414 Cheerfulness-of Sextons. ' | Aide. 
At length the liquid lines were. penned, and after, a few, expressive 
ahems! ‘Tom read as follow :— it ee j 
; “ Under this stone 
A 
fy ,Jmoaroo mom | Lies Mister Bone: iit odd af amd 
He lying lived, :and lying died, rye (992 yaisd 
For, dying or living, he always lieds—”, (4) eyo\haiwa or} 
ovés Oh!) Mr. P. »” interrupted the widow, ** the poor:soub al 
told:the: truth to the best of his ability.’ Yes, ma'am, to the best of 
his adiity, 1 know ‘he did ; but -you know, ma’am; he had: beem»bed= 
ridden for many years,” replied Tom, “ and therefore he lived’ lyimg, and 
died dying.” The rogue turned round and: gave me ‘a’ knowing wink; 
expressive of his high sense of his own ingenuity. «The widow’s silence 
shewed her scruples were at an end, and the author proceeded in the:re- 
citation. of his production : isod 
Tou kh 
‘* His virtues under a bushel were hid,” 
(I mean under a bushel of vices,” said Tom, in a half audible whisper 
tome 3) peer 
"eis ) * But he did as he liked, and liked what he did,” 
(“«, He.was drunk every day,” muttered Tom aside.) 
And his survivor and widow dear, ) 3 DAE 
Come here every day with a sigh and a tear; Tie 
And I says to all husbands, ‘ take copy from he, 100 
And make ready to follow him like unto me,’,” ,. WAS 
“Thank you—oh! thank you, Mr. P. ! you are a clever-man?! 
Oh! if the poor dear departed lamb could but hear how nicely yow have: 
spoken of him! Pray, Mr. P——, how much am :I: to\payjcyou?” 
“« Twenty-pence, if you please ma’am—two-pence’ a line—long ‘and: 
short together: the long ones ought to be two-pence half-penny, but 1 
had rather give than take.” The widow forthwith paid her pence; and 
having, pocketed what might have been called an affront, but: which’ she: 
took for an epitaph, she made her curtseyin apparent delight ;:and it-was: 
a fine thing to see the face Tom made when he had shut the door) upon: 
her. . Munden is the only man who could give an idea of that extra) 
ordinary phiz. ben 
“ What a dottrel that old woman is!” said he.. «¢ That raseal of a 
husband led her the life of a nigger-slave, and she was spaniel enough to 
like him the better.. However, twenty-pence is well earned: those who 
understand the king’s English will see I have given the knave his due, 
and the widow goes home pleased withal—for ‘ a knavish’' speech sleeps 
in a foolish ear.” SLB 
I have not space to copy more of Tom’s choice morsels, but they were’ 
all smart in their way, or, as I should rather say, in his way. 1 could 
give twenty other instances of the cheerfulness of sextons, but I have» 
indulged in my rambling gossip long enough, and I am sure my readers: 
can support my few observations from their own experience. i wel 
To conclude this: desultory subject:—there is a moral beauty-in’ 
cheerfulness wherever it exists: it becomes every person, and every: 
period of life ; but a cheerful old age is the choicest of earthly blessings’ 
When I see the gray-haired sexton smiling and chirping «amidst!the: 
labour. of his vocation, I think: of the spreading’ ivy-on the: ruin’ that. 
flourishes the freshest and greenest amidst the scenes’ of desolation and: 
decay.o: oved blu esuitt 8 mee at ae i siddse. dA nak 
