Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-10-11
a COUNTRY FUNERAL
occasion When the Touch Of Natpr.
Making All Kin Asserts Itself.

:. were Ii not Tor the sadness Of death.
90 many ceremonies have to be OBJ
served, which, if overlooked Or left ont
would shock the community. Little
iaos nave been handed down from one
generation to another. and rarely is
the person found who is COURAGEOUS
enough to break over the prescribed
rules. Folks might talk" is the ex-
cuse invariably given if any objections
are made to following out the immemo-
rial laws. While often it seems almost
neartless to infiict the grief-stricken
iamlly with all the little unnecessary
customs, still an almost forlorn pleasure
seems to possess the afflicted ones. and
the iong-established practices must be
carried out to the last letter. Not but
what the sorrow is as sincere. but a
country community is apt to be more
critical than elsewhere to any who de-
vlate from the accustomedrule.
Nothlng brings out the kindly per-
sonal traits like funeral in the coun-
try. People flock to the house of
mourning, not from any curiosity. as
some think, but to express their SYM
pathy and good will to their friends.
All sorts of generous acts are done
winch would otherwise not be con-
sldered. A number of women will be
IN one room making a shroud. Others
Will be constructing mourning gar
ments Tor the family. Still others will
be cooking and doing all the house
work to spare the bereaved ones the
trial OF the Everyday tasks. There are
always many volunteers to sit up''
with the corpse. One would imagine it
was high privilege instead of a sort
OF heroism to pass the uncanny hours
OF night in room probably next to
where the dead body is placed, fight
ing sleep, talking in subdued tone on
solemn subjects and dampening the
cloths which cover the face of the
corpse when occasion demands.
Another noticeable feature of neigh
oorly kindness is the willingness to
loan wearing apparel. If death enters
a household suddenly the inmates are
often found unprepared with the nee
essary garb of woe. Or, as is often the
case, the family can not afford extern
sive mourning. So the community is
ransacSed for black dresses bonnets
and wells. which are loaned with a
readiness which. displays the perfect
fellow-feeling with one another Ere
quently bonnet or Grape veil goes the
entire round of the neighborhood, and
answers the purpose of mourning garb
Tor several years. Nothing is too good
to loan or give. The few choice bios
SONS which are the housewives pride
are cheerfully picked and woven into
wreathS and knots to adorn the coffin
of the departed friend. The men offer
their teams and carriages to convey the
funeral party to the cemetery free of
charge. The idea of hiring convey
ances is unheard of in the country.
Grief is apt to strike any household
and no one knows how soon these
services may be required of others.
As general thing the inha bitants OF
a little country village like to have a
funeral held on Sunday. Why in par.
ticular is not known, or at least is not
expressed in words. But Sunday is a
day when all the public in general can
attend, and everyone likes large flu
neral. 1t shows how thoroughly the
departed one was appreciated. A fu-
neral held in church is also regarded
favorabl in the country. 1t adds SO
much to the gravity of the occasion to
see the solemn pageant slowly vending
its way to the little village church: to
hear the sad tolling of the familiar
bell: to witness the sober care of the
pall-bearers as they bring their pre-
cious burden of lifeless clay up the
aisle and rest it on the little stands in
front: to feel the heart throb with
painful sympathy as the black-robed
mourners file in after the coffin and
take the places reserved for them in
the front row of seats; and to listen to
the village choir singing with a little
culver in their Subdued voices. Near
err, My God, to Thee asleep in Je-
sus.'' Rest for the Weary" and other
cid hymns. which have grown trite
with common usage as funeral hymns
The sermon which the minister
breaches is very impressive as he de-
scribes the virtues of the deceased and
the touching death-bed scenes, to-
gether with the bright hopes of inn
mortality in the world beyond. The
services ended. the congregation wish
ing to view the remains pass. at the
request of the undertaken. up one
aisle and down the other" and out the
door where the procession is again
formed to proceed to the cemetery. 1t
is soon all over there. After prayer
by the minister the final earth to
earth. ashes to ashes, dust to dust" has
been said, and with the sound Of the
heavy clods falling on the coffin of the
beloved dead, the friends return to the
home where kindly hands have been
cndeavoring to regain the former home
like look to the house. and prepare
cup of cheer for those whose hearts
have been wrung to the utmost with
sorrow and affiiction.
Death strikes terror and sadness
wherever it goes: but only in the coun-
try is to be found the keen compassion
of the whole community. No matter
how humble in station a person may be
he is sub1imated to sort of herolsm
when he is dead. Only the good traits
are remembered, while the imperfec-
tions are always Entered with the
bones" And the tie which binds the
neighbors together in one common fell
lowship of devotion to one another
when a life goes out from their midst
is so sincere and heartfelt that death
can scarcely be looked upon as
calamity. but instead as if it We're the
Divine finger pointing out the way
which unites the inhabitants OF the
rural districts in a close bond of loving
Dispatch.
Something Unusual
He was so self-conceited that he
didn't know there was little in the
alphabet and yet he was sweet on a