Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1875 — After the Funeral. [ARTICLE]

After the Funeral.

It was just after the funeral. The bereaved and subdued widow enveloped in milinery gloom was seated in the sittingroom with a few sympathizing friends. There was that constrained look so peculiar to the occasion observable on every countenance. The widow sighed. “ How do you feel, my dear*” observed “her sister. “ Oh, I don’t know,” said the poor woman, with difficulty restraining her tears. “ But I hope everything passed oit well.” “ Indeed it did,” said all the ladies. “It w*as as large and respectable a funeral as I have seen this winter,” said the sistex, looking around upon the others. “ Yes, it was,” said the .ady from the next door. “ I was saying to Mr. Slocum only ten minutes ago that the attendance couldn’t have been better —the bad going considered.” “ Did you see the Taylors?” asked the widow, faintly, looking at her sister. “They go so rarely to funerals that I was quite surprised to see them here.” “ Oh, yes, the Taylors were all here,” said the sympathizing sister. “As you say, they go but a little ; they are so exclusive.” “ I thought I saw the Curtises also,” suggested the bereaved woman, droopingly. “ Oh, yes,” chimed in several. “ They came in their own carriage, too,” said the sister, animatedly. “And then there were the Randalls, and Jthe Van Ransalaers. Mrs. Van Kansalaer had her cousin.from the city with her. And Mrs. Randall wore a very heavy black silk, which I am sure was quite new. Did vou see Col. Haywood and his daughters . love ?” v “I thought I saw them, but.l wasn’t sure. They were here, then, were they ?” “ Yes, indeed,’’ said they all again, and the lady who lived across the way observed: “ The Colonel was very sociable, and inquired most kindly* about you, and the sickness of your husband.” The widow smiled faintly. She was gratitied'by the interest shown by the Colonel. The friends now rose to go, each bidding her good-by, and expressing the hope that she would be calm. Her sister bowed them out. < When she returned she said: •. “You can see, my love, what the neighbors think of it. I wouldn’t have had anything unfortunate happened for a good deal. But nothing did. The arrangements 'couldn’t have been better.” “I think some of the people in the neighborhood must have been .surprised to see so many of the up-town people here,” suggested the afficted women, trying to look hopeful. ‘ “ “You may be quite sure of thats” assert ed the sister. “ I could see that plain enough by their looks.” “ Well, I am glad then? is no occasion for talk,” said the widow; smoothing the akirt of her dress. And after that the boys took the chairs home, and the house was put in order.— Danbury Newt. ■ It is the ruthlessly contemplative rnjnd of the editor of the Cincinnati Times which evolves this exquisite consummation : *• In all this world of woe can it be possible to imagine another retribution so stern, so awful, and withal so just, as that exhibited in the marriage of a life insurance agent to a book-canvasser.”