Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-01-14

After my isit to the cemetery, in the
fog that was settling over the gray gran
ties and the dark green of the expresses.
| entered the house Of the plump and
rubicund Nine. Sapain-the saleswoman
of funeral ornaments and wreaths for the
dead-to settle my little bill for keeping
in order the tombs. and while she was
signing the receipt of my payment. we
began to chat, for We were, alas, very
old ncQuantances
is this all YOU need for this year,
Monsieur? Have YOU no new order?' she
asked me her glance full of melancholy,
mingled with a half smile of coincidence,
accompanied with a sigh.
'Mcrciful heavens. This is all. Nine.
Sapaip." Then. struck with her good
looks. I could not help adding:
"I,ut. what hourshing health You en-
joy! You get younger every year
oh, YES. Monsieur" said she, her looks
hrichtening. her voice gay, and with n
smilo that spread over her face. II know
that I am not very Ill looking. When
business goes we'll. you understand, |
feel the effects of it. A winter of infiu-
enza and summer of cholera have been
very favorable for us
could not repress a slight movement,
and she thought it her duty to immediate
~ resume her expression of grief and
compassion while explaining to me,
"Oh. yes | well know. Monsieur I
should not tell you that, it Is not proper.
5ut 1t is stronger than myself. No mat
ter what trade one follows one has the
right to show ones self pleased with sue
cess. In ours. the more money one gains.
the more right to rejoice. ami the more
necessary is it to appear sad. 1t is an
Improbable business, full of dittit ulties.
We have only to deal with mat which
fills mems eyes with tears. and faces
made palld with mourning garments. If
| should offer them my articles while
springing a light joke for a laugh or go
skipping around like goat, ! would
seem to insult their grief. and to be
making fun of them. They would at once
bc offended and make for the door 1t is
necessary to have a slow movement. n
church whisper, a sad look. an attitude
entirely funereal. oh. Monsieur. it is
often very hard. AS for myself ! had
not such a nature I am naturally lively,
chattering. and Joyful as the skylark,
At the beginning the corstraint was a
torture The procession of whimperers
in black exasperated me. Little by little
grew accustomed to it. but there are yet
moments when it again irritates me.
However. when the shop is closed l take
my revenge.
and your husband?"
"Oh, as for him, it is his calling. He
was born to II, and then his liver com
plant draws in his checks. and encircles
his eyes with shadows. With such face
he sells whatever he wishes. But my son
Ernest, for example. has entirely the
temperament of his mother. This irri-
tates his father, for he cannot get as good
value for the goods as he can himself
With his excellent health and his sunny
face my Ernest would make us bankrupt
in fifteen days. This has made us very
anxious. but all the same we could not
torment, nor put our son ON a diet-our
nj n Oh III
this work
Naturally"
more especially rs n marriage may
possibly arrange everything. There is
already reason to hope that our Ernest
will not become enamoured with Il jovial
person like himself He will have to
bring us little pale-facod daughter-in-
law with an affecting look. OH we will
find her, and without looking very far. ii
there is any truth in signs. Ernest is n
fine looking boy, and every one knows
that in our line of business. his parents
must have something. His only difficulty
will Ice in making n choice.
"rhcn--I tell You this in confidence
Monsieur. and do not speak of II to any
one in the world. for it might iniure our
lusincss-but just lately, as a result of
some recent deaths, ! was really in need
of some diversion, as reaction, and we
save IN the store-emptied of its count ars
pnd marble slabs-a little party-a dane
ing party
ture of approval, that made her continue
"Oh. 1t was very pretty, and my son
ana ! had covered the walls, and re-cov-
cred our show windows with tapestries,
and on these hanginss we had fastened
little bouquets
"Of evorlasting?"
Precisely. Wen, one has to take what