The Bagpiper

As a bagpiper, I was asked by a funeral director to play at a grave-side service for a homeless man with no family or friends. Interment was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Kentucky back-country.

As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost; and being a typical man I didn't stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late. I saw the backhoe and the crew. The funeral guy had evidently gone as the diggers were eating lunch and the hearse was nowhere in sight.

I felt badly about this. I apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down. The vault lid was already in place. I started to play and the workers gathered around. I played out my heart and soul for this homeless man. And as I played 'Amazing Grace,' the workers began to weep. I played like I'd never played before. Then I finished and started for my car.

As I was opening the door, I heard one of the workers say, "Sweet Mother of Jesus, I never seen nothin' like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."