Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-07-17
LITTLE JlM'S FUNERAL.
Little Jim's death has caused good
deal of talk.


OF that there was no doubt.
Every molherly person in that por-
ton az South Brooklyn known rs the
Patch" has been talking about it for
the last week, for Jim was one of the
celebrities of that locality.
IL is not alone of his death they are
talking. however, for that had been
anticipated for some time and be-
sides deaths are so common there that
hut little is thought of it. Mrs.
Moriartv. one of the leading ladies of
the Patch" expressed the general
opinion terscly but fairly when she said
recently: Sure the worst thing about
dvin' is that betc unc the docthors. the
wake, the umdertakcrs. an the buryin'
it's chaper to live'-a rather mixed
statement. the meaning of which is
clear. however.
No. il was not the death of little Jim
that caused all the talk before referred
to.
Not at all.
1t was his funeral that gave rise to all
the talk. 1t was one of the most re-
markahle funerals ever seen in south
BroOklin.
No one who knew Little Jim in life
would have supposed that he could
command such honor in death.
Jms 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 inhab-
itants any whose names figure in anv
elite directory. There are sprinkling
of longshoremen, some junkmcn and
truckmen, some ordinary laborers. and
some people who neither toll nor spin.
There are the usual dingy rum-shops
that are more prosperous than any
otrcr kind of shops. There are pigs.
aEf goats, and dogs innumerablc, that
a>Ndys seem 10 be engaged in breaking
chj ordinances and getting their own
cts into trouble. Taking it all in all.
it is a unique locality in mole respects
than one.
Tradition in the patch has it that at
one period Jim had father and
m,ther. Now, society mt the Patch
dces not ask for much, but it would
sesm that the parents of Jim did not
come up TO the social requirements of
even this easy-going locality, so that
there was no regret when Jim's mother
died after Il prolonged spree, and his
is Their left the Patch never to return.
This did not occur, however. until after
in some friendly brawl, one or the
other, or both of them, had in some
manner, injured Jim so that he re-
manned cripple until the day of his
death.
1t was about this time that Timothy
Murphy, longshoremen. coming home
from his work one night. and being
thirsty, directed his steps to resort
for the bibulouSly inclined. known as
the Hole in the Wall" He was Just
Cuenching his thirst when he saw a
hwariish form enter, partly with the
assistance of an improvised crutch.
The gentleman who presided in the
estab ishment leaned over the counter.
Wei. what is it?" he demanded.
81 IN lOokin' for me ladder" was the
reply.
We'll, yer father ant here. so you'd
better get out"
Hold on, said Mr.. Murphy long
shoreman, ut this juncture. Come
here, me lad. It's meself that knows
yer blag.ard of Il father an it's me
opinion yen see him no more, an sorra
the much loss"
The boy set up whimper. and then
the big longshoreman put his broad
hand over his mouth.
"Whisht." he said come with me, "
ard the burly longshoreman and the
little cripple left the store together.
A few moments later Mr.. Sullivan,
longshoreman, appeared in his own
domicile with little Jim.
Its that bye of Flaherty's Mary"
said he to his motherly looking wife.
Give him a sup an place to sleep.
We've enough ay our own to feed, but
wan more'll make little difference. II
we've feast we'll not miss what he
eats. II we've famine sorry bit av
me but thinks that he's used to the
same"
And that is the way Jim became
domiciled with the Murphys. Hard
enough times the Murphys had Of it,
too, for there were days and weeks
when Murphy, longshoreman. had
enough to do to keep his family in
bread. Yet the ugly duckling that he
had taken in got as good as the
Murphys did. The warm heart of Mrs
Murphy went out to the little forlorr
cripple. and she treated him as though
he had been her own child.
nor was Jim ungrateful. He de
veoped variety of talents thai
brought many a penny into tn,
treasury of the Murphys. He wa
errand boy for most of the Patch. anC
spite his crutch could perform mission
more quickly than most other boys ant
with more intelligence He also pickeC
up somehow the art Of writing in
queer spider-iike fashion. and wrot,
letters for those denizens of the Patel
who could not write themselves
There is II formula followed in writin.
such letters as these. for the write
always starts out with the rather super
fiuOus announcement that he take
his pen in hand" and always ends b.
wishing this will find you in goot
health as it leaves me ut present." re
gartless OF his actual condition o
health. This formula is as immovab
rs were the laws of the Modes and Per
slams. and by his fidelity to it littl
Jim added TO his popularity and his in
come.
Then Jim had n l:itlc, cracked voice
with Just a little sweetness in it, and h
sang two or three songs in manne
that the people Of the Patch considcre,
AS being extremely artistic. Jim
repertoire was not extensive He san
Only a Picture" and warbled abou
the Scotch lad Geordie, who left hi
Jean to tight with the Scotch brigad
and never camo back, and he san,
about letter that some one had ~
revived from Ireland. In addition h
somehow learned TO play several air
ea AN old accordion that belonged Il
70. Murphy family,
All last summer Jim used bis nc