Minnie Warren's Burial.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3009, 7 October 1878, Page 1

Minnie Warren's Burial.

THE LITTLE MOTHER AND H|R. ?',', "tBABJE JiAID AWAY IN A CHILD'S COFFIN. ,

(COBEESPONDEN(fS! K3SIV rOEK-.fITJN.)

MipDLEBOBO, Mass., July 25.—Minnie Warren was buried this afternoon with her baby in her arms. The funeral services were to begin at 2 o'clock, but long_' before that so many persons came ffom Middleboro and adjoining towns that it was impossible to accommodate more than a small portion of them in the house.! Minnie and her husband, Maj. Newell, ' better known as Gen. Grant, Jr., have always itfade the old homestead here their home when not 'travelling.' It is. a plain country farm house, about two miles from Middleboro Centre, and has been made comfortable for Minnie's parents by 1 Minnie's, money. Across the way Tom Thumb's country seat, a pretty Frenchroofed cottage, stands on the smooth green lawn. . Minnie Warren has always been loved by the people ,whp t knew, her when she. was -little j^uldfk ,Isump, her real name, and many, of Jth'osejwho came to the funeral to-day have personal expe--rience's of her kindness since' she became famous and wealthy. Sweet perfumed flowers, beautifully arranged as harps and wreaths, were brought by 'those £ti«nds, and on a deliqate pillofe^of rosebud passion-flowers, Mirfnie'e ; lay in, the casket. „ '• " „.. t ' 9 \ '„ ■ \,^. l '.S\ At 2 o'clock the family assembled in the parlor around the casket. This was of 1 j)lack walnut, covered with blue -silk -velvet, - and' was lined with white • s'itin. It was the casket of-a child of 10 years, " but as the friends looked within they saw. the little mother With one'arm embracing the girl baby, whose face* lay nestled dose to the mother's bosom. The mother's head was turned to the baby,"and the two* seemed - quietly sleeping. ' The face was a sweet one, a little dimple-re-maining in, the chin that even death had not taken away. No one looked upon the little mother and child without weeping. 1 Gen. Tom Thumb sat near the head of the casket, and, by him sat his wifo, Lavinia Warren, On . th,e l( other side sat Moj. Newell',' anil he"made no.effqrt to control his feelings. Ife wept, bit!er.ly, as he bus almost' without cessation } since his wife died. Besides these, Minnie's father and mother and her brothers and sisters,,all -large men adH womenrwere in the room. They remember Minnie as a daughter and sister wjbo shared her wealth with them, ra.tb.er than as a famous little woman.. Mrs P. T. Barnum and Mr Bleecker and hia.twife,, who travelled with the Tom Thumb party for fifteen years, were also -'among the.chief mourners. \ ?

Soon after 2 o'clock, the house, being uncomfortably filled, and fully a thousand persons on thejawn outside, a chant was P'S;un rg by "a choir, the I£ev.- Mr Dyer 'made a' short prayer. Ho then spoke of Minnie's, kindness and sweetness of disE l' "osjtion. Mrs Tom Thumb, as she heard er sis,tejr's tenderness spoken of,- fainted, 1 and was carried from the room. There ;,was .not a dry eye in tho house. After | .another hymn had been sung, six young ladies, old friends and mates of Minnie, took their places as pall-bearers, and then the family looked for the last time upon Minnie's' face. Gen. Tom Thumb could not control his grief as' he turned from the casket. The doors wer,e' "then opened * and the -" people passed through t!he parlour, -looking for a few minutes at the faces of tho mother and child. »It was two hours before the last friend had passed by and tho casket closed, Borne by four young men, (he caskeLwas placed in the hearse, and, followed by 'many carriages, taken to the village cemetery. Here," after J,he benediction u , s tbe tcasket was lowered into the little grave. ' [ 'Many stood,ne'er 1 even after the clergyman (had dismissed them. - -

' The death of ,Minnie Wnrren will probably end ' the public appearance' of the, Tom Thumb party." Minnie's "death was undoubtedly caused'oy, her mairernal love. Had. she .listened to the advice of her physician' sooner, her own life might have been saved; although her child ■would have been'lost t<j her. But. ishe would not, until it was too late., During her sickness she seemed to think of nothing but f the baby that she soon hoped to fold to her bosom.

if'l shall live," she said to .her sister, Mrs Southworth ; and after,her baby was born she said with a.smile, "I knew.l should live; take me aud rook me." Tho sister took Minnie in her arms as she would aa infant, and rocked her. " Don't cry,'.' said Minnie, "I shall lire through it." .Then, after a little, she said : " Eoglc me on tho other side, sister." Mrs Southworth did so, and Minnie was quiet a little while. At length she said with a sigh, " I don't know whether I shall «'et through after all. Please put me on the bed. I* feel very badly ; I am'afraid I can't live through it." The sister put her tenderly on the bed. In a few minutes, without another word, and with only a gentle sigh, Minnie died, three hours after her baby was born. The baby was a beautiful child, robust, and weighed just .oneseventh of Minnies-weight, six pounds.