The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-02-18
IiTSjPERSTlTIOUS WIDOW

( that she seemed to stand alone and con-
! spicuously Isolated i'll her eccentricitie5
! in that component Of diversified human
| ity commonly denoIinated by the term
/ socicty-that fun-loving element in every
| habitable J. .-tiOn OF our civilized world,
/ ever eaG.'r t. find subjects upon which 70
| c.h#T-t it, uirthfuI Iropensitics, re-
I rar'!ins her and her transparent motives
With the saIE" kind Of interest that it
reads over the humorous anecdotes in
newspapers.
Among her many pecuIiaritias was her
interest in attending funerals, this f"a-
turc being So rOticcabl" ii It it won for
! b. from some unknown source, the
name II Funeral Phelps.'
Whether the sight Of grief in others
was a solace to her soul III her affection
since misery loves companionship
especially shallow miscry-althOugh
there are sorrows that are of such depth
and magnitude that they must need
! stand alone, towering up 50 hi;-h toward
| lies o'crarching canopy, that they can
| ft.i conpaniOnship and solace i'll none
but the great OmnipOtent presence
whether it was this human companions
| snip and sympathy or the chance Of an
! opportunity I, have free ride in hack
or her lok, Of meeting and seeing a con-
| course of people, it is not our purpose to
| discuss. Be this as it may. Mrs. Grundv
| said with many smiles and significant
looks that il was 81 noticeable fact that
| the funeral III which she appeared to
| take the deepest interest were those Of a
| deceased wife about her own age, or chill
| drcn, or other relations OF some bvreaved
| widOwer.
However this might be, there were few
funerals within the range Of her knOWl-
edge which she did not attend; and the
I 4 L., lx.I
always the most interesting depart
n..nt to her.
She was a member OF the Episcopal
Church, on L street, Boston-in good
and regular standing, and very punctilli-
GUS in attending all the religious Sc
vices. the church sociables, literary So
cieties, sewing circles, gatherings for
charitable purposes, no matter how Sc
yerely cold or stormy the weat her. Her
favOrite seat III church was the nearest
to the pulpit on the left OF the center
aisle, q seat she had occupied for ars.
During the responsive reading OF the 5 /
vice her harsh voice could BE- heard
distinct from others, pitched on a hirh
key; while at the last sentence she II =
quently came out two or three words be
hind the rest of the cOngrclc I ton, her
voice piping up Shrill diStin t and alone
while, if it caused d half-suppressed t t.
ter from some Juvenile member Of ne
wnr5hipers, the sinful levity was usua.Iy
frowHed down upon by Widow Phelps.
In congregational singing, she as now
less conspicuous, her shrll sOpr no
voice, usually out Of KEY, being heard
distinctly from the combined chorus of
the congregation. Being directly under
meath the young minister > desk. il VS.
Tie occasion Of no little trial to the ips-
thatic taste and cars of the Rev. David
willingly, who found it extremely
difficult to join his own cultured voice
with that of his cOngregat ion rs il was to
refrain from smiling at The dis or,lant
notes that swelled up directly beneath
The church service had auot her attrac-
ton frr- the Widow Phelps, aside from
those already alluded to. She had IL
daughter vino inherited her fathers
taste and musical talent. Lillian Phelps
possessed Il rontralto voice OF peculiar
richness in quality, and was one of the
salaried members of the church quartet.
Mrs. Phelps was extremely pre- i'll of
her daughter = musical gifts, as we'll she
might have been. and made no attempt
at the cOnc"ainent of this fact. When
ever the quartet sung, she invariab
turned rouu IL her pew, gaZed admir-
ingly AUD s:l.. .n.sly at Lillian. then cast
her eyes over the body of the church. as
much 10 say, just hear that. Isn't it
fine? Shes my Caughter!' to the no
small degree Of amusement of the con-
Srcgation.
Her form was tall. erect and angular,
complexion Sailow, features sharp. eyes
black, small and deep set, Overarched by
heavy, dark, bristling brOwS, while her
hair was coarse, black and sprinkled
with gray. Her attempts at the conceal
in"nt Of the hue Of her complexion w
i"licrOusly apparent by the sallOw tints
sewing through the uneven distribution
~ rowder with which she attempted to
renew her youthful appearance.
There's four funerals | Grcadfully
want to go to to-day" she said one dis
mai March morning, to her daughter
"ilcre Mr.. Jones baby that died Of the
t..rIsle5-that's at nine o'clock this
n.Inin. Then there's old Aunt Julia
I,,rrs-lem me see yes, / thought SO:
iItt ; at eleven O'Clock 10 the house and
there's Mrs. Smiths on Temple street
TIT : at one o'clock. How fortunit it
= rIms at that hour SOS not t interfere
v II the others. They're dreadful rich
folk, and1l have a long procession OF
carriages, | know, and the flowers II be
jus. too splendid for anything. Then ]
wor:dn't fail to go to Mrs. Simpsons
fun, raj for nothing. She was a neighbor
Ii '
nu" in Semrrville, before We moved into
Bosom, and Mr.. Simpsons dreadful
ME" sort of a man. They're Methodist
folks: but amt no respect r of creeds,
If ~ Il Episcopalian. I've got charity
fr othe: denominations and allus
r.:l ed Mrs. Simpson Sister Simpson"
an& him Brother Simpson, just like the
NJ lodists do. when l see en-. Hern is
hai'-past two, on High street How
lucky / can attend EN- all. The corpses
ii al be buried at Mount Auburn, but
the Jones bahy-thatll be buried to the
cent ry-and lhere'll be four good lon.
! .ins,
n. mama! I wouldn't go out on
S,,,A y as this" pleaded Lillian. q
: onuer yoI can bear to go to a funeral
9, i, and especially on such day as
think its just horrid to go on a
SAINT day to such places, and I'm
i never would without l was obliged
& III account of its being near relative |
- riend. The snow is all soft and slOp-
r. md mixed with mud. and the rain
fog are nl"ltiin. it all the time
You aint obliged to go if Won don't
VI t to: but generally do as pleas"
s'arply res ponded Mrs. Phelps. with no
it'Ie severity. Il never Vet knew YOU
Nant to 20 to a funeral. l believe in
e. ~ as he done by. L expect to |
# some one to attend my funeral
,..e day, and the golden rule is my
el,'nd in such matters"
It's funny, but I've rid with the same
X driver every time SO far to-day"
Mrs Phelps, on returning from the
srd funeral hat day
NoUldn I ii hr remarkable if should |
! u him for a driver at Mrs. Simpsons,
Lillian, | declare fort. I'm almost
: Il when think ont, to have things
h - repeating themselves SO. l don't
- W whether it's IA good sign or a bad
on"
inr Mrs. Phelps. like most ignorant
=" pie OF her caliber, was worry supersti-
t",''. aud put great faith in signs and
a. lis.
.,n hour later she was weeping with |
Sc who We,t over the inauinate form |
81 Mrs. Simpson, and endeavorai. dur |
II the interim of forming the procession |
t. speak Il few words OF consolation 10 |