Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-04-15
DUMBLE'S WIDOW.
BY r. DIX.

Mr.. Jonas Dumble was young man
OF decidedly funereal turn OF mind. He
was accustomed both by constitution
and habit to look on the dark side
generally. Marriages and all sorts of
gladstone festivities possessed no in
terest for his gloomy soul, but funerals
were his delight and principal pastime.
Not one occurred within radius of
twenty miles around the small manu-
featuring town OF Freeport, where he
resided, that was not graced by the
presence OF this universal mourner.
AZ he st TODD beside the bier, or at the
grave among the mourning relatives
and friends, III his long black coat and
white tie, with a large handkerchief
effectively displayed for the absorption
OF such tears as he might at that
moment be able to command, he
looked like an Overlooking fountain of
sympathy for all theg riefs and troubles
OF mankind. Intact, he had more than
once been.,mistaken for the undertaken,
or ut least for one OF the mutes.
There were some evil disposed peo-
pie who had been known to say that
MIR. Dumble was influenced in his
course OF conduct by q widely differ
ent motive from that which was usu-
ally attributed to him, for they mean
ly said that he was on the lookout for
some rich widow whom he could
marry and thus provide for himself q
snug corner in this world OF sorrow
and care for the rest of his life.
Such envious and eviI-minded
calumniators OF Mr.. Dumble's well
known piety were soon silenced by a
few quotations from his last prayer
full address ut the Wednesday prayer
meeting, or from the words OF com
fort he had given to the bereaved
family at the funeral OF Mr.. Hiram
Shiggersby, the soap fat boiler, lately
deceased. Thus the evil minded per-
sons aforesaid, if not convinced, were
silenced, and Mr.. Dumble went on his
funereal way rejoicing.
Though without doubt full OF SYM
pathy and spiritual consolation for
all, Mr.. Dumble's grief was noticed to
be always q little more marked, his
sympathy I. triAc more tearfully ex-
pressed and his consolation slightly
more tender and confidential, at the
funeral OF OF those gentlemen who de-
parted Tor q better world, leaving a
widow to mourn their loss, and who
we're known to have had a good balance
at their bankers. Mr.. Dumble was
thought to have quite surpassed HIM
self in tender and prayerful solicitude
at the funeral OF the late lamented ST.
las Buffum, the well-known pastry
cook, who left behind him young and
rather pretty widow to mourn his loss,
a thriving business, and, report said,
a large sum in INTEREST," bearing securi-
ties. Better than all, there were no
children, and everything was left out
and out to the widow.
Soon after this Mr.. Dumble devel-
oped q remarkable taste and fondness
Tor sweets of all kinds, and was to be
seen ut all hours OF the day and even
ing, until the shop closed leaning across
the counter OF the late Mr.. Buffum's
store, on Main Street, talking to the
interesting and disconsolate widow,
who, no doubt, owing to the comfort
ing assurances she received from Mr..
Dumble as to the present well-being OF
the late Buffum in another world, bore
up very we'll.
Things went on in this way for about
a year, during which period Mrs. Buff.
fun grew quite consoled, and begun to
blossom out once more into cOlored
cap and bonnet ribbons, and Mr.
Dumble had been obliged to eat SO
many sweet things, owing, OF course, to
his being so constantly in the shop. as
to seriously impair his digestion and
his usefulness, rs his appearance at
funerals and evening prayer meeting
was but semi-occasional, and his out:
pourings OF spirit, piety and consola.
tlOn'On such occasions as he still was
seen at, diminished noticeably in in
tensity and volume
One morning Mr.. Dumble, apparent.
ly dressed with q little more care than
usual, walked down the main street
OF Freeport, and pausing for mo.
ment before the store which bore the
sign, "Silas Buffunl, Pastry Cook
and looking in to see if the fair widow
was enscOnsed in her favorite seat be-
hind the counter, he opened the door
and went in.
"Good morning, Mrs. Buffum, q fine
day" said Mr.. Dumble as he deposited
a couple OF chocolate creams within
his capacious mouth. 81 hope you
were spiritually refreshed by my dis
course last evening""
ooh! yes, indeed, Mr.. Dumble, YOU
were indeed inspiring, so prayerful
Such eloquence! Such flow OF spirit
| am sure everybody was as uplifted
as was.'
"Dear Mrs. Buffum, you are toe
kind, to good to my humble efforts in
the way OF grace. You are q noble
woman, ma'am,' said Mr.. Dumble
helping himself to some marshmallow
drops.
no, indeed, Mr.. Dumble, you are
too good to me-" murmured Mrs
Buffum in sweetest tones; II only wish
l knew some way of rewarding you fol-
all your goodness to me and to thu
many families to whom you have beer
like an angel OF consolation in thei1
SORROW"
sob. ma'am, my Christian sister
my dear Sophia, if Imay be permitted
so to address yOn." said Mr.. Dnmhle