The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-04-09

Where, sure. but in the cimitery," f"
responded Mrs. Murphy.
And if died where would l be
buried?" said the persistent Jim.
The Lord forbid We should die, Jim;
but if ye 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
thoughtful, and left the house without
asking any more questions. Mrs.
Murphy, in her perpIexity, told her
husband of her conversation.
Il dunno, Mary" said the long
shoreman thoughtfully, they say
children can look ahead, an the bye is
too knowin' to live. That cough av
his, too, is bad. But don't borry
trouble"
1t was certain when the winter
npened 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 vet 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
natured Irishman 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 to one end
of the counter Jim produced small
bundle from his coat. Untying it, he
dumped out a pile of silver.
'.How much is a funeral?n he de-
manded sententiouSly.
''Why, Jim, what do you mean?"
asked the astonished undertaken
How much is funeral?" Jim again
demanded.
"Well, that depends on who it is for"
said the undertaken. hoping to draw
the boy out.
well" responded Jim, 1T may be
for me an it may be for some one else.
There is $16. When | have more rll
give it to you. When [ want this
funeral I'll want it bad. l 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
ye?"
Yes, Jim; of course said the still
bewildered undertaken.
'.All right, then" said Jim march
ing out, leaving the money on the
counter.
well, 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. It bates
the fairies"
The queer bargain that Jim made
was soon talked about, and he became
Il 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
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 her
to him.
Its all right, wot you said about the
grave, au't it?n he asked.
Yes, JIM" was the fearful answer:
''but yc may get well yet
! Il won't" said Jim with a touch of
| his old obstinacy, ''an' when I'm dead
l 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, mann.
You kin get some pipes and tobakker
an snuff. They always has them,
/ don't they, at real funerals?n he asked
somewhat anxiously, and seemed re-
lieved when he was assured that the
articles named would be procured.
"You needn't worry about the
funeral, MAN, continued Jim. Il
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 1 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 few more silver pieces.
"Theyre the last | have, he said, as
he put them into the undertaker's
hand, despite the latter's protest.
is that funeral most ready?" he
asked.
Yes, Jim"
well" said jim, with weak smile,
I'm most ready for the funeral. The
hearse and them things on top, is they
all ri%ht?"
.Yps. Jim: all right
can the carriages, an the black
horses, an all that?n
Eyes, Jim; all right"
'.All right, then" said Jim, little
, wearily. I'm little tired now, an
! guess I'll go to sleep"
! And he did! When they come tC
look at him some time later he was
. sleeping his last sleep with Il smile OIL
!, his face.
And the Patch honored him in deatl
,, as it honors few in life. Theundertakel
: more than kept his word with Jim. The
:. Murphy cottage was small and th'
=. undertaken had the body of the deaC
: moved to his best room. where it lay il
! state for two days, during which TIM
- all the Patch visited the rooms. No
= did Mrs. Murphy forget her commits
:, :, sion. The tobacco and the pipes ant
). the snuff were there.
!. And the funeral! That was revela
: ton to the Patch. The hearse ha
waving plumeS, to the surprise of som
of the natives who had thought that n
:, one lower in the social circle than a
r alderman or prosperous liquor deale
y could be so honored. The black horse
- were there, and the undertaken in pei