In answer to an inquiry, he said
he had come for the body of the "diseased," "if it was all the same to
the committee." He didn't wish to "hurry anything"; he could wait. He
was not working that day; and when the gentlemen were done with the
"diseased" he would take him. "Ef thar is any present," he added, in his
simple, serious way, "as would care to jine in the fun'l, they kin
come." Perhaps it was from a sense of humor, which I have already
intimated was a feature of Sandy Bar, - perhaps it was from something
even better than that; but two-thirds of the loungers accepted the
invitation at once.
It was noon when the body of Tennessee was delivered into the hands of
his partner. As the cart drew up to the fatal tree, we noticed that it
contained a rough oblong box, - apparently made from a section of
sluicing, - and half filled with bark and the tassels of pine. The cart
was further decorated with slips of willow, and made fragrant with
buckeye-blossoms. When the body was deposited in the box, Tennessee's
Partner drew over it a piece of tarred canvas, and gravely mounting the
narrow seat in front, with his feet upon the shafts, urged the little
donkey forward.
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