The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-03-04
EXPENSIVE FUNERALS.
4 Sad Story OF n Life Of Poverty, and
the Constant Struggle Against
Fate-..An Expensive Coffin for Him
who Died on q Cheap Bedstead-..
Sympathetic NeighbOrs.

Until recently there lived in Abbeyille
county q one.armed onfederate soldier
whose name was on the pension roll because
OF his service to the country, and because Of
his needy circumstances,
After the war he married, and 10 him and
his wife were born cornely daughters.
The head of the family having only one
arm, he and his wife were reduced TO the ne.
cessity Of a constant fight with the wolf al
the door.
They owned no property. and the best they
could do was to rent both land and stock, o.
else to work the land and stock on shares.
In either event he had to give lien on his
share of the prospective crop for provisions
on which to live during the current year.
no furniture in the house, short rations In the
kitchen, dependent solely upon the public
schools for the education OF their children,
they were poor Indeed.
But in the face of proyerty and In the pres
ence OF discouraging circumstances, they
struggled on, still hoping tor the better time,
which never came.
head of the houSehold-fell victim to dis.
ease and after lingering awhil lie amid his
proverty, died, leaving W fe and family OF
young daughters, one of whom was just ell
tering the threshold Of womunhOod.
What lie and his family, during all these
years, suffered for even the cheapest comforts
of life, only they and their God Will ever
know, and now, since the head of the house
hold is dead, even In their deepest sorrow they
nave neither property nor friends to whom
they may rightfully look in the future years
for aid and comfort.
But in the immediate presence OF death our
harder natures are always softencd. The
sight OF extreme grief never fails to excite
sympathy, and often we open our purse
strings and give Of the contents with liberal
our hearts are then as cold us ever, and we
again grasp our money, If possible, with even
4 tighter hand.
TRe sickness and death of this old confede-
,l;ar haA q npiph-
bo:s were attentive and sympathetic. They
brought the choicest and most inviting food
for him, and pressed around his bed. AnX-
ious To do something for his relief, they re-
mained with him in the dreary hours, and
silent watches Of the night. When he died
they brought fine coffin for hin.
Poor man. they wanted to show respect for
him, and desired to "lay HIM away decent
iy."
And so 1t happened that he who wore two
dollar coat on extra occasions, and slept for
life time, IL may be, on q homemade bed
stead, was buried In fine coffin, with silver
plated handles. That coffin was the finest
thing that had ever been In tho house. Even
amid their deepest sorrow and when oppress-
cd by their greatest aftllction, the children
did not fail 10 look with wonder and amaze.
ment that SO fine thing could be made
they had never seen anything half so fine.
This is an every day story-not essentially
different from the stories which might De
written every week. 1t Is repeated here not
because oi its nov city orstrangenesS. but sole
ly us u sample OF the every day occurrences.
with the object Of correcting common error
in attempting ostentations funerals and eX-
penSive buriulS.
II was a noble sentiment that prompted
this poor mans nelghbors TO buy q fine coffin
in which To "lay him away" and against tina
sentiment we would not offend, but on the
other hand would express our highest admira-
ton for it.
1t was the misdirectcd judgment which
placed their money in the coffin for the dead
instead of expending 1t Ill gifts for the living,
upon which we would remark.
TheiI goodness and Kindness was all that
heart or soul could wish, but their generosity
was expended In manner which dld the
least good. AS matter OF fact the dead man
had but little need Of a flue coffin. But Ills fam
lily stood in great need Of tread, and shoes, and
clothing.
In the higher walks of life similar and
even greater mistakes are OF no unusual oc
currence. Valuable Jewels are often buried
with the dead and frequently the best suit
for the grave.
Under sort of deluslon some people
esteem expensive funerals as evidences of es-
Leem and affection for the dead. The rela-
lives on such occasions spend money with a
lavish hand. little realizing that all this os'
ientation may exist Il real apology for neg.
lect of the dead while living.
A coffin Is OF very little Importance, and iu
no case should people In Straitened circum.
stances do 80 foolish thing us to buy an en-
pensve burial case.
Inc luctl OF TAKING lle money 10 Duy Inc
coffins which should he spent for bread and
clothing Tor tile living Is not only n0tln good
taste, but frequently eXcites adverse. criti'
cSm.
A man should be buried according TO his
means and station in life. II he was rich
and without education and refinement, his
friends might bury him in Il SNOWY or fine
coffin.
II he was poor his relatives need not sell
their milk cow to buy coffin that would cost
| more than the bedStead on which he died.
There Is nDither sense nor reason In buying
him a new suit in which 10 take him to the
grave. II he was dressed we'll enough In life
| TO 60 TO mill, the same clothes should serve
him on the road to the grave.
If h G was unable to ride in a carriage while
living. there is no special need for hearse
when dead.
The vanity which leads us to make n great
show on funeral occasions IL TO be regretted.
Let none labor under the mistaken idea that
expensive funerals are commended by plain
matter OF fact peOple.