Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-03-20

leu! Sdlu tIlo peESlSUeIlU Jill.
The Lord forbid We should die, Jim;
but if We did the ould man an mesilf has
wan lot in the cimitery where our weeny
vans is buried, and we should lay there,
Jim
Jim looked both relieved and thought
full, and left the house without asking any
more questions. Mrs, Murphy, In her per-
plexity, told her husband of her conversa-
ton.
81 dunno, Mary said the Longhore-
man thoughtfully; they say children can
look ahead, an the bye is too KNOWN to
live. That cough av his, too, is bad. But
don't borry trouble"
1t was certain when the winter opened
that Jim was getting thinner, and that he
had painful cough, which was growing
worse. The people of the Patch have
enough to do to live, and yet there was
not house in it where Jim was not well
come to whatever there was. His CONVEX
sation with Miss Murphy about the burial
had been quietly circulated, and among
these simple superstitious people it invest
ed him with new interest. Another thing
about Jim that caused much comment was
the manner in which Jim hung constantly
about the shop of the good-natured Irish
men who buried most of the persons who
died in the Patch.
One day the latter was astonished on en-
tering the shop to find Jim following at
his heels and making mysterious signs to
him. Drawing him to one end of the
counter Jim produced small bundle from
his coat. Untying it, he dumped out d
pile of silver.
4L,o ln Il
manded sententiously.
why, Jim, what do you mean?' asked
the astonished undertaken
How much is the funeral?' Jim again
demanded.
said the undertaken, hoping to draw the
boy out.
''Weil, responded Jim, sit may be for
me an it may be for some one else. There
is SIG. When have more I'll give it to
you. When | want this funeral I'll want
it bad. | want it to be the real thing.
Black horses an them things on top of the
hearse an all that. You'll tend to all
that, will yep
Eyes, Jim; of course, said the still be-
wildered undertaken.
''All right, then," said Jim, marching
out, leaving the money on the counter.
''Well, if that don't bate ALL muttered
the undertaken to himself after the boy
had gone out That gosoon is bargain
in for his own funeral. 1t bates the
fairies.
The queer bargain that Jim made was
soon talked about, and he became a great
er object of interest. Il was plain now
to all who knew jim that his days were
numbered. 1t seemed strange that the
forlorn, neglected child should have. his
heart set upon having a splendid
funeral, but he had, and the undertaken
with whom he had made his agreement
had let it be known that the boy should
have a funeral equal to any that ever left
the Patch.
A couple of weeks ago it was plain that
the end was near. Jim was forced to lie
in bed very quiet; and thin and pale he
was. too Up to this time he had said
nothing further about burial to Mrs. Muir
ply Finally he called her to him.
Its all right wot you said about the
grave, amt it?" he asked.
Yes, jim, was the fearful answer;
but We may get well yet. ~
II won't" said Jim with touch of
his old obstinacy, IAN when I'm dead !
want everybody to come in an see me. "
Here Jim delved under his his pillow very
painfully and brought out two or three
silver pieces. Here, ma am. You kin
get some pipes and tobakker and snuff.
They always has them don't they, at real
funerals?' he asked somewhat anXiously,
and seemed relieved when he was as
sured that the articles named would be
procured.
You needn't worry about the fuderal,
ma am continued Jim. ~ saved up money
an bought that myself. 1--WE been think
in for good while that needed it. I'd
like to see that chap wot bought it from
though"
Half an hour later the undertaken was at
Jim's bedside. Jim looked up with wan
smile of recognition. Then he reached I'M
der his pillow again and found few more
silver pieces.
They re the last have he said, as he
put them into the undertaker's hand, de-
spite the latter's protest.
SIS that funeral most ready?'' he asked.
Yes, Jim
We'll" said Jim, with a weak smile,
Il m most ready for the funeral. The
hearse and them things on top, is they all
right?'
Yes, Jim; all right.
can the carriages, an the black horses,
an all that?"
Eyes, Jim; all right
'All right, them said Jim, little
YEARLY 81 m little tired now, an |
guess I'll go to Sleep
at him some time later he was sleeping
- Ioct cIoo,, nth n c,,,i 10 ON bic faoa
And the Patch honored him in death as
it honors few in life. The undertaken
more than kept his word with jim. The
undertaken had the body of the dead
moved to his best room, where it lay in
state for two days, during which time all
the Patch visited the rooms. Nor did
Mrs Murphy forget her commission. The
tobacco. the pipes and the snuff were
there.
And the funeral! That was revela-
ton to the Patch. The hearse had waving
plumes, to the surprise of some of the nat
iTes, who had thought that no one lower
In the social circle than an alderman or a
prosperous liquor dealer could be so hon
ored. The black horses were there, and
the undertaken in person superintendent
the funeral instead of delegating this duty
to an assistant.
1t was a proud day for Mrs. Murphy,
who wore her black beaded cashmere dress.
bought many years ago ready-made and
! only worn on state occasions. With MIR.
Murphy and the young Murphys she had
the carriage next to the hearse, and there
were some twenty other carriages Even
the proprietor of the Hole in the Wall
was fain to bow to the exigencies of the
occasion and rode to the funeral in
solemn state. while several local politicians