The Somerset reporter., 1889-11-07
How a Widow Mourned

She wa a haud-ome and wealthy Young
widow, and lad but just ip-t he husband.
Fun Of grief over the los Of her beloved
1ne' she sought dealer In monuments d
friend Of the dea- departed.
Seeing the -ympa,he ic face 81 her nus.
bands friend, the tears burst from her
eyes a. she greeted him. You have
heard it then George j. gone
Yes, be had heard it.
"And now. said she. II want 70 get a
monument, the finest and most imposing
monument that you can make, / don't car
for the expense. You have them costing
"a much a. ten Thousand dollars, do you
notf3 she yentured.
"Oh, yes. he could build splendid
monument for that. He would prepare
design and submit it 70 her"
You viii have it ready soon, viii you
notf" She pleaded. This evening"
NO, not this evening" be replied, bat
he would hurry it up as fast as possible
and br ~ IL to her residence.
And 50 il was setteled, and she went
away very grateful for the sympathy and
anxiously expectaut for the design.
And then the monument man got ont
an old design and had it transferred TO a
piece Of clean paper. and in fifteen min
utes was ready FOR the widow, but Of
course it wouldn't do TO show up for a
week or more. The long days dragged
out their weary length finally, aud the
marble man. assuming an appropriately
funeral countenauce, sought out the wild
ow and submitted his work. He found
| her somewhat reconcled to her loss aud
a little inclined to be critical but on the
whole she was pleased with the design.
But, she said, | have been talking
over the matter with my sister. and She
thinks five thousand dollars ought TO buy
a very rich monument, Could you not
make one like that for five thousand dol
| lsrs?r
No" responded he, "but can build
quite a handsome monument for five thou.
sand dollars. Shall | make design Of
one for that figure;'
Yes, | wish you would, please. and |
will come to your Office and examine it in
week or two
Il can make some alterations 10 these
plans and have it ready very soon" he
urged. Indeed, could bring it around
tomorrow just as well as not
"Oh, no, | won't trouble you to do 50.
There is no particular hurry about it, aud
| will call upon you; it's my turn, YOU
know and she smiled graciously upon
him as she bowed him out.
Well what was a poor monument man
to do? He could only wait and he did
wait, busying himself meanwhile in get
ting up beautiful and elaborate designs.
One day lie met the lady on the street,
dressed in the merest apology for half
mourning. He bowed obsequiuusly and
Informed her that the design was finished
and he thought would not fail to be per
| fectly satisfactory
"Oh," she said, II have been so busy,
don't you know. with one thing and an.
other, and | had forgotten all about it.
/ Let me see, how much was that to COST
/ Five thousand dollars.
oh. dear, can't really afford to pay
that much. Now, couldn't you, this very
bewitchingly. make real nice monu-
ment for five hundred dollars! | know
you know you can, aud will come and
see you real soon goodbye"
Then the monument man went to his
office and told his grief to a three-legged
stool aud stone angel,
Some time after this charming widow
with male friend whom she called
Charley, dropped in again.
do you know" she said. Il feel a
shamed to think that never came around
to look at your pretty designs. Charley
and | have concluded that these great
costly ornaments are so foolish, after
ones dead, you know. We think it's
wicked don't we, Charley Charley al
lowed that it was. But" She continued
those little boards, such as they put at
the soldiers graves, Charley and | think
they are nice, So neat and unpretentious.
Couldn't you make one of them for me
and put Georges monogram on it: His
initial make such pretty monogram:
Then the monument mans cup was full
and piled over. He told her that Charley
could get an old shipgle and tack one of
Georges business cards on it.
Then she called him a "horrid beast"
and Charley spoke of whipping him for
half a cent" and they sailed off.