The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-07-29

Sdiulng 1t tor moment, with smile as
II fully satisfied that all was we'll, he took
handful of fresh dirt and sprinkled it
upon the tranquil face. The effect was
horrible. A clod fell upon corner of
the mouth and another obscured one eye,
changing its erst-while happy look to a
most grotesque expression and instantly
robing death in all his terrors Nobody
seemed to notice it, however, but our
selves, and the father calmly proceeded.
The next handful of earth hid all but the
little nose; with the third the face entire
ly Disappeared; and then the sexton's
shovel rapidly completed the work. Not
tear was shed and nobody seemed to be
saddened in the least. On the contrary.
all appeared elated, as if some e1traordi
nary good fortune had befallen the child
IN becoming thus early una angelita. "a
little ANGEL and may be it had. 1t was
not because they are heartless; but thew
have been taught to believe, and are firm
in the conviction that one taken SO early
from this uncertain world enters at once
into the glories of heaven.
Mr.. John L. Stephens, who Travelled in
this country some years ago, writes as
follows of funeral which he witnessed
1.-The procession consisted of eight or
ten grown persons and as many bows and
girls. The sexton carried the child in his
arms, dressed in white, with a wreath of
flowers around its head. All were hud
died around the sexton, walking together,
the father and mother with him: and
more than ever | remarked not only the
absence of solemnity, but cheerfulness
and actual gayety, from the happy con
victon that the child had gone to better
world. happened to be in the church as
they approached-more like wedding
than burial party. The floor of the church
was earthen and the grave was dug in
side, because, as the sexton told ME, the
father was rich and could afford to paw
for it, and the father seemed pleased and
proud that be could give the child such
burial place. The sexton laid the child
in the grave, folded it's little hands upon
its breast and placed across them a small
rude cross Then, having covered it over
with few inches of earth, he got into
the grave and stamped it down with his
feet, then he got out and threw in more
dirt, and going outside the church, brought
back pounder-a log of wood, about
four feet long and ten inches in diameter.
like the hammer used among us by PAYERS,
and again taking his place in the grave,
threw up the FOUNDER to the full swinging
of his arms and brought it down with all
his strength over the head of the child.
My blood ran cold. AS he threw it up
second time [ caught his arm and remon-
strated with him; but he said they always
did so with those buried inside the church
because the earth must be all put back
and the floor of the church made even
My remonstrances seemed only to give
him more strength and spirit. The sweat
rolled down his body; and when perfectly
tired with pounding he got out of the
grave, more earth was thrown ill., and
then the father laid down his hat, stepped
in and y FOUNDER was handed to him
The child body must have been crushed
to atoms.' Happily, church burials are
now forbidden in Guatemala and such
disgusting scenes are no more.
FANNIE BRIGHAM WARD.