NOT WHAT HE WANTED.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1965, 22 April 1875, Page 3

NOT WHAT HE WANTED.

He came into the office of a City undertaker's, yesterday, frith a look of. great care on Iris honest face; His eyes were heavy and slightly bloodshot, telling of nightly vigils and lotis of sleep. His hair was unkempt and shaggy. The softhearted man of coffins looked upon his visitor'with a gaze full, of pity and thankfulness—pity for the customers loss, and thankfulness for'his patrpnage. He was so young to be.burdened with the loss of a dear one by death. The manufacturer of burial-cases nodded a silent assent and condoling recognition ; the young man from the country said, " How d'ye ?" Then ensued a painful silence, broken at length by the man of grave business. " Can I do anything for you to-day sir?" 11 Wall I reckin' so, stranger. Another silence. Once more the undertaker began by suggesting, " Your sisiter ?" . Young man stared » moment then as a light gradually broke upon his berplexed mind, he smiled more auggestive of sorrow than happiness, and replied : "No—my wife." "Sudden?" « No—expected su'tuun of the kind for several months." " When did it happen P " 11 'Bout 4 o'clock this morning." "Looks natural?" "Rather," (Spoken carefully and expressive of some doubt). " About what do you want the cost of it to be?" " Don't care for expense; get it up kinder nice. I'll treat her handsum, 'cause she i« the first one I ever had." " Very well, my friend; you'll have it lined whith satin, I suppose P " " Jest as you say, stranger." " Silver-headed screws, too, I suppose ? " " Y-a-a-», I s'pose iso. An', stranger, jest put a bully top tp't." " Oh, of course; and you'll want a glaii in it also, I suppose ? " " Y-a-a-s—oh, certainly— ttou bet. Get her up sniptious, you know, old fellow. N»neof your dratted one-hbss fixins for me. No, sir'ee." " Just so. Silver Handles, of course ? "Eh? What's that you say, stranger —silver han-dles? Oh, durn it, now, won't thet be pilin' it on too hefty like P I kin stand silver screws and sich, but tier's no use makin' the hull tarnation trap of silver. TLj thing has to be moved, and must have have handles, but I aint quite quite so stuck up as thet now —not quite, stranger." ■■ _ ■ "Very well," acquiesced the man ot obsequies, " I'll put ordinaryhandles to it " Eggs-actly—them's 'em, mister; now ver takm', Or'nary handles '11 do But, I say stranger (reflectively) make the wheels glisten like thunder." « Wh—wh—wh-eels? "Yes, wheels. What's the matter with you, anyhow ?" n • . " But who ever heard of wheels to a C 0« Coffin P " shrieked the dejected-look*