vanity and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with
darkness. The dead know not anything, for the memory of them is
forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy is now
perished, neither have they a portion for ever in anything that is
done under the sun.

"Lord! teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts
unto wisdom. Oh, spare ME, that I may recover strength, ere I go
hence and be no more!

"In the name of the FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST--dust to dust, and
ashes to ashes! Amen!"

"By the way, Mr. Aylett, the poor wretch up-stairs should be buried
at the expense of the county," remarked the coroner, before taking
leave of Ridgeley and the egg-nogg bowl. "I will take the poor-house
on my way home, and tell the overseer to send a coffin and a cart
over in the morning. You don't care to have the corpse in the house
longer than necessary, I take it? The sooner he is in the Potter's
Field, the more agreeable for you and everybody else."

Mr. Aylett pointed through the back window at the winding path
across the fields.

A short line of black dots was seen coming along it, in the
direction of the house. As they neared it they were discovered to be
men, each with a hoe or shovel upon his shoulder.

"The deed is done!" said the master, smiling. "My good fellows there
have spared the county the expense, and the overseer the trouble of