Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-11-04
A LIVING TOMBSTONE.

You see, people said Jasper Diggs was
born foolish and that he was not respon-
sihle for his actions. His mother died Ia
his babyhood and he was left TO take care
Of himself, as his father was poor, old
weak invalid.
Public philanthropy was almost an nm
known quantity in Pine Hollow, and the
maxim OF "every man for himself" was
rigidly conformed TO by the tavern keeper,
the proprietor Of the grocery and other
less influential citizens Of the village. Even
the seedy looking parson was imbued with
but picayune spirit Of charity, though he
frequently found occasion in the pulpit to
stimulate and encourage charity in others
He was once compelled TO urge upon some
OF his brethren, who had placed brass but
tons in the contribution box, the necessity
Of desisting from hammerng down the
eyes Of those buttons, for while that pro-
cess did not increase their value as coin, IL
did seriously impair their usefulness AS
buttons.
Jasper had grown 70 be very stable
young man of twenty With all his shat.
tered mental faculties, affection was a
most pronounced trait Of his character
This was manifested in his jealous care Of
his father, whose emaciated form had lain
for many weary months upon a couch Of
pain, from which the poor man was never
destined to rise again. Jasper was his
nurse, his companion. If the old man
sometimes wearied of the boys vague chat
ter about a thousand nothings Of his nerv
Gus facial conIortions or his monotonous
representations, he could, after all, hear
these trifiing annoyances in return for all
the kind attention of which he was the re.
cipient from the same unfortunate son,
What little remained Of the old mans life
ebbed away slowly day by day until at last
his name was written in the book OF NOR
tality.
"Well, old Diggs Is gone" was the cur.
rent expression of the older generation
that knew him best. The funeral was
plain, not 70 say meager, both in ceremony
and attendance. Jasper was the chief, and
II appearances were any indication, the
only mourner Mr.. Diggs' body was con
yeyed to the cemetery and placed by the
side Of Hannah. whose grave was almost
lost under the thick jungle OF weeds and
wild creepers that covered it.
Affairs in Pine Hollow, Of course, moved
on in their unwonted style Mr.. Diggs'
death was soon forgotten Jasper Diggs
rafneni berad % but TOO we'll His mourn
ful sobs cenld be heard at night in the
cemetery, and TO passers by they We're any
thing but cheerful sounds.
The idea OF providing a suitable tomb.
stone 20 the memory Of his father seemed
to have taken possession Of Jasper's mind
a few days after his sire's death, Some
one suggested that the easiest way to get
enough money to purchase one would be
TO go around with a subscription list
Acting upon this hint he started out on
his hopeless mission say hopeless, be-
cause they looked upon Jasper as more OF
a fool than he was; hence they treated him
far worse than he deserved He went from
house to house, meeting only rebuifs,
sneers and ridicule. Al nightfall he re-
paired 70 the cemetery where he slept, pre-
ferring to be near his dead father than in
the lonely cottage. He had tramped all
over the village, and he found only one
person willing to render him assistance
and that one had signed for g. Every
body else had refused to give anything but
his moral support. Therefore, like per
fectly sane young man, he abandoned the
enterprise, though the Unsuitable longing
for monument to his fathers memory
possessed him as keenly as ever
A week later one Of Pine Hollow's
\ misery citizens, while passing the GENE
covery. He did not 80 into the grocery
shop that night as early as usual, In order
10 allow all the frequenters to assemble so
that he might have a good audience TO
listen 70 what he had 70 say. The crowd
was laying in a stock of peanuts and plug
tobacco as he entered, and his nervous pa
thence was taxed To its utmost in refrain
ing from calling the meeting to order al
once.
"Well, boys he began, after the coun
ter and every available box and barrel had
been extemporized for seats, you'd q
laughed your gizzards sore to have seer
what ] see this mornin. | was footin II
over 70 Hi Cassaway's to see bout hin
buildin me a new corn crib next week, ali
as / come to the graveyard ! noticed 8
man standin ia there. Coming up closter
/ recognized Jasper Diggs, poor devil
He was standin perfectly still, an when
got right opposite / hollered out, Hey
there, Jasp, what yer doinp Well, b
gol dang il he stirred a COMPOUNDED inch
! Then hollered agin, but be didn't move
Sea ] TO myself, seq l. like as not the duml
critters in a fit or got one of his blaste,
delushuns. I'll ies go up an see wha
! ails him. When got around not more'l
a rod or SO in front Of him saw a squar
I
} string around his neck There was lei
! tiers on it, but as / don't purtend to b
much dedicated couldn't read EN-. Blu
it's my opinion he's tryin to run Bill
Davis, the marble dealer, oppursition an
be his own tombstone
A loud 'guffaw" on the part Of the lis
. teners followed close upon the conclusio
OF these remarks, and then continue
laughter augmented the hilarity.
OF course the curious visited the Gem,
terry the next day and found the repoI
I true TO the letter. There stood Jasper a
motionless as the monument he was repr'
! senting, his facial expression displaying
deathlike rigidity No amount Of diver
ing noises or threatening gestures change
the fixed stare that literally poured out {
his eyes The placard printed about hl
neck bore this inscription;
.ss..-..s-.-..s-s'.....-'.. ssssss.sssss's:
L Sacred 70 the memory Of