Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-05
THE BURNT cHILp pREAps, ETC.


Persian lamb capes are SIS 90, dear
So
THE BURNT CHILD BREADS, ETC.
I've looked at the words you've written, John;
1t seemed like a bit of the dear old past,
Your awful writing again to con,
Again on a single word stick fast
i don't mind telling you either, sir,
Your writings worse for writing to her.
The old years. gone. as you truly say,
Gone for good-would 1 call it backY
Not for month or a week or a day,
Not # to-day were ever SO black!
So she's false-she never was fairI
sham from her soul to her yellow hair.
Lucky for you that you found her out,
The goddess for whom you deserted me;
Proud of your choice, sir, I've no doubt,
My! how proud should your handmade bel
Chosen Tilted and chosen again
Your lordship's preference makes me vain.
And you want to solder the chain anew?
To mend the links of the bonds you broke?
You've painted me, sir, pitiful view
Of an OK who yearns for the lifted yoke.
You say: ''Let's bury old $50,
Forget and forgive and-and be mine!"
1 courtesy, John, and give you thanks;
fought to jump at the chance, know,
I'm veteran now in the maiden ranks;
But I'm unsel1Sh, and say, NO!
Your shop-worn love refuse to don,
It would not fit If tried it on.
&=a
THERE were some quaint and touching Incl
dents about the death and burial of the
venerable Miss Rapp, one of the presiding
spirits of Economy in her day.
She was at church, as usual, on the Sunday
before Christmas, and she was as well as usual
till the festival itself. But though she was un-
able to attend divine service on that day her
illness was not serious. So it went on till last
Sunday, she lying in bed and girl waiting on
her. 1t was after midnight when this attend
ant, noticing that Miss Rapp seemed unusually
quiet, entered the room. To her horror she
discovered at once that the old lady mad quietly
passed away. Unaccustomed to see death even
in such quiet guise, the girl ran into the street
shrleking for help.
Only those who have slept in Economy can
realize what an unusual thing 1t was thus to
have the dead stiffness of the night broken. As
sistance soon came. Mr.. Henrici, who sleeps on
the other side of the old house where Miss
Rapp died, was summoned He entered the
room, and after searching for the pulse, told
the weeping witnesses that their beloved sister
was dead.
THE next day one of the oldest members of
the Economy Society. an old lady who is
greatly beloved, went to Mr.. Henrici and be-
sought him to break for once the well-known
rule in Economy that the dead shall be buried
before the next going down of the sun. She
pleaded that Miss Rapp had come into contact
with the world more often than most of them.
and had many friends outside the society who
would like to be present at her funeral. Mr..
Henrici consented and SO the funeral was set
for Tuesday at o'clock, and word was sent to a
chosen few of the friends Miss Rapp loved.
They were representative people Of the Oldest
and best families in the county
Visitors to Economy know that oId-fashioned
parlor in the residence Of Mr.. Rapp, the soci-
ety's founder, with its hardwood chairs, its two
pianos, the dazzling chandeliers, and rare old
stove, the like of which is no more to be seen.
You remember, if you've been there. the dark
oil painting py West of Christ Healing the
Sick" and the more beautiful copy Of one of
the old mas ters' Madonnas; and the white silk
curtains made by the society, and many other
curious things. But best and brightest of all
you must recall the picture Of kindly neatness
in the person of Miss Rapp herself.
In this room the coffin was laid when the
time for the last rites came. 1t was very plain
coffin of wood, painted black, but the loveliest
flowers covered everything in it but the calm
face of the dead. Twelve of the society's coun-
cillors sat around the head of the coffin. and
the rest of the room was filed with visitors and
members of the society. Mr.. Heinrich passed
in and out of the room constantly. But no
word was said over the coffin there, and pres
entity after solemn period of silence-far more
impressive, a witness. says, than the most elo-
lpent speech-six of the councillors took the
coffin and carried it out to the hearse.
At
z vERYoNE in the room followed the hearse
to the artIess, simple cemetery which lies
On the eastern outskirts of Economy. 1t is
beautiful orchard with soft, velvety turf-a
ovely spot in spring or summer. There the
mortal dust of the good woman was laid in the |
grave. Jonathan Lentz spoke briefly of her |
virtues in German, and those around the grave |
,ast flowers in abundance upon her. Three |
simple hymns were sung Mr. Henrici did not |
speak at all; his emotion prevented him.
One of the last things Miss Rapp did before |
Ter death was to think of her peoples comfort |
It church. She chose a carpet and brought it
lown and superintended the making of it, and |
he worshipers will be reminded of her kind
iess every time they kneel in church. This is /
he first carpet ever laid in the church.
HEPBURN JOHNS,