The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-06-19

partner of each. The temptation that
baset Mr.. Ashton, when his hand was
full of trumps otherwise he would have
scorned it) was to lead a single card /;
Mr. Groves played too much for his own
hand: Miss Lake would lead trumps on
too slight provocation; and Miss SUIT
ton, an admirable performer in other re-
spects, was given to illnesses that made
ones blood curdle.
Mr.. Newton felt that he had none of
these weaknesses, and was worthy to be
the partner of any one of the four. But
though envious of them, he was not ma
heard of their virtues; he had come pro-
fessionally to measure" my grandfather,
and over glass of dry sherry discoursed
to the housekeeper in my presence con-
corning them in manner which, to my
childish ears, considering the solemnity
of the occasion, sounded somewhat secu-
lar. In later days was better able to
grasp Mr.. Newton's character (which was
anything but profane), and to appreciate
his observations upon human nature.
His lecture room was most commonly
the graveyard itself, which, bel con-
tiguous to our own house, afforded me
many opportunities of conversing with
him, when on the eve Of any great en-
gagement he came, like a prudent gen.
eral, to survey the ground and make his
dispositions beforehand-in advance of
the sexton.
After many years absence from the
4 e-.LI r i L.. nIc4
bury the other day and found my friend
of the scarf and hatband still above
ground and busy, as usual. His was a
trade, as I ventured to observe to him,
that never fails, and which such bad
times as theseeyen promote by occasional
suicides.
He shook his head. "Folks die, Master
James, of course, he said; "there is no
falling off there" He was about to add
@thank Heaven, but perceiving with fine
tact that the ejaculation was too profess
sional and might have been misunder-
stood, he effected the following substitu-
tion: @But when they die they are not
buried as they used to be.
"Dear mel" said I, has cremation
made such strides, them"
He smiled contemptuously. In a
Christian land, sir, that will never sue
ceed. What sort of a future can be
looked for as begins, SO to speak, with
burning? The parson says Ashes to
ashes,' it is true; but that is quite an
other thing from cremation. Folks
know they will be reduced to dust, but
they don't see the operation, and there
fore do not realize it; if they did, it
would be harder for them to imagine
their friends saints and angels; and there
fore they don't want to see it.
There is something in that" as
sented, "no doubt
Mr.. Newton smiled benignly, as though
he would have said, @There is generally
something in what I say, if you will
only favor me with your attention."
then added refectively, why, there was
old Lady Braddon the other day, she
wouldn't be put into the family vault,
nor yet into brick grave, because, said
she, How am to get out againY She
was the best of Christians, but in that re-
spect she had material views. And here
she ies"-we were standing in the
churchyard- the mere common
people accordingly.
at must be rather sad for you to have
to come here SO often, said I, and on
such melancholy errands.
felt the observation was foolish one
directly it had passed my lips; but it is
one thing to know what is commonplace
and another to know how to avoid it.
Melancholy" he exclaimed, "not
bit of it. The great majority of my
friends lie here, and have no disinclina-
ton to join them. You see that square
green grave with the four stones about
it; there lie the best people ever knew
in Tatbury, and the best whist players
two of them bachelors, two of them
spinsters; Mr.. Ashton and Miss Lake,
Mr.. Groves and Miss Sutton. There they
lie, opposite to one another, just as they
sat in life; you remember them, Master
James, of course?"
II remember who they were, /" said.
II was but boy in their time. You
used to tell me about them"
4Ay, I dare say. When Mr.. Ashton
went had some hopes of filling his
place; but they preferred dumby. The
three met together every night for years,
with that vacant seat at the old table;
it was very touching spectacle. None
of them would ever lead single card
after they had lost him, no matter how
desperate their condition; it was felt to
be irreverent, and, so to speak, an in
fringement of copyright. 1t was what
the American publishers with whom,
however. / wouldn't compare them for a
moment) are went to call the courtesy
of the trade There was delicacy, of
feeling, and no mistake. Mr. Groves was
.thenext to go, when the two old ladies were
reduced to two double dumby. Miss Lake
used to say, we can't help playing for
our own hands now, dear, can we, as
poor Mr.. Groves used to do They were
obliged to infringe his copyright from
necessity. A man as couldn't drop
tear to see those two ladies without part
ners, evening after evening, wasn't
worthy to be called man. And in my
opinion it hastened their end; double
| dumby is great strain upon the mind,
Master James.
The undertaken was so moved that II
he had seen the same demonstrativeness
| in one of his own mutes he would have
| given him shilling. 1t was always a
principle with him to encourage emotion.
aThen Miss Lake, she was the third to
60. A good woman, If ever there was
| one. The poor lost friend in her. and