ice from the step, the mourners, who have followed the casket, being
seated in the front pews. The procession retires in the same order, the
congregation dispersing afterwards.

Flowers.--Flowers are usually ordered the day before the funeral, to
arrive in the morning, that they may be fresh. Cards are removed before
they are taken to the cemetery. Colored flowers, preferably those of pale
tints, are admissible, though American Beauties are not infrequently sent.
Wreaths of galax leaves are often ordered for the funeral of an elderly
person; sometimes half of the wreath is of the leaves and the remainder of
flowers. Wreaths and sprays are almost invariably sent by private
individuals, the stereotyped "emblems" like "the broken wheel," "gates
ajar," etc., being the offerings of clubs, or other organizations to which
the deceased may have belonged. Where there is a great quantity of
flowers, the loose sprays are often sent to the sick in hospitals, only
enough to cover the grave being reserved. The visitor to a cemetery could
find it in his heart to wish that when the beauty of these floral
offerings has departed, the sodden remnants might be speedily removed.
They speak so forcibly of forgetfulness.

MOURNING GARMENTS.

The custom of wearing mourning after a bereavement is almost universal.
Even the poorest endeavor to show their grief by donning a few shreds of
black, while among the well-to-do an entire new wardrobe is felt to be
obligatory. However our religion bids us look forward to a more perfect
existence in the beyond, however truly death may be a relief from pain and
suffering, custom, that makes cowards of us all, must be followed. Often
too, mourning garb is but the visible evidence of the gloom that oppresses
us spiritually. In spite of our faith, our sense of loss and loneliness is
best expressed in sad raiment and abstinence from pleasures. Often it
would be kindness to the living to go our way as usual, but that is not in
harmony with our hearts.

Mourning is in a manner a protection to a woman. Strangers respect her
sorrow and refrain from the jocular. Behind her crepe she may defy
intrusion. But it often becomes a hardship to the young.

[752 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

"I missed all my youth," complained a middle-aged woman. "We were a large
family. A brother died when I was sixteen and we went into mourning and
shut ourselves away from entertainments. Then my father died; next a
sister, and another