Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-01-03
TOM HAD A FUNERAL.
,No THE FUNERAL HAD SOME UNIQUE
FEATURES.

At Least They Appeared Unique to
the Strangers who Were Present
ana Were Not Quite Used to the
Ways of Toms Widow.
After dinner as we sat on the veran-
da of the hotel an old man came up
the steps from the street and said:
Gentlemen, mebbe you'd like to
walk up the street a few rods and
show up at Tom Jackson's funeral.
I've sent up the road fur preacher,
and his wife has combed her ha'r and
put on her shoes, and IL you'll drap in
fur half an hour it'll be givin the
show good send off,"
There were four of us, all strangers
to the little town, and as we had moth.
ing to do that afternoon we decided to
go. We therefore followed the old man
UP the street to shacklety old cabin
and were met at the door by middle
aged, slatternly woman, who said:
ITS powerful kind of you 70 drap
In. Take cheers and squat"
In few minutes the preacher arriv-
ed. There were about ten of us in
the room altogether. while cart wait
ed mt the gate to convey the body to
its last resting place. Pretty soon the
preacher stood up cleared his throat
and began:
Another member of our circle has
fallen by the wayside in the journey
Of life"
'Scuse me, elder" observed the
wife, "but you've hit It dead wrong
right at the start. Tom didn't do no
fallin down as we know of. He was
tooken with chill along In the night"
I'm the midst of life we are In
DEATH" continued the preacher after
painful pause. 1--WE know not what
day may bring forth. We cometh up
as flower and are cut down. We"-
"rom was no flower" said the wife
as she shook the folds out of her ban
danna. "1f thar was any man In this
yere county who could lay him on his
bock, I'd like to see him."
"The deceased had his faults and his
virtues, the same as the rest of u.s."
remarked the good man as he shifted
about uneasily.
"Yes. that was Tom to dot" put in
the wife. "If he found a stray hog in
the woods, that hog was his meat. but
he was SO kind hearted he'd gin away
his last chaw of terbacker."
"rhe deceased was not professed
Christian. as / understand 1t, but be-
lieved in hereafter just the same He
belipved"-
Hold on. elder" interrupted the
wife; Tets keep In the road as we
move along. Tom didn't hev nuthln
ag'in churches. cept he thought the
slngin and prayin sleered game away.
He didn't go shucks on no hereafter,
however. He thought feller who was
BON and raised around yere and had
plenty to eat and drink all the time
would be blamed hog to want to go
to heaven afterward. Tom jackson
was no hog"
1--WE must not Judge him too harsh.
ly," continued the elder, much put out
but feeling that he couldn't cut 1t Off
too short before strangers. "As take
1t. every man Is guided by his own con.
science, He does what he thinks is for
the best For instance
'Scuse me, Elder Rider but thar
was no for instance about Tom Jack
son." interrupted the wife again. "He
was jest plain, everyday man and no
scollard. You are dead right about
the conscience, though. That's what
guided Tom. If he took a bushel of
con mo- than was actually needed. he
was trubbled in his mind and would
grunt out in his sleep Anything else
on your mind, elder?"
"No. not as | knows Of" he stam-
tnered as he looked around.
"Waai, l reckon you've hit the mark
high 'nuff. Tom was no talker hissplf,
aud he didn't keer to be around whar
folks was blabbin. If you want to
pray, elder drive ahead, but don't spin
1t out"
81 kin skip that" he replied.
"All right. Wen tote the body out
to the cart. Strangers, will you tote"
We lifted up the coffin and carried 1t
out to the cart, and the widow mount
ed up beside It and said:
"rhankee, strangers. and you needn't
bother no mo-. I'm suah It was pow
rful kind of you. Be mighty keerful
bout holes and rocks. Jim, fur Tom
Id despise to be joggled and bumped
hout."
Three hours later passed the cabin.
nd the woman sat on the doorstep
sing q snuff stick ! lifted my hat