I am not sure that the name was not the ripe fruit of his
father's fancy--with, perhaps, the Scriptural suggestion which is likely
to be present in the affairs of a Pennsylvania-German--whether a
communicant or not--even if he live in Maryland.
"Yas--always last; expecial at funerals and weddings. Except his
own--he's sure to be on time at his own funeral. Right out in front!
Hah? But sometimes he misses his wedding. Why, I knowed a feller--yous
all knowed him, begoshens!--that didn't git there tell another feller'd
married her--'bout more'n a year afterward. Wasn't it more'n a year,
boys? Yas--Bill Eisenkrout. Or, now, was it his brother--Baltzer
Iron-Cabbage? Seems to me now like it was Baltz. Somesing wiss a B at
the front end, anyhow."
Henry Wasserman diffidently intimated that there was a curious but
satisfactory element of safety in being last--a "fastnacht" in their
language, in fact. Those in front were the ones usually hurt in railroad
accidents, Alexander Althoff remembered.
"Safe?" cried the speaker. "Of course! But for why--say, for why?" Old
Baumgartner challenged defiantly.
No one answered and he let several impressive minutes intervene.
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