The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-09-11
WHY HE WAS LEAVING THE TOWN.

An Undertaken Explains How UngratefuT
Some People Can Be.
81 re..ember," said the colonel, when the
party reached the end of good dinner,
and the walters stood behind the chairs
with lighted matches, "Iremember an in
cident which stamped upon my mind the
fact that when man has an eye for bust
ness he has eyes for nothing else"
The colonel tells a story well, and paused
here, waiting for the cigars to be lighted
and for the inspiring fragrance of the
Havanas.
81 shall not tell you how long ago it
was, for | am getting too old to speak
lightly of decades. But when l first set
foot-and it was a tender foot, let me say
in Hugo Colo, | at once conceived great
respect for man named Higgins. l could
not help feeling a reverence for Higgins
Higgins was an undertaken. He was the
only undertaken within hundred miles,
and he was getting rich. Never a day
passed but my friend Higgins had funeral
on hand He was the most cheerful I'M
dertaker, perhaps, that ever fourished.
81 remember we'll til day that / babe
Higgins good-by. He was as light spirited
as a grasshopper, and a Thousand times ex-
pressed his regret that / was going into,
the interior until | felt clammy lest he
might be grieved at the thought that some.
one else might have the profitable job of
burying me.
"When next saw Higgins it was after
u two years experience of chasing wild
steers. | was glad to see him, he was such
a jolly old undertaken.
"'Hello Higginsp l said cheerfully
when l walked into his establishment.
How are you, old man|
Higgins shook his head mournfully,
and then / stopped short in amazement,
for saw that he was mailing down boxes,
and packing up his stock.
"'You aren't going to move, are youp I
cried in surprise, but he only damned
roll of Grape into dry goods box and
went on with his work.
"'See here, Higgins CRIED what's the
trouble? Tell me about it.
"The old man turned on me wrathfully
"'Ain't l been one. o. Hugo's best citi-
zensY he asked sternly.
"'You have, Higgins
"Aint paid my taxes"
"'You have, my friend
"'Didn't l organize board of educa-
tion'
"'You did,
"Wasn't its presidentP
"'You certainly were, and good one,
although we haven't any school yet
"'Didn't head the citizens movement
for law and order'
"'You did, Higgins
"'Well that's all. Now, how do you
think this pesky town has treated its fore
most citizel.?'
"'Tell me, Higgins. You have my SYM
pathy.'
"'Well, was maxim decent livin'. L
let out contracts for the only brick build
ing in the town.
ayes
az was goin' to call it the HiCt. ms block.
was goin' to let the volunteer fire depart
ment have rooms in my block for nothin'
proposed to have temperance union in
the town. hoped to have a free library.
You know Pm progressive citizen, don't
your
"'You are, Higgins
"'Well, what do you think this town has.
done to me?'
"Surely nothing bad, Higgins
Nothing badp he screamed. DO you
know what they've done? They've lynched
Bill Smith, and if ever there was a cow
ardly blow aimed at foremost citizen it
was that
"'But you can bury him, Higgins
"'Bury himp he screamed. Bury mimi
Bury Bill Smith! Why, man, Bill Smith
was maxim fortune for me- He killed
his man as regular as the sun went down,
and | buried every one Of 'em. He was,
worth S95 day to me, he was So Pm
goin' to leave 'em. This town don't offer
no inducements to an honest man like me.
Think what I've done for em. was 60
in to erect a monument to our departed
brothers. And now there won't be death,
in this town once a month. Poor Billr
and Higgins seized winding sheet and
tried to stife his sobs. New York Trib-