St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-03-25

ALWAYS ATTENDED FUNERALS
The Strange Habit Of q Queer Little
Chicago Woman and Her
Gramdchlld.

For years there lived Oh the West
side little woman with bright, sharp
eyes and an expressive face. Her step
was slow and her shoulders bent. fol
she was long past the beauty OF youth
and the glory Of middle-aged woman
hood. Her small crepe bonnet was
placed on perfectly arranged hair. Her
black gown was trimmed with bands OF
crepe and she always wore soft black
shawl thrown loosely over her shoul-
ders. She was never seen alone, bu;
always with her was a wee girl who
called her .grandma." Few knew who
the woman was or who was the child,
or where they lived, but both were
known to all of the prominent minis
tiers on the West side, as well as 10 the
undertakers and funeral directors. For
years there was not prominent fu-
neral i'm that end of town but the little
woman and her grandchiid were in at
tendance. If there was really no choice
in funerals they attended the one where
their favorite minister prayed. But
no matter who the dead had been or
who the minister was in charge, or
what the weather. the little woman and
the child went to funeral every day.
Some West side preachers say they
did not preach funeral service IN
years without first shaking hands with
the little woman and her grandchild.
for they were always present. Some OF
the choir boys learned to know them
and to speak and the funeral directors
grew 50 accustomed to their presence
at services for the dead that they in
variably reserved two seats in car
riage for them to ride out to the cem-
eteries. Arriving at the cemetery, the
woman and child would wander off
hand in hand to some place near by.
and, seated on a grave. would unwrap
a package of luncheon. which they
would spread out over the grave picnic
fashion. When the carriages drew up
for the mourners TO return the little
woman and the child would mingle with
the rest and return to the city. That
was all; no display of grief. no COM
ments, but always that dignified ST.
lence and constant attendance. Some
people tried to learn why they went
10 funerals, and who they were, but
they never seemed TO comprehend that
there was anything unusual or mys-
,erious in their manner, so no one ever
found out.
Two weeks or so ago there was a
large funeral on the West side that
neither the woman nor child attended.
The minister missed them. and thought
there must be large funeral some
where else. The funeral director re-
served the seats in the carriage, but
the woman and child did not come to
occupy them. The church janitor
saved for the child rose that had
fallen from the casket, but she was
rot to be found. Nor was she seen
until a few days ago. She entered the
church alone. Her dark frock had
fresh band OF Grape and she wore a
new feather and flower in her hat.
Her rosy face looked thin and her eyes
were unusually dark and brilliant. The
minister said, as he shook hands with
her: where is your grandmother, my
Gear?"
For a moment the child was silent.
Then she broke into torrent of weep
ing. ''Grandma's dead," she cried.
''She died the last night we got home
from the last funeral" l."-ChicagoC Chron-
icle.