The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-08-29
A SOUTHERN FUNERAL.
rbe True story of u burial in nm Old VI
Elnia Town.

how all the Union army had gone |
through there pursuing what was left |
Of the southern army The touses were
old and queer, but they had about them
the most beautiful gardens you have |
ever seen-gardens where great white, |
pink and red roses bloom, where tall |
holyhocks liftup their heads, where the |
fragrant citronaloes grow almost as
tall as q tree, and where all the fine |
trees in the world seem to grow like the
flowers just because God intended
chem to be there. 1t is town where
new customs never come Everybody
does as his grandfathers and grand
mothers did before. Every bride is
married in white satin froclS, even If
she only has one other new gown in her
trousseau. The babies are baptized by
the old fashioned names, and the girls
named Carter, and Gordon, and BraX-
ton are as many as the boys of these
names So when somebody died she
was buried in the same old fashioned
way that somebody's grandmother had
been.
This time it was young girl, a girl
just II years old For weeks and weeks
she had been ill-ill of that dreadful
disease that down south they call old
fashioned consumption. All the neigh
bors knew of her illness-knew that
death was surely coming--and every
woman far and near did all she could to
make life more cheerful while it lasted,
and death easier for this young girl
But one night death came, hovered over
the town for a minute, and then de-
scended and drew its grey veil over the
young girls face, and she slept.
The next morning about 10 o'clock
there came to our door tall, dignified
colored man who was all dressed in
black. He wore high black hat, on
which was long mourning scarf; he
had on black gloves, and in his hand he
carried silver tyay, upon which rested
large blaclS-bSrdered envelope tied
with black ribbon. He gave three sol
emn knocks, and then Cynthia, tho lit
tie waiting maid opened the door, The
tray was brought into us, and our
hostess took off the envelope, untying
the ribbon that bound it, took out the
paper enclosed, and read it out loud.
This was what was written on it in
large clear letters:
'Mr and Mrs. Cation request the
ionor of your presence at the burial of
their only daughter, Nancy, who de-
parted this life July fifteenth, eighteen
hundred and ninety-one, aged seventeen
years"
Solemnly the paper was folded up
again, put into its envelope, the ribbon
tied; it was laid on its silver salver, and
with great quietness handed back to
the dark-hued, sad-visaged bearer, who
bore it to the next house. Then we all
went out into the garden to look for
white flowers; for down there there is
no such thing as selling flowers, but
when there is a bridal or death all the
neighbors for miles around pluck the
finest blossoms out of their gardens and
send them to the one who is either the
bride of Joy or the bride of sorrow. ALI
the white flowers were pluclled, made
up into old-fashioned bouquets, tied
with white ribbons, and sent to the
house of mourning
The next day was the time for the
funeral. We went to the church, and
there we heard the beautiful ceremony
of the Episcopal church read over the
body of this young girl. 1t was curl
GUS sight, the little stone church over
grown with green vines, the sunshine
coming in through the window over the
altar, and that queer box, that veritable
coffin, broad at the top and narrow al
the bottom, such as is never seen any
more in the north and all about it were
flowers; and all about it were tears, MOI
only of regret, but of joy, because
though she was young, she had suffered
much, and those who loved her bes
knew that death was the one grea
happiness that could come to her.
When the services were over w,
started for the cemetery-not as we de
in the north; not with carriages rushing
through the street. and with grea
wagons coming between them anC
breaking up the procession. No; ther,
were only two carriages here, and We
there were many mourners. The simpl,
hearse carried the coffin, and in the TIVE
carriages behind that, old-fashionet
mourning coaches, rode the father ant
mother, the old darkey who had nurset
her, and the sisters and brothers of tn,
dead girl. Behind these, walking, cam,
. |
the funeral, the father and mother first
perhaps little child led by the mother
hand; then behind them the young CIR
who had been her friend, each famil,
in group, following, until last of al
came the colored people who had know
( and loved her. Past the grave of Mar,
, Washington, past the COOL shady re
treats, past the singing of the river w
went, until the graveyard was reached
and there was the little grave dug, /
seemed so small; it made one remembe
how young she was; and almost uncon
D sciously father put his hand on tn
shoulder of his girl, his young daughter
as if he were afraid that such fat
might be hers-that fate which all thin
so hard, of leaving the world when w
Q are young and while life seems full O
n sunshine. The pail bearers stepped for
e ward. These are no hired ones; thes
s are young men who are her brother
, friends; they take the little coffin; it ha
= no handles, and they bear it on thei
= shoulders to the grave; it is CAREFUL
- lowered, and then, before one handful
of earth is put upon 1t, the pail bearer
: their arms, the gloves that ar
on their hands, and have droppe
them on the coffin, SO that whe,
: the earth falls there is no harsl
!, sound TO give added pain to those VIII
already suffer. They all know wha
this means; they all know what it tell
r to the mourners, that the day must no
g be far off when the badge of mournin
must be laid aside fo,, aoob lynO,,,, ., n