The state herald., 1890-07-18

complishmont In various directions and
picked up q good many dollars. Most
Of those won't into tho Murphy treasury,
but one day In rummaging about, his
bed Mrs. Murphy found an old hand.
kcrchief. and tied up in II wero several
dollars In small silver.
Lord love the boy, It's savin' up for
somethin' he is," said good-natured
Mrs. Murphy. And she tied up tho
money and placed it where she had
found It. She said nothing to Jim
about 1t, but afterward came to tho con.
clusion that bit by bit Jim was adding
to his hoard.
One day Jim, who seemed to have
something on his mind, surprised tho
good woman by abruptly asking:
Where do the people In the Patch
be buried when they dlce" 3l4G48s
'.Arrah, Jim, what's the matteri
What questions are you askin'p" said
the astonished woman.
II asked you where people that dies
around here arc buried,r said Jim
stur,lily.
Where, sure. but in the cimitcry,"
responded Mrs. Murphy. a
And il died where would b.
buriedp" said the persistent Jim.
THE Lord forbid We should die, Jim;
but II ye did the ould man an mesilf
has wan lot In the cimitcry 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 moro quest ms. Mrs.
Murphy, IN her pcrplexity, told her
husband Of her conversation. 81
II dunno, Mary" said tho long
shoremAr thoughtfully, .they say
children can look ahead. M the bye Is
too knowin' to live. That cough av
his. too: is bad. But don't b0rry
trouble"
1t was certain whom tho 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 tho good
natured freshman 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 u small
bundle from his coat. Untying it, he
dumped out pile of silver.
How much is n funeral?" he de.
handed scntentiously.
why, Jim. what do you mcan?"
asked the astonishcd undertaken.
"How much is funcral?" Jim again
demanded.
well, that depends on who il is for. ="
said the undertaken, hoping to draw
the boy out.
well. " responded Jim. lit may be
for me an ii may be for some one else.
There is SIC. When have more I'll
give it to you. When / want this
funeral I'll want II bad l want IL to
be the real thing. Black horses an
them things on top of the hcarse an
all that. You'll tend to all that, will
yep
Eyes. Jim; Of course said the still
bewildered undertaken.
IAN right. them" 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. II bates
the fairies"
The queer bargain that Jim made
was soon talked about, and he became
. greater 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 splendid funeral. but he had,
and the undertaken with whom he had
made his agreement had let Il lie
known that the hoy should have =
funeral equal TO any that ever left tho
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 hcr
to him.
Its a,i right, wot you said about the
grave. ant it?" he asked.
Yes. Jim." was tho fearful answer;
'but ye may get well yet"
Il won't" said Jim with touch Of
his old obstinacy. AN when I'm dead
! want everybody to come In an SEQ
me-" Here Jim delyed under his pill
low very painfully and brought out two
or three silver pieces. Here. main.
You kin get some pipes and tobakker
an snuff. They always has them.
don't they. ut real funerals?" lc asked
somewhat anxiously. aud seemed re-
lieved when he was assured that the
articles named wonld be procured.
"Yov needn't worry about the
funeral NAM" continued Jim. "I
saved up money an bought that my
self. Two been ihinkin for good
while that I'D need II. Id like 10 sec
that chap wal l brought II from.
though"
Half an hour later the undertaken
WIS mt Jim's bedside. Jim looked mp
with u wan smile Of recognition. Then
he reached under his pillow again and
found few more silver pieces.
They're the last have" he said. rs
he put them into the undertakcr's
hand. despite the laticr's protest
lis that funeral most rcady7" no
asked.
"Yes. Jim" ...- ..-....-r.
We'll" said Him. with n weak smile
I'm most ready for the funeral. The
hcarse and them things ON top, Is they
all righ,P'
Yes, Jim; all right"
AN tho carriages. an the black
horses. au' all ,hnier
Yes Jim; all right"
"All right, then" said Jim. n little
wenrily. "im little tired now. an
guess I'll 20 10 sleep"
Aud ho did! When they come To