The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-03-19

ty feet. but all agreed that at Jehu'3
advanced age even donkey could not
questionably the faithful ass was dead
Strange solution of the problem
what to do with Jehu. isn't it," MIR.
jenkins asked in voice whose tone
of too affected grief led Mrs jenkins
to remark:
Il do believe you're glad he's dead!'
"Oh. no. my DEAR he said. resenting
her reproach with quite sincere an
ger. "I'm not exactly glad he's dead;
but, then. you know. he had to die
some time and in some way. and,
reckon lie found this one bout as sat
mule. and I'm as sorry as anybody
only I'm honest enough to say that he's
been saved lot of suffering. and
we've been saved a lot of trouhe!'
Better not preach his funeral SER
mon till you really know he's dead:
Remember bout that editorial on
Judge Hancock, don't you:" observed
the irrepressible Daniel referring to a
newspaper eulogy on the character of
distinguished citizen who had in
sisted upon defeating the prognostica-
tions of the whole medical fraternity
uary.
ooh, he's dead all right" Tom as
serted, cor you'd hear him honk or
kick or heaye. Listen. There isn't
any sound, you see. Old Jehu's done
for. Better bury him right where he
is, hadn't we. father: It's not often
that any one so accommodatingly dies
in his own grave"
eyes, if you're sure. wouldn't like
to bury him alive" the farmer an
swered and kicked a little loose earth
into the well, adding after listening a
minute: THAT settles it! Better get
some shovels and begin"
The time consumed by the hired men
in going to the barn for tools was prof
itably employed in eulogies upon the
character and accomplishments of the
dead donkey, and never were there
| more kind and complimentary tributes
paid to the worth Of any creature down
below the scale Of human life. And
yet it must be sadly said that there
was still in every breast but Bobbie's S
that pitiless joy that wells up from
| living bosoms over open graves. Who
ever died, man or beast. but the gap
| ing crowd consoled its sorrows. some
with the reflection that they would
now be relieved from heavy burden
| of care, some that there would be more
standing room OH earth, some that they
could now wear the abandoned shoes
| and some that they could spend the
| substance of the dead? But these are
| feelings which we try to cover ul
from our own eyes as well as those OF
others, and Mrs. Jenkins. who could
not perfectly succeed in doing so. was
quite us much relieved as all the rest
when the men came back with the
tools and the rough interment was be-
| gun.
How thoughtful the good old donkey
seemed to every one! If he had de-
|
BILE. he could not have arranged the
circumstances Of his death more con
veniently. When the well was dug the
earth had not been carried of and nov
| lay collar round its mouth The sex.
tons simply had to push it back
/ 1t was not very deep we'll either
and would require so little time fo'
filing that everybody fingered to see
the last of the obsequies of the pool
old ass. The men were strong and
spelled each other at the work. Shov
elful after shovelful Of earth tumblet
into the gaping hole with dull thud
From the sound of the falling cloas i
was evident that the grave was neArl!
filed Mrs. Jenkins and Susie were
turning sadly away when suddenly NJ