Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-03-22
SHE PAID THE BILL.
A Girl Redeemed Her Promise to the
Undertaken After Fifteen Years.

Girl Redeemed Her Promise to the
Undertaken After Fifteen Years.
mo, | haven't any news of impor-
lance for YOU" said M. ]. Cullen, the
undertaken, to reporter, "but l can
tell you a mighty nice little story, the
truth of which my books will verify.
1t is about the noble action of little
girl who came to me about fifteen
years ago. She was then about IL
years of age, and despite the fact that
her outward appearance suggested
parental negligence, she appeared to
have a noble and honest heart. 1t was
about Z o'clock of cold January even
ing when she walked into my Office
almost frozen and crying bitterly.
She asked to see me, and when made
myself known she stopped crying and
told me very pitiful story that would
soften the heart in the coolest of per-
sons She said she lived near my
stable; that her father was a drunk
ard and her mother was dead. She
and a little brother Z years of
age, of whom she thought the
world, were cared for by the neigh
bors when the father was on a spree,
and, despite the fathers misconduct,
the little girl could not be induced to
leave him. She kept the house and
prepared the meals. She bore her lot
philosophically and tried to be happy,
but her whole peace of mind was al
most wrecked when after about two
weeks sickness her little brother died.
He was her pet, and the two were
much attached to one another. She
again burst into tears, and between
heavy sobs she said that on account of
her fathers evil ways there was no
money in the house, and she did not
know how her little brother could be
buried. She had been told that the
city would bury the remains, but
when she looked into the manner in
which such a burial would be per-
formed-that the coffin would be a
plain pine box and that instead of
hearse wagon would take him to
potter's field-she became almost fran
tic and would not allow it. She then
pleaded with me to bury her brother.
She wanted him to have white cof-
fin, white hearse with white horses,
and his remains to be taken to Calvary
cemetery. Crying bitterly, she said:
L will give you my word of honor to
pay you as soon as | get the money"
was much touched by the story, and
went to the home of the child and
there learned the truth of her state
ment. The dead boy was laid on the
bed, which was neatly made up by the
little girl. Immediately took charge
of the funeral, and complied with the
every wish of the child. l never ex-
pected pay, and although thought of
the story for some time after never
expected to see the child again. Not
long since, while seated in my office,
handsome and well dressed young
lady entered, and, addressing me by
name, called me aside. She asked me
if | remembered her, and l was COM
PEELED to acknowledge my ignorance.
Imagine my surprise when she told
me of the little ragged child of fifteen
years ago. 1 am that little girl, she
said, and l have come, according to
promise, on my word of honor, to pay
you the bill l looked over the books
and found the account and she paid it.
She has married well and her hus-
band is a prominent and prosperous
business man. st Louis Globe-Dem-
/ Ocpat