The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-08-02

plain now TO all who knew Jim that hin
DAYS were numbered. IL seemed
strange that the forlorn. neglected
child should have his heart set upon
having splendid funeral. but he had.
and tho undertaken with whom he had
made his agreement had let II be
known that the boy should have
funeral equal 10 any that ever left the
Patch.
A couple OF weeks ago II was plain
that the end was near. Jim was forced
TO lie In bed very quiet; and thin aud
pale he was. too. Up to this time he
had said nothing further about burial
TO Mrs. Murphy. Finally he called her
70 him.
.lt's all right. wot you said about the
grave. ant it?" he asked.
Yes. JIM" was tho fearful answer;
shut ye NAV get well yet"
II won't" said Jim with touch of
his old obstinacy, ''an' 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. nam.
You kin get some pipes and tobakker
an snuff They always has them.
don't they ut real fnneraIsp" 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. 81
saved mp money an bought that my
self. I've been thinkin' for good
while that I'd need H. I'd like to SEQ
that chap wat brought II from.
though
was ut Jim's bedside. Jim looked up
with a wan smile OF recognition. Then
he reached under his pillow again ..nd
found a few more silver pieces.
They're the last have" he said as
he put them into the undertaker's
hand, despite the latter's protest.
lis that funeral most readyP" 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 tho black
horses. an all thatP"
Yes. Jim; all right"
"All right. then. said Jim. little
YEARLY. I'm little tired now, an
guess I'll 60 10 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 face.
And the Patch honored him in death
as il honors few in life. The undertaken
more than kept his word with Jim. The
Murphy cottage was small and the
undertaken had the body OF the dead
moved to his best room. where II Law in
state for two days. during which time
all the Patch visited the rooms. Nor
did Mrs. Murphy forget her commits
sion. The tobacco and the pipes and
the snuff were there.
Aud the funeral! That was revela.
ton TO the Patch. The hearse had
waving plumes. 10 the surprise of some
OF the natives who had thought that no
one lower In the social circle than an
alderman or prosperous liquor dealer
could be so honored. The black horses
were there, and the undertaken In per-
sou superintendent the funeral instead
of delegating this duty to an assistant.
Ii was "A proud day for Mrs. Murphy.
whj wore her black beaded cashmere
dress. bought many years ago ready
made and only worn on state occasions.
With Mr.. Murphy and the young
Murphys she he'd the carriage next To
the hearse. aud there were some twenty
other carriages. Even the proprietor of
the Hole in the Walr' was fain TO bow
90 the cxigencies Of the occasion and
rode 10 the funeral In solemn state.
while several local politicians. with an
eye To the main chance, also attended.
Mrs. Murphy. in speaking OF the
matter. wiped her eyes as she said:
II feel as though wan ay me own had
gone from me; but there's wan comfort.
: Little Jim was buried like glntleman. y
One OF the younger Inhabitants OF the
Patch had something TO say about the
matter. too. when he was seen. You
kin say that our Jim Is going TO have a
monument" he said. Were raisin'
the money an it's goin to be dandy.
We're goin' TO have somethiE' on the
stone. too. that'll kinder tell wot kind
of Teller little Jim wuz. Some of the
boys wuz thinkin' about somethin'
like this" said Jim's friend. producing
rather dirty piece of paper on which
was written:
"Our Jim,
His legs wuz crooked
hut he wuz straight"
at may not be In just that style. but
them's about our sentiments" con-
cluded Jim's friend.
And so while Jim In life was of little