Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-09-20
an zsroxrssrxs srEmozrzE.
rrsSute OF Desson Pratcs widow TO Hl-
Memory.

The story of the queerest tribute to
the deed on record comes from LAMBERT
Vile, n. j., says the Philadelphia
Times Near that town lives Mrs.
Elisha Pratt, widow Of Deacon Pratt,
who was famous as q farmer. genial
soul and an ardent Methodist. He was
particularly fond of tickling his appetite.
and was deemed considerable Of an epi-
cure. His wife was an excellent cook.
and her dinners were rare exhibitions OF
,ulinafy skill for rural neighborhood.
About year ago number OF ministers
we're on their way TO the camp meeting
1t Ocean Grove. There were Just
lOZen of them. Deacon Pratt had them
Ill stop overnight at his farmhouse and
gave them rousing dinner early In the
'vening 1t was dlnuer modelled on
he New England plan, as Pratt came
rom Vermont and 80 did his wife.
fhere was everything conceivable TO eat
and plenty Of reasonably hard cider 10
irink. The deacon was In the best OF
lumor, and partook even more heartily
han usual of the food. His wife, ao-
,ustomed as she was to her husband's
arge appetite, was astOnished at the
amount no consumed, and made a men
al inventory of the various articles and
The amount OF each that no swallowed.
The next afternoon Deacon Elisha
Pratt died Of cholera morbus. The ply
lician said the dinner knocked him out.
The funeral was the largest the neigh
Jorhood ever knew. Eight OF the twelve
'lergymen present at the dinner acted as
1all-beareTs and tho other four ofliciated
1t the church and by the grave.
The widow was inconsolable for a
While and talked about the tribute she
proposed having prepared in memory OF
Ter husband. Everybody supposed she
Eas going to erect a handsome monu-
mont and tho makers of tombstones sent
bids. But they were all mistaken.
Mrs Pratt had In view the most re-
narkable and yet suggestive Of memo
'ials. She had the work done quietly in
Philadelphia, and 1t required some weeks
o finish it.
When it arrived at the farm and some
II the Widows intimate friends were in
flted to call and see tho tribute, they
we're atilrst astounded and then shocked
and finally thoy felt q disposition to
augh that was controlled with difficulty.
)R the table in the parlor stood large
glass case. On top Of the case was
small arch made Of solid silver. Sur
mounting the arch was the figure In sill
N''A Va 14 tAAt1tA hAgfAAb q " aAAA lNgt ~
side the arch and suspended from its cen
er was a tablet of white marble, on
which was inscribed the following words
II deep, black letters:
''Thl5 Is What the Deacon Died OF.
But it was underneath the glass case
hat the great surprise awaited the spec
ators. There on plates ranged in the
)rder they were served, were exact du-
lllcates in wax and some In glace shape,
ll the various articles of food the dea-
,on had eaten at the dinner the evening
before he died, and also exact duplicates
n quantity and size of the amounts he
lad consumed. There was large plate,
)f soup, q big slice OF meat, heaping
;ido dishes full of vegetables, three Gu
,umbers, huge slices ofpie, a quarter OF
l watermelon, two plates Of Ice cream, o
small cup of coffee and three goblets OF
ider. They were perfect pieces of work
ra1SaX as well as perfect representations
d asTlat had passed down the deacon's
hroat at the dinner. The whole thing
lad cost several hundred dollars.
The neighbors naturally ridiculed the
tribute at first, but they all respected the
widow, and when they found that she
vas really in earnest in her grief and in
Ter regard foF the wax memorial, they
ostTained their mirth and said little
Ibout 1t outside.