Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-07-17

] picked up good many dollars. Most
ii these went int, the Murphy treasury.
hut one day in rummaging about his
bed Mrs. Murphy found an old hand
herchief, and tied up in il were several
dollars in small silver.
Lord love the boy, it's savin' up for
somcthn' he is" said good-natured
Mrs. Murphy. And she tied up the
money and placed it where she had
found it, She said nothing to Jim
about it, but afterwag'l came to the con-
cluson that bit by bit Jim was adding
/ to his hoard.
One day Jim, who seemed to have
something on his mind, surprised the
| good woman by abruptly asking:
Where do the people in the Patch
be buried when they dic3"
"Arrah, jim, what's the .mattere
What questions are YOU asking" said
the astOnishcd woman.
Il asked You where people that dies
around here are buried" said Jim
sturlily.
Where, sure. but in the cmtcry,"
responded Mrs. Murphy.
Aud if died where would / be
buried?" said the persistent Jim.
The Lord forbid we should die, Jim;
but if We did the ould man an mesilf
has wan lot in the cmtery where our
wceuy vans is buried, and We should
lay there, jim"
Jim looked both relieved and
thoughtful, and left the house without
! asking any more quest ms. Mrs.
Murphy, in her perplexity, told her
husband of her conversation.
Il dunno. Mary" said the long
shorcman 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 had enough to do to live.
and yet there was not house in it
where Jim was not welcome to what
ever there was. His conversation with,
Mrs. Murphy about burial had been
quietly circulated, and among these
simple Superstitious people it invested
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
naturcd lrishman who buried most of
| the persons who died in the Patch.
One day the latter was astonished on
entering the shop to find Jim following
at his heels and making mysterious
| signs to him. Drawing him 70 one end
of the counter Jim produced small
bundle from his coat. Untying it, he
| n,t Milo pf eiIynr
How much is funeralpn he de.
manded sententiously.
why, jim, what do YOU mean?"
asked the astonished undertaken.
How much is a funeral?" Jim again
! demanded.
We'll, that depends on who it is for"
said the undertaken, hoping to draw
the boy out.
We'll, responded Jim. 1T 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 II 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
Yes. Jim; of course" said the still
bcwildercd undertaken
'All right, them" said Jim march.
ing out, leaving the money on the
counter.
We'll, if that don't bate ALL" nut.
tered the undertaken to himself when
the boy had gone out. That gosoon
bargainin' for his own funeral. 1t bates
the fairies"
The queer bargain that Jim made
was soon talked about, and he became
a greater object of interest 1t 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 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. Murphy. Finally he called ner
to him.
Its al right, wot You said about the
grave, ant it?' he asked.
Yes, JIM" was the fearful answer;
"but We may get well yet"
II won't" said Jim with a touch of
his old o5Stinacy IAN when I'm dead
| want everybody to come in an see
me-" Here Jim delved under his pill
low very painfully and brought out two
or three silver pieces. Here ram.
You kin get some pipes and tobakkcr
an snuff. They always has them,
don't they, ut real funerals?" he asked
somewhat anxiously. aud seemed re-
lieved when he was assured that the
articles named would be procured.
You needn't worry about the
funeral, NAM" continued Jim. al
saved up money an bought that my
self. I've been thinkin' for a good
while that I'd need it. I'd like to see
that chap wat l brought 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 under his pillow again and
found a few more silver pieces.
They're the last | have" he said. rs
he put them into the undertaker's
hand, despite the latter's protest.
rs that funeral most ready?" he
asked.
Yes, jim"
Well" said Jim, with aweak smile,
I'm most ready for the funeral. The
hearse and them things on top, is they
all right?"
Yes. Jim; all right"
"An' the carriages, an the black
horses, an all that?n
Yes, Jim; all right"
"All right, then" said Jim, little
! YEARLY. I'm little tired now, an |
l guess I'll go to sleep"
And he did! When they come to
.. look at him some time later he was
. sleeping his last sleep with'a smile on
his Iace.
; And the Patch honored him in death
! us it honors few in life. Theundertaker
! more than kept his word with Jim. The
J Murphy cottage was small and the
| | undertaken had the body of the de,d