Meanwhile word had gone round the village that the carpenter was dead , and was to be buried next day . It was now the turn of the smith 's wife . Her husband was lying sleeping off the effects of a drinking bout , so she pulled off all his clothes and made him black as coal from head to foot , and then let him sleep till far on in the day . The funeral party had already met at the carpenter 's , and marched oft towards the church with the coffin , when the smith 's wife came rushing in to her husband . ` Gracious , man , ' said she , ` you are lying there yet ? You are sleeping too long . You know you are going to the funeral . ' The smith was quite confused ; he knew nothing about any funeral . ` It 's our neighbour the carpenter , ' said his wife , ` who is to be buried to-day . They are already half-way to church with him . ' ` All right , ' said the smith , ` make haste to help me on with my black clothes . ' ` What nonsense ! ' said his wife , ` you have them on already . Be off with you now . ' The smith looked down at his person and saw that he was a good deal blacker than he usually was , so he caught up his hat and ran out after the funeral . This was already close to the church , and the smith wanted to take part in carrying the coffin , like a good neighbour . So he ran with all his might , and shouted after them , ` Hey ! wait a little ; let me get a hold of him ! ' The people turned round and saw the black figure coming , and thought it was the devil himself , who wanted to get hold of the carpenter , so they threw down the coffin and took to their heels . The lid sprang off the coffin with the shock , and the carpenter woke up and looked out .
He remembered the whole affair ; he knew that he was dead and was going to be buried , and recognising the smith , he said to him , in a low voice , ` My good XXXXX , if I had n't been dead already , I should have laughed myself to death now to see you coming like this to my funeral . '
blacker deal hat neighbour nonsense party person right smith village