The Pauper's Funeral.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2949, 29 July 1878, Page 2

The Pauper's Funeral.

A correspondent,, in sending the follow" ing, says :-r-The enclosed, though not new, may be new to some of your readj»>. It hasbeen rec&led to' my mind by the death and burial of poor Meggett, a man who harmed no one, and who in the depths of his degradation always had something of the air of a gentleman, as by birth he was. His end, a pauper'i death and a dog's burial. Alas 'for, the rarity of Christian charityl Could no "Christian: minister be found to say a wo>d over his grave? That the, parson of his own Caurch should have refused to attend is the more surprising, since the poor outcast was " of a good family."

There's a grim one-horse hearse in a jolly round tret; To the graveyard a pauper is going, I wot; . ■■ The road it is rough, and the hearse has no springs And hark to the dirge that the sad driver singa: • . ■ - "Battle his bones over the stones, . He's only a pauper whotii nobody owns. , Oh, where are the mourners? Alas ! there are none; Not a tear inthe eye of child, woman or man;:' He has left not a gap in the world now he's gone; To the grave with his carcase as fast as you can: " Rattle his bones over the stoAes,' : He's only a pauper whom nobody owns!" t Poor pauper defunct I he has ma^e some approach To gentility now that he's stretched in a coach; He's taking a diiv* in his carriage at last;' '■. But it will not be long if he goes on so fast! I " Rattle his bones over the stones. He's only a pauper whom nobody owns!" - You bumpkins, who stare at your brother corivey'd, .'. Behold what respect to a body is paid, :. Be thankful to think when by death you're laid low, You've a chance to the grave with such honour to go. ■-■■«■ Battle his bones over the stones, -'■ ' ' He's only a pauper whom nobody owns!" But a truce t# this strain, for my soul,it is sad, To think that a heart in humanity clad Should make like the brutes, such a. desolate endj And depart from this world without leaving a friend! " Bear softly his bones over the stones, Though a pauper, he's one whom his Master yet ownsi"' ■ ' . ' Gr. JNOBL.

Eminent stations mate great men more fc-.-sat, and lit.le ones l.?ss.