The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-01-16
DUMBLE'S WIDOW.
p DeK. in the Rambler.

V D6h- IL IL NNNNNA s..
Mr. Jonas Dumble was a young man Of de-
,idedly ~funereal turn Of mind He was accus-
toned both by constitution and habit to look
IN the dark side of things generally. Mar
RACES and all sorts of gladstone festivities pos
sessed no interest for his gloomy soul, but fu-
oerals were his delight and principal pastime.
Not one occurred within q radius of twenty
miles around the small manufacturing town
of Freeport where he resided, that was not
praced by the presence of this universal mourn
or AS he stood beside the bier, or at the
grave among the mourning relatives
and friends, his long black coat and
white tie, with a large handkerchief effect
iyely displayed for absorption Of such tears as
he might at that moment be able to command,
he looked like an overlooking fountain of sym
nathy for all the griefs and troubles of man
kind. In fact he had more than once been
mistaken for the undertaken, or at least for
me of the mutes. There were some evil dis
posed people who had been known to say that
Mr.. Dumble was influenced in his course of
conduct by a widely different motive than that
which was usually attributed to him, for they
meanly said that he was on the outlook for
some rich widow whom he could marry and
thus provide for himself a snug corner in this
world OF sorrow and care for the rest of his
life.
Such envious and evil minded calumniators
nj Nh. Dunble's ~well-known piety were soon
silenced by q few quotations from his last
nraverful address at the Wednesday prayer
meeting. or from the words OF comfort he had
given to the bereaved family at the funeral of
Mr., Hiram Sniggersby, the soap-fat boiler,
lately deceased. Thus the evil-minded per-
sons aforesaid, if not convinced, were sileneed,
and Mr. Dumble went on his FUNERAL way re-
ioicing.
Though without doubt full of sympathy and
@.niritusl consolation for all, Mr.. Dumble's
girief was noticed to be always a little more
marked, his sympathy a trif1e more tearfully
expressed, and his consolation slightly more
tender and confidential, at the funerals of those
gentlemen who departed for o better world,
leaving a widow to mourn their loss, and who
we're known to have had a good balance at
heir bankers. Mr.. Dumble was thought to
nave quite surpassed himself in tender and
parveTful solicitudo at the funeral of the late
tamented Silas BufTum, the ~well-known pastry
cook, who left behind him a young and rather
pretty widow to mourn his loss, a thriving
business, and report said, a large sum in inter-
ast bearing securities. Better than all there
we're no children, and everything was left out
and out to the widow.
Soon after this Mr.. Dumble developed a par
ticular taste and fondness for sweets Of all
kinds, and was to be seen at all hours of the
day and evening, until the shop closed. leaning
across the counter of the late Mr.. Buffum's
store talking to the interesting and disconso-
late widow, who, no doubt owing to the COM
forting assurances she received from Mr.. DUN
BILE as to the present well-being Of the late Buff
nm in another world, bore up very well
Things went on in this way for about q year,
during which period Mrs. Buffum grew quite
consoIed, and began to blossom out once more
into colored cap and bonnet ribbons, aLd Mr..
Dumble had beeuobliged to eat so many sweet
things lowing of course to his being so con-
stantly in the shopl as to seriously impair his
digest:.c2 ard his usefulness, and his appear
ance at funerals AMI evening prayer meeting
was but semi-occasional, and his outpourings
of spirit. piety and consolation on such occa-
fions as he still was seen at, diminishing no.
ticeably in intensity and volume.
One morning Mr.. Dumble, apparently
dressed with a little more care than usual.
walked down the main street OF Freeport, and
pausing for a moment before the store which
bore the sign, Silas Buffum, Pastry Cook,
and looking through the window to see II the
fair widow was enconced in her seat behind the
counter, he opened the door and went in.
'Good morning, Mrs. Buffum, a fine Jay"
said Mr.. Dumble ass.he deposited a couple of
chocolate creams within his cdpacious mouth.
Il hope you were spiritually refreshed by my
discourse last evening"
"Ohi yes indeed, .dr. Dumble, you were in
deed inspiring, SO prayerfull Such eloquence!
Such a flow Of spirit? / am sure everybody
was as uplifted as / was.1
Dear Mrs. Buffum, You are too kind, too
good to my humble effort in the way OF grace.
You are a noble woman, ma'am," said Mr..
Dumble, helping himself to some marshmal-
low drops.
No indeed. Mr.. Dumble, you are too good to
me-" murmered Mrs. Buffum in sweetest
tones; 81 only wish / knew some way OF re-
warding You for all your goodness to me, and
% the many families 70 whom you have been
like an angel OF consolation in their sorrow."
"Oh, ma'am, my Christian sister, my dear
Sophia, if | may DO permitted so to address
you," said Mr.. Dumble pulling out his hand
kerchief and slipping it ehind the counter,
you oyerwhelm me, you do indeed. But you
talk OF rewarding my humble efforts. You can
reward them. Be mine, Sophia, be mine. BE
Mrs. Dumble. Let me be the partner OF your
Joy as have comforted you in your sorrow.
Be mine;'' and Mr.. Dnmble suiting his action
TO his words, passed his arm around the some-
what robust waist OF the Teiict Of the iate Buff
fun, ami possesesed himself. Of her hand,
without meeting with the slightest resistance.
Jonas, / am tEine,h said Mrs. b., rising sud-
denssy end throwing herself with such violence
into the arms of the jubilant Dumble as to
precipitate that gentleman, who was not pre-
pared for such q weighty demonstration of
Affection flor Mrs. B.. was by no means sylph-
IKE In form, headlong into the showcase,
where he struck q batch of newly-made pies,
and emerged covered with pie crust and
various sorts of jam, the contents of the pies.
The little incident marred but for . moment
the felicity OF the fair widow and the pious
Dumble, who spent the rest Of the day IN the
manner usual to lovers on such occasions, and
DeIore finally leaving her in the evening, hT.
humble had prevailed upon the widow to lay
snurely aside her mourning for Bnffum, whom
ne represented as no longer needing her tears,
and to become Mrs. Dumble the following week.
ms the widow at first would not hear OF, but
nnaliy, after much persuasion on the part OF
tumble, and many inquiries on the part OF the
widow AS to Dumble's worldly position and
possessions, which he ayerred were great, she
nnaliy consented and named the happy day.
In pursuance with this decision, the mar