The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-04
WIDOW PRATT'S GRIEF.
The Cause Of. the Deacon's Death. and the
Unique Manner in Which II Is Commemorated
ial to the Indianapolis Journal

LAMBERTvHLE, n. j., Aug. 3.-Not three
miles from this town, in farm house, is the
most curious memorial of man that was
probably ever prepared. 1t is the strange
tribute to the memory of Deacon Elisha
Pratt by his wife. The deacon was a very
jolly man. and one of the main props in the
local Methodist church. He was not only
jolly, but very fond of society, He was
never SO happy as when he had his house
full of company. The ministers of the
church, who travelled more or less loved TO
stop over night at the Pratt residence.
Pratt was prosperous farmer. His acres
were many, and his crops were nearly al
ways profitable. His house was one of the
long, comfortable mansions of New Eng
land type. Pratt built it after the plan of
the old Pratt homestead in Vermont,
where the Deacon was born. There were
plenty Of big bedrooms with capacious
feather mattresses. Not only was the
deacon jolly and fond of society, but he
was ghty good liver In fact, he was
considerable of gourmand, and if he had
bad habit, 1T was of Over-eatlng. Rum
did not bother the Deacon much, because
he rarely INDUCED even in a drink of
stanch jersey applejack. But he was de-
cidedly fond of cider, and he kept it in his
cellar all the year around. 1t was of a
pretty. hard variety, and when partaken Of
in copious quantities, it did the drinker up
in short order.
1t was one year ago this month that the
Deacon died. He had his house full OF
Pratt invited them to stop over night. and
said he would give them a good dinner.
None of his invitations were declined, and
about a dozen ministers and some of their
wives sat around the DeacOn's festal board.
Afro pro% t.<a love l.xar l.xxc 1...x.
votedly, and, knowing his appetite, catered
| to it on all occasions. had beaten her record
in the preparation of the meal. 1t was aq
regular Old-fashiOned New England dinner,
and meats, all kinds of vegetables, includ-
ing cucumbers. pastry, watermelon, grapes.
ice-cream and hard cider in abundance
and likewise in one of his hnngriest. Hs
ate beyond moderation, and even his good
wife, who felt proud of her husbands ap-l
petite because 1t was tribute to her cooke
ing. was anxious about his health. She.
noted carefully how much he ate of eachs
article, and treasured it in her mind.
The party broke up about II o'clock. AT
5o'clock the next afternoon Deacon Pratt
died of cholera morbus. His wife could
the largest the neishbortood had wit
messed for half century. Eight
dinner, acted as pall-bearcrs, and the
tears, over the coffin. After the body had
been inferred for several days. several en-
terprising tombstone makers called on the
widow to ascertain what kind of shaft:
she proposed erecting over the remains Of
| the deceased. Mrs. Pratt said she wanted
very plain slab, as she bad a different and
and more fitting memorial in mind. SO tho
marked ed by piece OK
| ceased's age and birthplace, and two angels
bearing a soul aloft on 1T. Two weeks aften
| the funeral Mrs. Pratt went to Philadel-,
| phia and ordered the wonderful memorial
| already referred to. 1t required some.
weeks to get it up, and then it was sent tol
| the farm. Here is the best description.
| that eau be given of the tribute to the
| Deacon. Under large glass case is an;
| arranged in regular order. are portions of
meat, vegetables. watermelon, cue
cgmber, ice,cream, pie. etc.. mold-'
as near as possible, the exact quantity %
! each of these articles that the Deacon alta
| the evening before he died. They stand on
the platter In just the order that the real
duplicates We're consumed by Mr.. Pratt.
! Scattered through the solids are goblets
| full of wax. colored to represent the cider
| that the Deacon imbibed during the same
dinner. Each wax imitation is perfect and
looks as though 1T were a real piece of meao
or portion of fruit. The quantity repre-
| sented Is enormous. and one feels at once
that any man ought to die after getting
away with such meal. On top OF the
| lass case is little arch made of solid sii,
Yer. Above the arch is the silver figure or
an angel blowing trumpet suspended
| from the center OF the arch is tiny table
| OF white marble, on which. In deep black
| letters, is engraved the following words:
This is what the Deacon died Of"
| As ridiculous as this all seems. it was
! anything but ridiculous to the widow. On
| the contrary, she considers 1T the most pro-
| found tribute. The case STANDS on table
| in the parlor. the cloth of which Is entirely
| black. Every evening since the memorial
| arrived. Mrs Pratt has closed the parlor
| doors and sat in front of the wax aggrega-
| ton of yictuals for an hour and wept az
| thou Oh her heart would break She never
| goes near the Deacon's grave. She says
there is nothing there 10 remind her of
| Pratt while beneath the case are the SYM
| bOIs. in perfect duplicate, of the things he
| was so fond of when alive. On Decoration
| day. while other widows in the vicinity
| went 70 the cemeteries and strewed flowers
on the graves of their beloved, the widow
| Pratt remained in her parlor and slowly
! waved over the glass case the flag that tha
| Deacon used 10 stick ont of the window on
| patriotic anniversaries, sobbing with each
! fiutter of the stars and stripes When any
of her friends or relatives call. they are az
| once ushered into the parlor and made to
meekly survey the duplicate of the Dea.
| cons last meal. Were anyone To even get
close to the edges of smile, il would mean
| the instant loss of the widow Pratt's