The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-07
MRS. N HUSBANDS.

4 v
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A Preachers Experience with q Wife,
Widow and Bride in . PennsylvRnia Town.
II have often wished Dickens might have
known Mrs. Bangs" said the preacher who
was relating some Of his early experience in q
Pennsylvania town. Mrs. Bangs was excru-
ciatingly neat by nature. while Lester, her hus-
band. was somewhat untidy. perhaps necessarily
30. as he was a blacksmith by trade. No matter
what the cause the untidiness was exasperat-
ing to Mrs. Bangs and she constantly fretted
about It, making the existence OF poor Lester
perfectly miserable. But this was not the
only cause. In her eyes. for worry; a thousand
and one little things every day irritated her
and poor Lester suffered for them.
In spite Of all irritating causes which might
be found centred In Lester. he was the great
est blessing Of her life. but. like most people,.
she did not appreciate it till he was made help
less by his last illness. Then the tuning Of life
ceased, and Lester had the best OF nursing. It
was to no purpose. for his time had como. The
physician announced to Mrs. Bangs that the
disease had gone beyond his power. that in all
probability Lester would not live more than
three days.
Here is where Mrs. Bangs gave conclusive
evidence that she had q right to be immortal
iZed among the characters Of Dickens. With
the sad announcement that Lester could not
live more than three days, she was inspired
with the idea that the odd $500 of the $1,000
life insurance which Mr.. Bangs carried might
be secured in advance Of his death. or at least
In time to help out on the funeral expenses.
She wrote to the company. giving the verdict Of
the physician and adding that no doubt her
poor Lester would be dead by the time the let
ter was received. and would they please send
the odd $500 at once, 80 that 1t would enable
her to meet the funeral expenses promptly. To
cap the climax, she took the letter to Lester to
ask him II 1t was worded all right. With much
difficulty he adjusted his glasses and slowly
read 1t through. and then. with much effort,
easped out:
Observation-Disclosures
We'll, Lester died on schedule time and was
buried before an answer to the appeal arrived.
The insurance'company took the usual time for
proving the death claim. and three weeks
passed before the claim was paid. This delay
to the impatient Mrs. Bangs seemed endless
and she despairingly remarked on several oc-
~casions:
Pm sure they intend to cheat me out Of
that money. What a shame that would be after
all we've paid to keep 1t upP
About three weeks after the funeral my
wife and 1 strolled past the house of Mrs.
Bangs one evening Just at dusk. We had got
past the house four or five rods when we were
startled by a scream from an upstairs window
In one of the houses in our rear. We thought
we recognized the voice. and Immediately
turned back to see what our friend wanted.
Before we reached the gate she screamed out:
I've got my money. 1t came yesterday.
But isn't 1t a shame ? they took out the last
assessment. II Lester had only died two days
sooner l wouldn't have had to pay it! Wasn't
that mean OF themY
THAT is the gruesome part OF the story: now
comes the funny part. About three months
after this event II was rumored around town
that Mrs. Bangs was receiving marked atten-
v Veteran OF the late G9s' war nm When calling SIHiDsG at the the
parsonage my wife mildly suggested she might
threw up her hands In the most hysterical fash
why. the very ideal How can you think of
such a thing and Mr.. Bangs only dead three
mo- more than a month after this call she
appeared Mt the parsonage again and. in my
absence. engaged my services for the next
Sunday morning, to unite her in marriage 10
she. grew quite enthusiastic and said:
He's real nice. and neat, too. / shall like
Jaw, from H9i Ss a Ba HHGD wound 1SUf,If received tSi "s nm IN the Heo Iate
a ape pension R%S and andn has T his life ems Insured n@a'' Tor orr S ~ SFSs SO
that i he should drop away suddenly why it
The next Sunday morning, ut 10 O'Clock,
the old couple were made one The previous
Sunday Mrs Bangs had walked into church
entered leaning. on the arm Of her newly
welded husband, dressed as a bride. | sup;
great respect. Tor the Sabbath the usual horn
ing, given BY an ,dmiring and e5pH%Gtant
DON'T YOU tnqyS Wsh'" IL the fegiapins !,
means Of expressing It's hearty and emphatic
disapproval Of certain marriages.. After a long
time II same to be the practice so to treat every
having, a frolic and extorting, Q treat Tor the
crowd from the bridegroom. Tho usual mode
| NJ nFnnAIIIAw A IN UnI "a nrnNN al MAJ and
faddles. and triqngles, with which they would
repair 10 the lodging place, Of the newly welded
pair at q late hour. when they would proceed to
make night hideous, This would lbs kept up
~ the invitation was given to enter and enjoy
on this Sunday night in question my wife
and were awakened from a sound sleep
shortly after midnight 10y u most unearthly
noise, which. from the sound and our knowl-
edge of the town, we concluded cnme from q
couple. Our conclusions were correctly drawn.
az, they were verified the neTt morning by a
full !F%SFG2rtt 4 ar timt the NE had Shd ln asFi nisht 81" i s ia not
think they would do, II. but they did; They
waited til after midnight, though Then we
window, soon some on" began 10 call the ron.
could hardy believe my ears Int
and he answered to his name ! was
not surprised that the other people came
Gut,hut was shocked At thc nfInift%r,. heinz
there began the most awful Noise ] ever heard
and went ont on the porch a4d said 20 the boys
that he appreciated their kindness and ordi-
R RSri pEEe gier2sGS't TO Su SEEM m9Sii # hey PRSS AZ w" :. T'1 hiRHdIyy
stop he would be found at a~certair place down
town Tomorrow with the cigars
From the manner in which she related thr
incident II was nlain TO be seen that hey tG't
when the minister hOnorcd the occasion with
htH nFpApnnA. hut That WAS a mlbLHkD. Tor i Wls