Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1893-12-21

The Only real Work In cOnneCtlOn With
the business was the cXhumation of the
remains, and even this was no great task
for a man from a mining region. The
churchyard being half a mile from any
village, and the graves being hidden in a
thicket of brambles and thorn bushes,
one might have worked there week
without any one appearing to ask cues
tions. Had any questions been asked /
was prepared with a plausible story
which 1 had concocted.
After mature deliberation and care
full survey of the ground, I decided to do
all the work of exhumation myself and
in daylight, in order that might be able
to carefully inspect the contents of the
cofins. AS the cofins themselves would
be too.much decayed for removal, 1 pur-
chased two neat and strong trunks of
small size in which to place whatever l
might find in the way of remains.
This done I had only to find means of
conveying the tombstopes to the depot.
I must secure trusty drayman. Dis
guising myself as workingman / one
morning sauntered down to the iron
bridge which spans the Ouse, uniting the
Norfolk and Suffolk sides Of the town of
Thetford. The town-we would call it
q city-is situated at the influx of the
little river Thet, and the Ouse, thus
strengthened, is navigable as far up as
the point where it is spanned by the
bridge.
Some small vessels were discharging
cargo at the wharf, and drays were haul
ing. the goods up into the town. I pres
emily went down upon the wharf and
studied the faces of the draymen.
Among them was a young fellow about
my own age, whose looks and manner !
liked. 1 soon engaged him in converse
ton, and pretending to be interested in
something he told me appointed meet
Ing with him for that evening at tav-
trn he named.
found Tom Bell, my drayman, await
ing me at the tavern. After long talk
about the Thetford business outlook, in
the course of which Tom complained
bitterly of hard times, suddenly ex-
claimed: by Jove, Mr.. Bell, l can do
something for you! l can put small
job in your way in a day or two. It is
not much-maybe e5 in it..
Of course Tom Bell was all attention
when he heard me mention e5 us Il sum
he might easily earn.
then told him I was an undertaken s
man sent down from London to remove
a couple Of bodies. and that I had all in
readiness except the mere taking up of
the remains.
"I'd like tho five pan," said Tom, "but
l don't much fancy handlin Of dead
bodies"
laughed and said: why, my friend,
these have been in the ground q hundred
years. There Will be nothing left bat a
few bones, and those you'll not even see,
for I'll have them in two small boxes,
all ready for you. The only work about
the job is the removal of the tomDstones.
You see the family care as much about
the tombstones as about the bodies, as
the remains to be removed are those of a
baron and his lady. 1t is an affair of
family pride. The relatives, at least one
wealthy family among them, want the
remains and the two tombstones to give
a sort Of tone, dye see, to their family
burial plot up where they now live, near
London"
ooh, 1 was afeerd they was fresh rns
like-that is, not so old but they'd he
bad uns to handle," said Tom Bell.
you'll have the handling of nothing
but the tombstones," said I. "rll take
care of the small boxes"
Tom was satisfied and declared him
self ready to take the job.
"Are there any Johnsons in this town.
asked.
"Lots and lots on 'em," said Tom.
then told Tom that it appeared from
what my master had told me that there
was some disagreement between two
branches Of the Johnson family as TO
which had the best right to the remains
of the ancient and titled Johnsons.
Therefore it would be best for us to say
nothing of what we were about.
"Some of the Johnsons here in Tbet-
ford may be of the same family" said
I, "and may put in protest against the
removal of the bones of their ancestors,
therefore let US earn our money and say
nothing. Well leave the Johnsons to
fight the matter out in the law courts
if they like. Heretofore the graves seem
to have been sadly neglected. Now, if
these Johnsons up Lun'un way want to
take proper care of the bones of their an
cestors, why let 'em have 'em is what l
say, particularly as they've got the mon
ey and are willing to pay well for all
trouble"
II don't want to git into no law
courts" said Tom.
Pooh" cried L. Mighty little you
and would have to do with it. It's a
matter between my master and the John