Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1875 — A Baltimore Miser. [ARTICLE]

A Baltimore Miser.

Baltimore is called upon to mourn the death of an elderly miser who, in his journey through this world, had spent little else than his life. A short time before his dea.h he informed a friend that he had never given away a cent nor spent one when the expenditure could possibly be avoided. Four years ago he married a third wife, and though she was young, and he was in his dotage, he had entire ascendency over her, compelling her to work in a factory and turnover: her wages to him. He assumed whole responsibility of the household, and, under his penurious management, nothing went to waste. Some six years ago he purchased a cheap pine coffin, and stored it in his tenement, biding patiently the day when he should need it< for his final wrap. Shortly before hi? death he told his wife that his funeral expenses must not exceed ten dollars, and to that end he directed that his body be carried to the grave on the shoulders of men, instead of in a hearse. Learning, however, that the mode of conveyance would cost at least twelve dollars, he decided upqn the employment of an express wagon, which could be had for the purpose' for about five dollars. Finding that a barber’s tariff for shaving a corpse was something more than his charge for the service to a sick man, he sent, on the night before his death, for one of the razor craft, who did the work to the old gentleman’s satisfaction. The widow was mindful of her deceased lord’s injunctions, and the total expenses of the funeral were $8.75. The miser left property valued at $30,000, the result of pinching himseif and family through a long series of years. By his will it was divided between his wife and a son by a former marriage.