“But they are perfect while they last.”

“Yes, and I allus feels sorry for the poor things, when I see ’em put round a corpse and buried in the ground; may be they have more feeling than we allow for.”

She spoke so sadly, I felt my eyes moisten; but whether it was out of pity for the flowers, the poor dead woman lying opposite, or my friend Mrs. Blake, who seemed strangely subdued, I could not tell.

“She was gone when I got here,” she said, nodding her head at the corpse.  “Dan’el’s terrible cut up; it minds me so of the time we lost our first baby.  I had to do everything then and I’ve got to do the same now.”

“I presume she was a very good wife.”

“I don’t know.  Men generally frets hardest after the uselessest ones.  I s’pose it’s because they’re easy-going and good-natured; but laws, I mustn’t be hard.  Mother-in-laws don’t see with their children’s eyes.  I often think, in some ways, ’twould be best for one generation to die off afore the next takes their place.  It’s a mercy we don’t live like they did in the first of Bible times.  For poor women folk’s life ain’t much after fifty any way, specially if they’re depending on their children.  Hard work, shoved in a corner, and the bite you eat begrudged you.”

“Surely you don’t speak from experience,” I gasped, quite horrified.

“Me?  Oh, no.  I’ve managed better’n most in my way of life.  I help, instead of getting help.  But I’m not thinking of myself all the time.  I see other women’s hardships, and pity ’em too.”

She turned the conversation abruptly by asking: 

“Would you like to see the corpse?”

I certainly wished to see almost anything on earth rather than that; but, lest I should be offending the proprieties, I followed her and stood beside the still, outstretched form.  She turned down the sheet when, for an instant, my head swam; and then I shut firmly my eyes and stood until I concluded the ghastly spectacle was hidden behind the sheet.  Mrs. Blake’s voice caused me to open my eyes with a start.

“Be you faint?”

I crossed the room directly, and sat down before I replied.

“Certainly not; but the sight was a painful one.”

“I know there’s a sight of difference in corpses.  Perfessors of religion make the peacefullest.”

“Was she not one?”

“Well, no; and she was took so bad she hadn’t time to perfess.  Beside Dan’el tells me she suffered uncommon till the very last breath, that makes her look more distressin’ than she would.”

“Is he a professor?”

“No, my family didn’t seem to lean that way.  But my! they was a sight better’n some that did let on they was very good.”

“He will become a Christian now, surely.”

“Tain’t likely.  One soon forgets the feelins death leaves, and then we all look for a quiet spell afore we die.”  I felt as if skeleton fingers were clutching at my vitals; and altogether terrified I rose to go.