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Name: Louise G. Bassett Assignment: Brookfield
146.'3
Title: Living Lore
Topic: Alan Wallace
Alan Wallace's hospitable three rooms "over the river"
are always fun to visit. Alan never fails to make you feel welcome
and at home. One early winter evening we went to "call" and stayed
0,- to visit. Reluctant to leave the comfortable, shabby living room
where there was contentment and friendship, we let time fly by.
We had been chuckling over the antics of a well-known Brookfield
character whose chief delight was attending funerals. Suddenly, Alan
began to laugh, his keen eyes twinkling.
"You know, La's. B- isn't really so eccentric. There's quite
a few people get a kick out of funerals."
We settled ourselves. Alan was off on a story.
"A lot of pecple go to every funeral they hear of) friend or
stranger alike. why do they? Because it's usually good entertainment.
They think it makes them look important to be seen everywhere and
besides it gives them a chance to visit old friends.
"My Mother t old me of the funeral of a friend of hers that she
attended years ago. It seems as if it might have taken place today.
I'll tell you about it but I'll change the names of all parties con-
cerned, for this is really true it actually happened, in a town very
near here.
"Mother's friend, Yrs. Julia Jones had gone to her last rest
and the town I'll call it Derbyville turned out in full force to
see the start of her trip.
"She was a fine woman, respected by everybody in town and
greatly beloved by the few who knew her well. But as much as Julia
Jones was liked, I'm afraid the big turn -out was not entirely for her.
(2)
Name: Louise G. Bassett Assignment: Brookfield
Title: Living Lore Topic: Alan Wallace
She had a husband, Herbert Jones, who was known as one of the outstand-
ing citizens of the town who speaking honestly liked to 'show off,'
and everybody felt this would be his chance to pull something worth
while and no one wanted to be left out of the 'know.,
"So, the tree -shaded street on which the Jones house was located
was filled with all kinds of what shall I call them equipages -(some
word.) And the town cop, Lige Morrow, was in his element. He didn't have
a chance, very often, to direct traffic, such as he had that day.
"The town was proud of Lige. There wasn't many towns that had
a cop who was a combination of good natured efficietcy and inoffensive
efficiousness. He greeted every newcomer with a genial smile, 'Drive
right in here, Joe, nice day for the funeral, some turnout, huh?' He
turns to another carriage with a team this time, 'Oh, good afternoon,
Er. Fowler, there's plenty of room right here; very sad about Mrs. Jones
isn't it, Sir, great loss to the town.,
*Lige helped Mrs. Fowler out of the carriage while Er. Fowler
tied his horses to the hitching rail, 'How are you these days, Mrs.
Fowler, you know I was afraid one while there I would be on duty for
one of these things up at your house before the fall was over but I
guess I'm out of luck, :()Li look immense.'
"I dare say you've all gathered that the Fowlers were one of
the 'best' families.
"Inside the Jones house three ministers stood waiting, all
ready for their part in the services and Miss Effie Holcum, from a
neighboring town, was seated in a chair under the stairs in the front
hall, nervously fingering a hymn book. Twenty
(4)
Name: Louise G. Bassett Assignment: Brookfield
Title: Livslva Lore Topic: Alan WaLlace
ha had been waiting for. Sensing the situation, he rose from his
seat in the front parlor, worked his way to the hall way and took
command. Before the city undertaker could realize what it was
ailasout, Herbert was standing on tSs third step of tne stairway,
-.Lasing over the banister and from this point he regulated aad
directed the traffic.
"le had the center of the stage and he held it. His
smile was tinged with sadness and his handclasp a shade more
prolonged than usual expressed feelings too deep for utterance.
TI,e greetings over, Herbert broke his pose of sorrow and became
the hustling executive. Erect, he stood upon the.stairwav, his
riL anu upraised, two lisigers extssded upright, his voice
vibrant as he called to someone who was seating those who were
to be upstairE. 'Two in the east bedroom, Charlie, nice
comfortable seats, all right? Fine, yes, two, all right,'
he sduld turn to the couple who were waiting, 'Right upstairs)
Lrs. Wells, and you too, George) you'll find us a little
crowded I'm afraid but Charlie Bemis will take care of you.
-ice of you to come, I appreciate it, right up this way, please,
fhat's it.'"
ht this point of the story we all rebelled with
peals of laughter came protests, "It couldn't be)" "Impossible."
"You're not telling the truth," etc. etc.
(5)
EaLLe: LJuise G. Bassett Assignment: Brookfield
Title: Living Lore Topic: Alan JaLlace
"1 don't blame ,iou for doubting me hut I give jou ziy word
I am telling the absolute truth," said Allen) "this is exactly
what happened and you ain't heard nothin' yet. Well, how about
it, want iie to go on?"
Did we? We certainly did.
