Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-01-17
BITS or ENTERTAINING READING


]
had been assisting in decorating the lit
/ tie Episcopal church, and as we stood at the
| door before leaving, some one remarked
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 aud
/ beckoned TO me, and | saw that he had
been weeping. He said, abruptly:
My names Smith. Sis is dead, and Dad
says will you ask parson to be here at
o'clock. And will your folks join in with the
funeral when we pass your house Cause
Sls's funeral is going to be 50 small There
amt many wagons out our way, nohow"
Dads got a powerful heap of friends in
the country, but it's 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 on
easy aboIt it, he'd bring her hisself and it
was a sight of comfort to Sis Neighbor
Jones told Dad he'd drive the wagon with
the coffin. Dad thanked him, but he'd
promised Sis hissef, he lowed. Guess
kin tell Dad you'll speak TO the parson 1t
will make his mind easy like, cause he
said he knew your pa and he was likely
man, always sticking to doing what he
said.
Indeed you can, 50 | replied and then in
| quired if his sister had long been i'll.
''She amt never been sick at all but
bout "a year ago Siss beau, Alec, fell off
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 con
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
! 4 his head on the bed and cried like
| baby but Sis done raised herself up spright-
! ", pats Dad on the head, and says sorter
| pleadin like, Dad, let me go; | amt goin'
TO be tired no more, and, Daddy, I'll see
! Alec soon think on that Sis put her
hand in hisn and kinder smiled at him like
a child, and Dad never let go on it till the
sun was risin', when she gin big sigh and
they told Dad she was gone.
Dad he's mighty quiet he done made
the coffin hisself-for Dads a 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 a sharp pace as l stood
where he had left me, brushing the tears
/ from my eyes, he called back
II 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 bor-
owed 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
/ | joined the sad little cortege coming so
] - al. l.
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 Siss funeral.
As we turned the corner to the church
/ yard the toling 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, II am the resur
rection and the life," we entered the
church. Surely, l think 1.-THE peace of God
which passeth all understanding was
there. The last rays of sunlight had
touched the stained glass windows, and the
beautiful little edifice was all aglow with
crimson and gold light 1t touched tender
| " the poor little white coffin until it was
poor no longer Dad it clothed in royal
purple, and as he stood with folded arms
and uplifted eyes, the figures of Faith and
Hope in a 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 de-
scended upon the silvered head of the
white robed priest, saint-like, with a very
glory of light around him. The choir soft
ly sang Art thou weary but at the fifth
| stanza-