Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1901-01-19
copyright, 1900. by C. B. Lewis.l


lies a poor old Sufferin woman, the
widder 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 throb
and hasten TO relieve her case
There was Il good deal Of surprise
over the statement, and everybody had
said how sorry he was when Deacon
Spooner raped for order and said:
"JerichoianS. when Jabez Thomas
talks about the charity OF this cOmmu-
nifty he makes a strong pint-a mighty
strong pint. We all knew Tom Jack
son for an honest. hardwOrkin man,
and his wilder shall not appeal to us
in vain. l for one shall esteem 1t
privilege to contribute to her benefit.
Let Us hear from Enos Williams"
Enos rose up and said that he used
to 60 fiShin with Tom Jackson and
that had he known of his widder beiD
hard up he would hev divided his last
turnip with her She was a good wOm-
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
coyery Of America and the pilgrim IA
theirs. but Deacon SpOoner choked him
off 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
it 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 five others
had their say, and then Henry Schem-
erhorn held up paper and said:
"As I take 1t, we are all Of us ready
and willin to make up little purse for
the sufferin wilder"
1--WE are" called everybody at once.
Then there's nuthln to prevent. Be
in as Jebez 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 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
i
hev bin a resident Of Jericho less than
20 years. and l don't want to assume
the privilege of an old pioneer. It's an
honor to head that paper, but l dasn't
claim it when so many better and old
err citizens are before me. don't want
to hurt nobody's feelin's by bOostin one
man over another, but it 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 he
rose up. and 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 slgnin papers of this
sort hev allus bin satisfied to come in
sixth or seventh. and it shall be so In
this case. My heart Is open. and my
wallet is open, but I'd suggest that
Moses Perkins head the list. | under
stand that he and the lamented Thorn
as Jackson used to ship butter and
eggs on shares. and it seems apprOpri-
nte that he should hev this great hon
,Or."
Moses got up and began to talk Of
Gporge Washington and Bunker Hill
but Deacon Spooner raped him down
and held him TO the case in hand. Then
Ehe tried to say sOmethin about the
;.lorious Fourth; but. bein chOked OF
Jag in. he took the paper and put his
name down fur 10 cents. He explain
ed. however, that that was only start
.rr and that his sympathetic heart coud
be depended upon to do as much as
any other heart In Jericho. The paper
went round. and men put down their
names from 10 to 80 cents. Each one
had an explanation to make He was
depended upon for 500 If there was
need of it. The sum of $3.50 had bin
raised and there was a general feelin
all through the crowd that Jericho was
doin herself proud when Lish Billings
came saunterin in. Deacon SpOoner at |
once explained the case to him and
added:
"Lish, you are known to be a big
hearted ma and we all know you will |
be glad to contribute to sich a worthy |
cause. Give us your name"
81 see," said Lish as he took the pa
per. that you hev raised $50 for a
sick and distressed wilder who has |
lived among us for 10 years"
eve hev."
"And it's all goin to be hers?"
every cent of it,"
"And you want me to make 1t up TO
So and do old Jericho proudT
That's it. Lish."
"Waal. you'll hev to excuse me. The |
wilder don't happen to need the con-