Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-02-24
A TRIBUTE OF SONG,

There Ia no place on earth where ut
ter helplessness comes ont SO strongly,
where the ceremonies in human use fall
80 powerless before the majesty Of the
occasion, as at a funeral. It need not be
that ones heart shall be interested. The
obsequies Of a stranger conducted with
all the pomp and vanity of church and
state, with the melancholy rolling drum
OF the military funeral, or the gorgeous.
ness Of the Masonic regalia apron-all
are alike inadequate and unavailing.
But once in my life have I witnessed
q ceremony that was SO grand, impress
i've and appropriate to the silent. awful
occasion.
I will tell you of a funeral which
fingers in my memory as the grandest,
most solemn and befitting ceremony that
was ever given to the dead.
1t was rumored many years ago that
a poor widowed woman, leading u hard
life OF unending labor, was called to
part with the one thing dear to her-her
only child. Mother and daughter had
toiled together for Is years, and the
only bit OF sunshine falling into their
dark lives was that shed by their loving
companionship. But the girl had al.
ways been sickly. Under the heart.
broken mothers eyes she had faded and
wasted away with consumption, and at
last the day came when the wan face
failed to answer with its CHASTITY smile
the anxious, tear blinded eyes Of the
mother.
The poor young creature was dead.
For many months the pair had been sup
ported by the elder woman's sewing,
aud it was in the character Of employer
I had become acquainted with Mrs.
Cramp and her story. BY an occasional
visit to the awful heights of an east side
tenement where they lived, by a few
books and with some comforting words,
I had won the love Of the dying girl.
Her grateful thoughts turned in her last
hours to the small number of friends
she possessed, and she besought her
mother to notify me Of the day Of her
funeral and ask me to attend.
The summons reached me upon one
Of the widest days Of winter. A sleet
that was not rain and u rain that was
not snow came pelting from all points
Of the compass. A wind that walled in
the chimney and howled in the street
told how truly dreadful for outdoor pur.
poses was the weather of the day. Ipiled
the glowing CRATES, I drew closer the
curtains and shut out the gloom Of the
December afternoon. I turned on the
gas and sat down, devoutly thankful
that I had cut all connection with the
witched weather, when all installment
Of it burst in on me in the shape Of
Parepa Rosa. She was Euphrosyne
Parepa at that time, and the operatio
idol Of the city. Mutfied with tippets,
hecked with snow, glowing with the
short encounter she had had with the
elements rushing up the steps from her
carriage, she threw herself into an easy
chair and proclaimed the horrors Of the
outer world to be beyond description.
And ever as we congratulated our.
selves ON the prospect Of a delightful
day together there came the summons
for me to 60 to the humble funeral Of
the poor sewing woman's daughter. I
turned the little tear blotted note over
and groaned.
"This is terrible" said I. tits Just
the one errand that could take me out
today, but / must CO." And then ! told
Phrepa the circumstances aud speculated
the length Of time I should be gone
and suggested means Of amusement in
my absence.
"But ! shall 40 with you" said the
great. good hearted creature.
"Your throat and old Bateman and
your concert tonight" I pleaded.
III I get another 'froggy' note in my
voice. II won't matter much; Tim hoarse
- . raven now" she returned.
So she rewound her throat with the
long. white comforter. pulled on her
worsted gloves, and of In the storm we
went together. We climbed fight after
light Of narrow, dark stairs to the ton
door. where the widow dwelt In q mis-
arabic little room not more than q dozen
beet square. The C~anvasback hearse. ne.
culiar to the e05 funeral, stood In the
below, and the awful cherry
box, with its rufie Of glazed
white muslin, stood on uncovered tres.
Hes IN the center Of the room above.
There was the mother. speechless In
her grief, before that box-a group Of
hard working, kindly hearted neighbors
about. II was useless to nv the !
poor woman was prepared for the In. |
end-it wal cold comfort 10 7,
peak 10 her Of the daughters release !
lrom pain and suffering. The bereft ,
,reAtnre, In her utter loneliness Was .
thinking Of hsrself and the awful tate ;
-of the approaching moment when !
hat box and IL precious burden would !