Upon the conclusion of the hymn, the person who acted as master of the ceremonies went to the door, and, addressing those gathered round, said that all who desired might now have an opportunity to see the corpse.  Several accepted the invitation, and among others, Mr. Armstrong.

The coffin was placed upon a table in the centre of the room, with a part of the lid turned back on hinges, so as to leave the face exposed.  The former friends and acquaintances of the dead man, giving place and succeeding to one another, came, looked, and passed out again, moving lightly on tip-toe solemnized and subdued by the awful mystery of death.  As they came in and left the house, they could see through an open door in an adjoining room the weeping widow in full mourning, with her little boys on either side, and the relations seated round in chairs.

All having gazed upon the corpse who wished, preparations now commenced for screwing down the lid of the coffin.  The sobs and sounds of grief which had proceeded from the room where the mourners were collected, and which had been, as by an effort, suppressed during the prayer and hymn, now broke forth afresh.

“O, do not hinder me,” poor Mrs. Sill was heard to say; “it’s the only chance I shall have in this world.”

“I guess you’d better not,” said a voice, trying to dissuade her.  “It’s no use; and, then, before all them strangers.”

“I will see Josiah,” she exclaimed, rising from her seat, and putting aside the well-meaning hand that strove to detain her.  “Who has a better right to take the last look than me?”

With these words, her crape veil thrown in disorder back upon her shoulders, her eyes red and swollen with crying, and tears streaming down her cheeks, she advanced towards the body, all respectfully making room for her as she approached.

We are not a very demonstrative people.  The inhabitants of New England are taught, from an early age, the lesson of self-control.  They do not wear in their bosoms windows into which any eyes may look.  It is considered unmanly for men to exhibit excessive feeling, and perhaps the sentiment has an influence even on the softer sex.  The conduct of Mrs. Sill was unusual, and excited surprise; but it is difficult to stem strong passion and it had its way.

She moved quickly up to the table, and threw her arms around the coffin, resting her cheek on that of her husband, while the hot tears ran in large drops down its marble surface.  One who thought he had a right to interfere, whispered in her ear, and took hold of an arm to draw her away, but she turned fiercely upon him.

“Who are you,” she said, “to separate me from my husband?  Go—­I will keep him as long as I please.”

The person, seeing her determination, desisted; and all looked on in mournful silence.