The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-01-27
WHERE DEATHS A STRANGER.
why Maine Man Couid Not
buy Farm Up Yellow
House Way.

II had some money left to me by
relative who died not long ago. said
bartholomew Keiser, of Reading, Pa,
land as had long had desire to own
farm somewhere among the Munataw-
ney hills, near the quiet hamlet of Vel
low House, If possible, | thought |
would invest some of that legacy in
such farm, and live pastoral life the
rest of my days. So went over to Vel
low House, which isn't far from Read
ing, to find out what could buy farm
for in that vicinity. The citizen of
whom | asked information looked at
me in astonishment awhile, and then
exclaimed:
"What can you buy a farm around
here for? Why, dang it, man, you can't
buy farm around here for any price!
There has been but one farm sold here
in more than 40 years, and that was
sold week ago, and folks are talking
about ii yet. 1t was the Widow Krause's
farm. The widow isn't so years old yet,
and she wouldn't have been widow if
Joe Krause, her husband, hadn't been
killed in runaway accident year ago.
Joe was coming 30 then, and was driv-
ing q pair Of colts he was breaking. The
widow is hale and hearty yet. | tell
you, and folks haven't begun TO get
through talking about her selling the
farm. Then she's going to move away.
That's the funniest part of it,
THE citizen turned to another citi-
zen at this point and said TO him:
"'What under the canopy do you sup
pose the widow is going to move away
from Yellow House for??'
"'Well, sir replied the other citizen.
I think it's just because she's tired of
life
The first citizen pondered a moment,
then slapped his leg and exclaimed:
That must be it, by hokyl
Now this was all very puzz,ing TO
me, and guess must have looked it.,
for the first citizen spoke, and said:
"'How old do you s'pose | be?'
81 replied that thought he might
perhaps be GO; but. to tell the truth, he
didn't look ii. He laughed and shook
his head, and said in jolly sort of way:
why, I'll never see so again; am
past so. And Abe here is Saint il
SO, Abe"
ut was SO a year ago. replied the
other citizen. Its 81 now-S4 a week
ago yesterday, and he didn't look day
older than his friend.
"'And Marg Rush is %, continued
the first citizen. and Sam Fritz is 81.
Sally Dunn is 50. and she and Abel have
been married ~ years. l don't know
just how old Abel is. but he must be a
couple O. years older than Sally yet.
There's Ad Rhoads and Dave Herner
and John Francis and Abe Focht.
Every one Of em is crowding 90 pretty
close. The youngest of EN- is Ad
Rhoads. and he told me only yesterday
that he was IS past. As for folks that
are so. can't count 'em up. Mary
Rhoadarmel is 50 and is something Of
a curiosity, because she had husband
who only lived 10 be "a. Folks don I
| OiNNh VIC anu liNN1t
saw bigger funeral than Joe Rhoad-
| armel had Zeke Rhoads and Dave
Davidheiser are past IS. Marth Breiden-
bach lives three miles back yonder, and
| she's SO. But she walks in here to
church and back every Sunday, and
uses her Bible and hymn book without
glasses. John and Lot Wagner are
twins, and they're So. Why, say! there
are only 65 inhabitants in Yellow House,
and 80 of them are over IS. A 60-year-
eld's youngster.'
The citizen pondered again and
presently said:
buy a farm around here. Not il
you could cover it with dollar bills!
Life is too hardto dispose of in this gar
den spot of the Munatawney hills for
people to want TO sell out and get away.
That's the reason the Widow Krausc
has sold out and gone away, Joe. sure
as you live! She's tired of life! Who
is that skipping along so brisk over
yonder. Joe? Jake Frey, amt it?'
THAT'S who il is replied the citi-
zen's friend Joe.
"'Now, you'd hardly take Jake to be
9o.' said the citizen, but he is. Won
der where he's going SO fast?'
"'Why, to Squire Shoemaker's, said
Joe. He's going TO sign another ten
years lease of the farm he's living on.
$50 left Yellow House disappointed.
Nobody had farm to sell anywhere
near that apparent fountain of youth,
and | couldn't blame 'em much-could
YOU ON. Y. Sun.
| A Serious Question.
L lArh..A,- Ii, mat In Oh