remained in the purse of the
deceased, undertook the burial. They ordered a cheap pine coffin,
scantily 'stained.' It cost but a quarter of a dollar to dig the grave,
and old Sally agreed to 'lay the woman out' for the comfortable dress
she wore on arriving at the inn. Of the three selectmen of Sudbury, two
were from the east part of the town--thrifty, hard-working farmers; the
third was a Mr. Bellows, a popular store-keeper of the village. The
latter had not interfered with the action of his colleagues, because he
himself was very busy, and they, having very little to do at that
season, were pleased with the excitement the affair afforded them. But
passing the inn the morning Mrs. Burns was to be buried, Mr. Bellows
stepped in a moment at the request of the landlord, who was a
kind-hearted fellow, and did not feel quite satisfied with the
arrangements. Ascending to the chamber, he saw a sad but
handsome-looking boy standing over a rudely constructed coffin, a
picture of sorrow and despair. The little fellow had witnessed the
action of the coarse-hearted men who took the direction of the funeral.
He heard their private discussion as to the 'cost of burying the woman.'
He was a witness to their haggling with Aunt Sally about laying her out.
He could hear various propositions as to what was to be done with _him_.
He saw his mother hurriedly draped for the coffin and placed inside of
it. He did not sob nor cry; a dreadful reality had so overcome him, that
he lost the power of doing either. Once or twice, when every body had
left the room, he had stolen softly up and kissed the face of the
corpse, and some tears would then roll down his cheeks. It was at such a
time that Mr. Bellows entered, and his heart smote him that he had not
sooner looked in. He spoke kindly to Joel, which seemed to loose the
flood-gates of his grief, and for a time he continued to cry in the most
piteous manner. Mr. Bellows soon decided what to do. His own family was
small; he had a wife and one child--a little girl nine years old. He
took Joel in his lap, told him not to cry--that he should go home with
him, and be _his_ boy. The tone in which this was uttered had more
effect to soothe the lad than what was said to him. After a few minutes,
Joel was persuaded to leave the room and to accompany his new friend to
the house. Mr. Bellows then called on his minister, and requested him to
perform the funeral rites at the grave; for so little interest had be