Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1901-04-18

''GENTLEMEN,s SAID THE DEACON.
hev bin told within the last two hours
lies a poor old sufferin woman. the
wilder Of Tom Jackson She needs
food. fuel and medicine and has need.
ed 'em for days. but now that we hev
come to know it the heart of Jericho
will give a mighty responsive throh
and hasten tosrelieve her case
There was good deal of surprise
over the statement. and everybody had
said how sorry lie was when Deacon
Spooner raped for order and said:
".Jerichoians. when .Jabez Thomas
talks about the charity of this conimu
nifty he makes a strong pint Il mighty
strong pint We all knew Tom Jack
son for an honest. hardworkin man.
and his widder shall not appeal to us
In vain | for one shall esteem it o
privilege to contribute to her benefit
Let us hear from Enos Williams"
Enos rose up and said that he used
to go fishin with Tom Jackson and
that had he known Of his wldder bein
hard up he would hev divided his last
turlip with her. She was good won.
an and a woman respected by all. and
too much could not be done for her
As soon as reachin home he would send
his wife over to see what could be
done. and Of course his wallet was
wide open for contributions. Hezekiah
Dawson wanted to say a few words
also. He begun to talk about the dis.
covery Of America and the pilgrim IA.
theirs. but Deacon Spooner choked him
OF and got him down to the outbreak
Of the civil war. He'd hev hung on
there If he hadn't bin logged ag'in. and
1t was a quarter of an hour before he
got around to say that he was awful
sorry for the Wilder Jackson and want
ed to be- one Of the first to prove his
big heartedness. Four or i've others
had their say. and then Henry Schem.
erhorn held up paper and said:
''As / take it. we are all of us ready
and willin to make up a little purse for
the sufferin widder2''
1--WE are!' called everybody at once.
'"Then there's nuthin to prevent. Be
In as Jehez Thomas was first to make
known the case. he should hev the
honor Of bein the first to put his name
down on this paper"
Jabez hung back. He said he was
only q humble citizen and didn't want
to put himself forward over others.
While his heart throbbed and bled and
:bobbed around. he'd give way to Dea-
con Spooner and come In second.
.'Gentlemen." said the deacon as he
looked around In a lonesome way. II
hev bin a resident Of Jericho less than
20 years. and / don't want to assume
the privilege of an old pioneer. It's an
honor to bend that paper. but dasn't
claim 1t when SO many better and old
or citizens are before me. don't want
to hurt nobody IS feelin's BY boostin one
man over another. but II do seem to
me. under all the circumstances. that
squar Joslyn is the man to write his
name first OF anybody In jericho"
The squar was red in the face as be
rose up. md he didn't look bit pleas.
ed as he said:
while may be the oldest resident
Of Jericho. nobody has ever heard me
brag Of It or thrust myself forward on
that account. In sienin papers Of THU
sort hev nllus bin satisfied to come ID
sixth or seventh. and It shall be so ii
this cnse. My heart is open. and my
wallet is open. hut I'd suggest that
Moses Perkins head the fist. I under
stand that he and the lamented Thorn
a. jackson used to ship butter and
eggs on shares. and It seems appropri
ate that he should hev this great hon
or = #
Moses got up and began to talk o.
George Washington and Bunker Hill
but Deacon Spooner raped him dowl
and held him to the case In hnnd. Thel
he tried to say solnethin about til,
glorious Fourth: but. beln choked Of
as'in, he took the paper and put bill
name down fur Is cents. He explain
Cd. however, that TINT was only start
6 and that bis sympathetic heart cDult