Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-23
DADS FAVORITE GAL.
Touching Picture of Funeral Among
Humble Folk.
From the New Orleans Picayune.l

From the New Orleans Picayunel
had been assisting in decorating the
little Episcopal church, and as we stood at
the door before leaving some one re-
marked, "The church is dressed as if for a
bride" Then, as we stood chatting, a lad
with red hair came to the foot of the steps
and beckoned to me, and saw he had
been weeping. He said abruptly:
"My names Smith. Sis is dead, and
Dad says Will you ask parson to be here at
4 o'clock? And will your folks join in with
the funeral when we pass your house !?
Cause Sis funeral is going to be so small.
There amt many wagons out our way,
nohow.
"Dad's got powerful heap of friends in
the country, butts too far for 'em to walk
in. Sis done took a notion to be brought
here, cause she belonged to this church;
and Dad told 'er fore she died not to be
uneasy about it, he'd bring her hisself,
and it was sight of comfort to Sis. Neigh
Dor Jones told Dad he'd drive the wagon
with the coffin Dad thanked him, but
he'd promised Sis hisself, he lowed. Guess
/ kin tell Dad you'll speak to the parson
1t would make his mind easy like, cause
he said he knew your pa, and he was a
likely man, always a-sticking to adding
what he said
"Indeed you can," I replied, and then
inquired if his sister had long been i'll.
"She amt never been sick at all; but
bout year ago Sis beau, Alec, fell off a
schooner and was drowned. Sis amt ever
had no courage since, and took to gettin'
poor lookin' and white, and coughed most
of the time. The doctor lowed it was
Sumption but no one ever hearn Sis say
nothin' allied her 'ceptin she was tired.
'Dad took on powerful the night fore
she died; said she was his favorite gal, and
he Just couldn't gin her up nohow, and
laid his head on the bed and cried like a
baby: but Sis done raised herself up
sprightly, she pats Dad on the head sort'er
pleadin' like. Dad let me go; l amt
ever goin' to be tired no more, and daddy,
T'll see Aleck soon; think on that Sis
put her hand in his'n an kinder smiled at
him like child, and Dad never let go on
it till the sun was rising, when she sin a
big sigh and they told Dad she was gone.
dad he's mighty quiet; he done made
the coffin hisself-for Dads carpenter,
you knowles covered it all with white,
and it looks powerful neat. He amt let
one on us lay finger on it to help him, he
amt"
Then the poor lad, completely overcome,
sobbed aloud, pulled his cap over his eyes
and started off at sharp pace; as l stood
where he had left me, brushing the tears
from my ewes, he called back
81 say, Miss, if we are late you won't
let the parson give us up, will you? Cause
the spokes in that dang wagon Dad Dor
rowed is powerful weak, and We will have
to come them eight miles creepy like"
| answered him the parson would wait
until midnight if necessary, and indeed
the last rays of the sun were getting low
when l joined the sad little cortege COM
ing SO slow down the street, two horsemen
ahead, then Dad driving the shabby little
wagon with white sheet thrown over it
to protect the white coffin, which looked
weird in the waning light; then followed
three or four dilapidated vehicles with
mourners, and that was Sis's funeral.
AS we turned the corner to the church
yard the tolling of the bell began, and
when we reached the church, Dad got
down, and with trembling hands led the
wagon to the very steps, and only then was
he able, at the foot of the little Greek
| cross, to give her into other hands.
To the solemn words, 81 am the resur-
rection and the life" we entered the
church. Surely, think, 'The peace Of
God, which passeth all understanding" is
there. The last rays of sunlight had
touched the stained-gIass windows, and the
beautiful little ediice was all aglow with
| crimson and gold light. 1t touches ten
| derby the poor little white coffin until it
| was poor no longer. Dad had it clothed
in royal purple, and as he stood with
folded arms and uplifted eyes, the figures
of Faith" and "Hope" in memorial
| window seemed to say: "Only be thou
strong and very courageous, for the Lord,
| thy God, is with thee" Was it prophecy,
or fancy, who can say? The golden crown
from an opposite window descended upon
the silvered head of the white-robed priest
| saint-like, with very glory of light
around him. The choir softly sings, "Art
thou weary" but at the fifth stanza,
'If still hold closely to him,
What hath he at last?
| Sorrow vanquished, labor ended,
Jordon passed.
| the notes of the little soprano died away
| in a sob, and we left the fower-decked
church and golden lights, and Sis was laid
to rest in the peaceful little churchyard.
Dad broke down once, and Samantha,
! DADS oldest Gal forgot to save her great