"Very well then, I will if you behave yourselves. The
scene on the stairs was repeated until everyone seemed to have
arrived and tnen and not until then, Hebert went back to his
se't in the parlor and becaALe the bereaved husband 'again.
"After a few seconds of quiet the services began. The
]ate pastor of one of the churches Andrew Adams offered
a 1)rayer. Andrew had been brought in for the occasion. Nearly
everybody in town knew the old gentleman for there had been
much hard feeling when he left the town. Part of the congregation
insisted on getting rid of him. They thought him old-fashioned
and aq old fogey. Others had been as rabiu in support and there
had been a great deal of bitterness shown on both sides. his
side, unfortunately for the Reverend had lost out, but, the
larger part of the church held the old gentleman in affectionate
regard.
"His prayer was a masterpiece.
Andrew adopted the time
tried system of telling the Almighty many facts and opinions)
in strict confiuence between tne Lord and himself)
but actually intended for the ears that were listenin6.
(6)
.ame: Louise G. Bassett
AssinAient: Brookfield
Title: Liv ng Lore Topic: Alan Wallace
"He gave a lengt'ty account of his dei)urture from
re:hyvllT i. fct..:,2 of the present younger and some thought,
more able worker in the vineyard, rit-n sev,a1 caustic but
dignified ve.sarks about the 'youngster' who had taken nib place.
he was careful to tall the All -Wise ho: he ought to deal with
aimilar cases in the future.
"That the prayer created a mild sensation is putting
it mildly. Andrew had waited a long time for this chance
and he iiade the most of every point. having placd his case
before the Almighty he then ,rayed feeelingly for t:ae Lear de-
parted sister. ,iithout saying so in 60 many words, he implied
tsat her arrival at the Pearly Gates would be an event, and that
Ps,radise would then become a Jauch better 2Iace in which to live.
"The next speaker was the Reverend Joseph John Jenkins,
the present pastor. The young man referred, with extreme sweet-
ness, to the 'aged servant of the Lord,' who had justspoken.
he very gently suggested that the Reverend Ada ds was in his
second childhood and adv'sel the Lord not to take what he had
said, seriously.
"Naturally, Andrew was fit to be tied but what could
he ao? The Reverend Jenkins had the last word and was sitting
pretty. In closing, Joseph John recite,_L an affectinL. 2oe,A by
locai_ poetess, Marion Martin, entitleu 'Resignation,'
which was a big hit and Marion was warmly congratulated on all
sides, ;liter the funeral.
(7)
Name: Toouise G. Bassett Assignment: Brookfield
Livia,. Lore Topic: Alan Wallace
"Another few seconds of silence, then a ne; voice broke
the stillness. There was a great craning of necks and much quiet
Whispering, rdho is he?'
"It finally became known that the voice belonged to a
cousin of Herbert's who was a noted divine from afar) wi-Jo had
also been imported for the occasion. He paid a really beautiful
tribute to the sweet, lovable, Julia, so beautiful) that tears
aae to the eyes of his listeners and a sob to their throats.
For his finale, he recited 'Crossing the Bar' and never before
had the old favorite seemed so full of beauty.
"Another second of silence and Effie Holcum, who had been
jin, ad nee lles for ite a 'spell,' rose and hurried to
the place in the sun lately used by the three men of God. She
caagheu, opened her hymn book and was 'off.' Effie had no
accoMpanist and needed none. Voices like hers were better
taken straight for with a piano as a running mate her renditions
took more or less the form of a dog fight. i'de had a deep
seated objection to keeping on the key, and her own idea of
time made it better for Effie to 'go it alone.'
"But it was not her voice and method done that commaaded
attention. It was, also) the amazing length of the hymns she
selecteai after each verse she would pause long enouth to create
the hoe that she was 'all done' and everybody would settle back
with a sigh of relief when Effie would quaver uncertainly into
Blame: Louise G. Bassett Assignment: Brookfield
Title: Living Lore Topic: Alan Wallace
another verse, sustaining the suspense until 'ler hearers were
literally limp from alternate hope and dispair.
"when she finally was through and fluttered back to
her chair, most of her audience couldn't see into the hall, so
the:, uidn't dare hope that she had really quit until the
Reverend Joseph John Jenkins pronounced a benediction and the
services were over.
"kiother said as they passed to have a last look at
Julia, she looked so kindly with a half smile on her lips that
allrememberance of what had gone before faded away and everyone
iassed out of the door genuinely regretting that they would
never see her cheery smile again. But, Herbert, who had headed
the procession, was standing on the front steps and as Lother
reached hi:a he said, in a la.J tone, 'Doin' pretty good daa't
you think. There's goin' to be one hundred and t4o carriages
in the parade to the cemetery. Don't think the town ever saw
.an -thing like it before. As Lother passed .own the steps,
Lie could hear the grief-stricken husband still :Liaradrind
to fiidaad 'One hundred and two carriages.'"