The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-11-20
LEAVING THE TOWN.


a.
An Undertaken Explains How Ungrateful
Some People Can Be
II remember" said the Colonel when
the party reached the end of good din
ner and the walters stood behind the
chairs with lighted matches. Il 'remem-
Der an incident which stamped upon my
mind the fact that when man has an
eye for business he has eyes for nothing
else"
The Colonel tells story well and
paused here, waiting for the cigars to
be lighted and for the inspiring fra
GRANGE of the Havanas.
a=ssI shall He4=teA4 you how--long= agosit
was. for / am getting too old to speak
lightly of decades But when l first set
foot-and it was a tenderfoot, let me
say-in Hugo, Col, at once conceived
q great respect for a man named Hig-
gins. could not help feeling rever-
ence for Higgins. Higgins was an un-
dertaker. He was the only undertaken
within hundred miles and he was get
ting rich. Never day passed but my
friend Higgins had funeral on hand.
=HeSwas theqmost cheerful undertaken,
perhaps, thataeyer flourished.
II remember we'll the day that babe
Higgins goodbye. He was as light
spirited as grasshopper, and a thou
sand times expressed his regret that |
was going into the interior until ] felt
clammy lest he might be grieyed at the
thought that some one else might have
the profitable job of burying me.
when ! next saw Higgins it was
after two-years experience of chasing
wild steers ] was glad to see him, he
was such jolly old undertaken.
Hello, Higgins, said, cheerfu3}ys
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 you?'
! cried in surprise. but be only jammed
a 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 wrath
fully.
Ain TT been one Hugo best csti-
zens?" he asked, sternly.
"'You have, Higgins
" Amt ! paid my taxes?'
"'You have, my friend.
Didn't organize Board Of Educa-
tion?"
-tt y on did. '.
---.4 .Wasn't-Efts president99, --------.--
".You certainly were, and good
one, although we haven't any school
yet
Didn't head the citizens move
ment for law and order?'
"tYou did. Higgins
"'Well, that's all. Now, how do you
think this pesky town has treated its
foremost citizen?'
Tell me, Higg rs. You have my
sympathy
!" Well, Twas maxim decent liyin'.
Il let out contracts for the only brick
building in the town.
Yes
I was goin' to call it the Higgins
block. | was goin' to let the volunteer
Ale ot par tl1ioHJ nave EOOtlS LII III y BlOCA
for nothin'. ! proposed to have tenn
perance union in the town. ! hoped to
bave library. You know Pm a
progressive citizen; don't you?
"'You are, Higgins
"'Well, what do you think this town
has done for me?'
Sure y nothing bad, Higgins.
:. Nothing badr no screamed Dc
you know what They've defteaa They've
lynched Bill Smith, and if ever there
was cowardly blow aimed at a FORE
most citizen, it was that
But you can bury him, Higgins
Bury him!' he screamed Bury
him! 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 SIS day to me, he
was. So I'm 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 goin' 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 stifie his sdbs. Tribune.