couldn't well get
away. When the morrow came it
brought with it the only preacher for
Ten miles around. and he took me for