The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-11-04

One Sabbath day when the VlilaSe
pastor had preached an unusually elo-
quent sermon, from the 10th verse of
Paul's fifth chapter of first Timothy,
about tile relief of widows, Uncle Ben
left the church in humor of unusual
melancholy. A portion of the sermon
seemed to be meant for him, and him
only. His conscience seemed to up
braid him with the thought that poor
Susan was dying, and that her death
would be laid at his door. While in
this mood he accidently met her cousin.
"Doctor, few words with you, if
you pleased" said he, in tone as sad
and solemn as if he felt that his own
end was approaching.
Certainly, sir, but pray you be in
haste for / fear that I am wanted at
home!'' said the doctor, rather coldly.
SIS Susan Whitman very low doc
tor?" asked Unele Ben in tremulous
voice.
every, sir, very!'' Her days on
earth are numbered" replied the doc
tor seriously.
"Heavens-yoa don't say so! Tell
me doctor what is the cause, what dis
ease affects her?"
"If you do not know, sir-no one
should !" said the doctor sternly, and
he passed on.
" Mercy on me, what shall l do
what shall do % moaned Uncle Ben,
If she dies and they blame me for it
| of 1,
What shall l do? he repeated, and
his words were overheard by the min
lister who was at that moment ap-
preaching.
"What is the matter, Brother Carle-
ton, what troubles your spirits SO?
Confide in me as q spiritual adviser,
and friendp'
Uncle Ben could not refuse, and he
opened his mind to the pastor freely
and asked his advice.
:" Poor soul, from my heart / pity
her, if it would make her mind easier,
and relieve her even at the dying hour.
| would advise you to marry hern' said
the pastor, who was in no way averse
to receiving fat fee, as marriage fees
generally are.
eff you advise it ] know not how l
can avoid it p said Uncle Ben with a
shudder. "And if it must be, the
sooner it is over the better! Come
with me to the house, and let the cere-
mony, if she wishes, be performed at
once, for / cannet bear this suffering
much longer
The pastor was less 10th by all odds
than he, and he went on without any
hesitation.
" If she wasn't widow could bear
it a great deal better p murmured poor
Uncle Ben as he went along.
The minister made no comments
upon this, and they soon arrived at the
house, where, upon stating their bust
ness to the doctor, they were shown
into the parlor to await the result of a
message of proposal through the cousin
to the poor invalid. 1t soon came, and
Uncle Ben was accepted, as some com
fort to breathing heart.
He and the minister were shown into
the darkened room, and soon, very
soon, the ceremony was performed.
, Uncle Ben's voice trembled while he
uttered the necessary responses, and
be was so nervous that he hardly heard
what Susan said, though each word she
uttered was spoken in q clear and dis,
, tinct tone. After all was over, Uncle
Ben having heard himself pronounced
!, the widows husband, was about to
, turn away with sigh, when he was
rather astonished by hearing his bride
say in a tolerably strong voice:
, Surely, dear husband, you will not
refuse your poor Susan the tribute of a
/ bridal kiss!''
5 Half shuddering, he bent down tc
render chaste salute, when he wa:
considerably more astonishaed by find
r ing pair Of warm, round, plump arm.
clasped about his neck, and pair O
= sweet pouting lips pressing kiss aftel
kiss upon his mouth. And before tht
. surprise had time to cool, the window!
were thrown open by the doctor cousin
: and pretty Susan bounded from hel
l couch in as good health as she had eve
: enjoyed, and clad in neat bridal dress
t of spotless white.
r "Dedr husband, you are tangled
/ and by a widow % she cried, as sh'
: looked up lovingly in his face ant
: passed her dimpled hand gently owe
: his cheek.
q For moment he tried to look angry
: but it was in vain.
You are the handsomest and bes
t woman in town, and don't care!' b.
Q cried, with sweetersmile than he hat
ever been known to wear before.
!, " And no longer widow, there for
0 you must love me % she said archly.
; I'm bound to do that % reptile,
!, Uncle Ben as he put ten dollar gol
g piece in the minister's ready hand.
y I" And my doctors bill is free p sal
e the conniving cousin.
S " If it was thousand dollars
n would not begrudge it now that you
patient has recovered SO rapid % sal
) Uncle Ben.
e Thus happily for those most cor
n cerned, ended the aoidOp's yuse.
3 eY Noah appears to. have bee
$ the inventor of Pigeon expresses, onl