Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1904 — The Sovereign Was Safe. [ARTICLE]

The Sovereign Was Safe.

A carpenter in a Scotch village, to oblige the local undertaker, who was ill. went to screw down a eoflin lid. The dead man’s wife gave him full and particular instructions respecting the task. “Weel,” she asked when he returned, “hoo did ye get on?” “Fine,” was the reply. “But there was hauf a sovereign in the corp’s hand. What was that for?” “Oh,” said the lady, “that’s a custom some folks hae. He’s supposed to gie that the ferryman wha rows him o’er the river o’ death!” “Do ye tell me that? It’s a queer warld. But I’m sayin’, missis”— “Yes?” “I’m feared yon chap will hae to swim.”