The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-03-12
LITTLE JIM'S FUNERAL.

Little Jim's death has caused good
deal of talk. 0fthat there can be no
doubt.
Every motherly person in that portion
/ Of South Brooklyn known as The
Patch has been taking about il for the
past week, for Jim Was one of the celeb
rites of that locality.
! II is not alone Of his death they are
talking. however. for that had been an
tieipated for ,Ome time, and besides,
deaths are 50 common there that but lit
tie is thought of it.
Mrs. Moriarity, one of the leading Ia
dies of the Patch, expressed the general
opinion tersely but fairly, when she said
recently:
Sure, the worst thing about dyin' is
that bechune the docthors, the wake, the
undertakers an the buryin', its ehaper to
hive "a rather mixed statement. the
meaning OF which is very clear. how
ever.
No, it was not the death Of little Jim
that caused all the talk before referred
| to.
Not at all.
It was his funeral that gave rise to all
the talk. 1t was one Of the most remar-
kable funerals e-er seen in South Brook
lyn.
No one who knew little Jim in life
would have supposed that he could COM
mand such honor in death.
Jim's life was not one that even the
ordinary street arab would naturally
envy.
The locality in which Jim lived and
died does not include among its inhsbit-
ants any whose names figure in any cite
directory. There are . sprinkling of
longshoremen, some junkmen and truck
men, some ordinary laborers, and some
persons who neither toll or spin. There
are the usual dingy rum shops that are
more prosperous than any other kind of
shops. There are pigs, and goats, and
dogs innumerable, that always seem to be
engaged in breaking city ordinances and
getting their owners into trouble. Taking
it all in all, it is a unique locality in
more respects than one.
Tradition in the Patch has it that at
one period Jim had father, and also
mother. Now, society at the Patch does
not ask for much, bat il would seem that
the parents Of Jim did not come up to
the social requirements Of even this easy
going locality, 50 that there was no regret
when Jim's mother died after prolong-
ed spree, and his father left the Patch,
never to return This did not occur, how
ever, until after, in family brawl. one
or the other, or both of them, had, in
some manner, injured Jim, 50 that he
had remained a cripple until the day of
his death.
1t was about this time that Timothy
Murphy, longshoreman, coming home
from his work one night, and being very
thirsty, directed his steps TO resort for
the bibuIously inclined, known as the
" Hole in the Wall" He was just quench-
ing his thirst when he saw q dwarfish
form enter, partly with the assistance of
an impoverished e-utch.
The gentleman who presided in the
establishment, leaned over the counter.
well. what is it?" he demanded.
".I'm lookin' for me ladder was the
reply.
well, your father amt here, so you'd
better get out"
Hould on" said Mr.. Murphy, long
shoreman, at this juncture. Come here,
me lad. It's meseIf that knows yer blag-
gard ay father, an it's me opinion ye'll
see him no more, an sorrs the much
loss"
The boy set up whimper, and then
the big longshoreman put his broad hand
over his mouth.
Whist" he said /; come wid me-
and the buriy Iongshoreman and the
little cripple left the store together.
A few moments later, Mr.. Murphy,
longshoreman, appeared in his own DOM
icil with little jim.
It's that bye If FIaherty's, Mary" he
said, TO his motherly- looking wife, Give
him s sup an a place TO slape. We've
enough sy our own 70 feed, but van
morell make little difference Ifwe'ye q
taste, we'll not miss what he stes. IL
we've famine sorra bit Of me but thinks
that he's used to that same"
And that is the way Jim became dom
iciled with the Murphys. Hard enough
times the Murphys had Of it, too, for
there were days and weeks when Muir
ply, longshoremsn. bad enough to do TO
keep bis family in bread. Yet the ugly
duckling that be had taken in got ss
good as the Murphys did The warm
he2rt OF Mrs- Murphy went out to the