Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-11-23
BARILLONS BABY.
"NYhat did Won get for IT,

paw Uaddy. You are not going To get !
cent of it. Haven't YOU heard that poor
old Barilon' baby died this morning
We'll. - intcrrogatcd Dodd, relaxing his
grip on the ink bottle.
"Wcll, do you think that we ought to
allow the city to get hold of that little
scrap of humanity No. my boy. the Bar
Hon baby VS. the guest of American art,
and American art's going to bury the
Barllon baby.
For 81 50l' interposed Trawley. You
mean well, Luttcrworth, but the things
absurd. "
Look here, 3" said Lutterworth, push
ing some books off his bed and sitting
down in their place. Il never faneicd we
could do the whole thing for 81 90. But u
collection
Collection nothing" Dodd exclaimed
with emphasis. There is not enough
money TO buy sparrow in the entire set
Element DO you think l should be toling
here II wealth could be picked up for the
askings'
Once more there was silence in the
painting shop Dodd was laboring fruit
lessly, rs it seemed, to produce foggy eff
feet with piece Of smudgy india rubber.
Trawley succeeded in finding match and
lighted raking Pittsburg stogy. The
smoke was to him as Delphic vapors were
to the pricstess perched on her tripod.
Inspiration he cried Let US make
a coffin ourselves Where arc those car
penter tools OF yours, Doddy?"
Dodd almost hurled the black and white
into corner Lutterworth allowed the
money to sink back into his pocket Both
were on their feet in an instant.
You'll find the tools In the closet,
amid Iotl THAT window seat will do
for a coffin, won't it:"
YES and the white hangings to line 1t
WITH" calculated Lutterworth, tearing
down gorgeous satin mantle. the pride
OF Dodd's collection, as he spoke.
Trawlcy fishcd ont the carpenters tools,
Dodd found some brass headed nails, and
to work with will went this trio of ANA
teur undortakers.
Slowly the window scat, which had once
been a maearoni box. found itself meta
morphosed for the third time-on this oc
casion into really respectable looking
coffin, \ paint pot borrowed from the
jantor lent color to the exterior; the in
terror was richly lined with Dodd's white
satin hangings. The brass headed nails,
set nearly arrow, kept the satin in place,
aud Dodd painted on the lid the inscrip-
ton, 'Etienne- Alloys Barillion aged 10
months.
As they put the finishing touches to
their work there came knock on the
door, and, without being hidden to enter,
old Flanagan. landlord in ordinary to all
that d,velt beneath that roof, heaved his
oorpulcut frame into the painting shop.
"Gintlcmcn. whcezcd MIR. Flanagan,
1--WE come afther the rint.
cone moment, Flanagan; one mo-
ment' said lutterWorth We re lust
finishing this collin.
Mr.. Flanagan jaw dropped, for tho
word coffin reminded him OF how grasp
ing landlords wcrc said to have been treat
I'D in his native lrand.
"Finishin "a cofinl" he repeated
Dodd laughed.
Don't worry, Flanagan, he said;
it : not for you.
And then rs they lifted the box from
the midst Of chips and shayings and set it
proudly on the drawing table they cx-
planned TO Mr.. Flanagan Its real purpose
The hurly landlord regarded them eau
tiously for awhile, as though dreading
some jest. but presently his features re-
Taxed into "A grim smile.
SURF, an suppose we've been so busy, v
he said, that We didn't have time 10 get
the rint ready
The REM must wait, said Dodd.
1t Gincrally does, bedad, retorted
Flanagan We'll won't bother We now,
boys, a. l see we're just settin up in a new
business. Good Inornin to ye. an good
luck to the undhcrtakin business.
cold hearted old pig growled Dodd
.as the door banged behind his landlord
Had to make "a joke OF 1t, OF course. some
people seem to have no feelings.
''Oh, these coarse natures, you know"
said Trawley. What can you expect from
AN ex-contractor, whom fate has made the
landlord of studio huldinEf But, | say,
we have u lot 10 do yet The coffin, fine
As it is, won't save Barilluu's baby from
the city. We must discover sone means
OF raising money.
Il have &. 30 - Lutterworth was be
ginning when the door opened once mora,
this time to admit the ianitor. He lad "a
handsome bundle of white ro-,s in one
hard and in thu other u penelled note.
which he presented To Dodd
From Mr. Flanagan, - he said
Dodd opened the note and read it aloud
At first with some Impotence, but with
growing wonder as he proceeded.
Mr.. Flanagan presents his compliments but
will you kindly accept these roses to put on
that coffin Of yourst | suppose the French art
ist cannot afford IA plot in the cemetery. Well
sir, own a bug one, and there's only myself
and my wife. We'll feel mighty pleased II the
French artist will take little slice Of the
Flanagan ground. Mr.. Flanagan also pre-
sents his compliments and says that II you
like l will send my carriage around to that
French artists maybe he can hire a
hearse. l also send little money, with Mr..
Flanagan > compliments, TO dcfray expenses.
J. j. FLANNAGAN.
P. S.-That coffin is dandy, and don like
to 1t go waste.
Dodd looked penitently at Lutterworth.
Il take it all back about the coarse ma
lures, " exclaimed Trawley THAT land
lord of yours is "a trump. What good news
for poor Barillone
lone touch Of nature" said Dodd, tex
ing up the black and white from the cor
ner Bless me, that misty effect seems
quite successful now-or is it my eyes,
Gerald Brennan in Eastern Criterion