The Republican journal., 1901-04-04
- PASSING OF UNCLE BILLY.

nan WHO Idu UOOu 1CduiIlS tiiO
lper heaved a gentle sigh, Poor
}illy" he explained.
is the matter?" asked his friend.
ming happened to one of your
s."
he wasn't exactly a relation of
not exclusively. He was Uncle
everybody. Wherever he has
, will be Uncle Billy still. I
him ever since l was
ii to a toad, and in all that time
! changed a wrinkle of. his old
Ip got old 40 years ago l think,
n time overlooked him and death
ourd it out until now. The
.entions the Death Angel also
nh unfeigned regret that they
h. The funeral will be held in
4 Baptist church, which makes
der whether the churches drew
for him, for nobody ever sus-
Vim of any church affiliations in
yas a pagan-one of the unre-
f.. tobacco chewing, rough
big hearted old reprobate, who
uiled, but let his eyes smile for
lie the rest of his features were
ID in imperturbable gravity, and
liked by everybody else he
ever have been Uncle Billy,
It the one general store in the
l1ge when l was a boy. He had
man named Abner to help him,
lrr did practically all the bust
ucle Billy never seemed to
tf how things went. devoting
chiefly to checkers. Sometimes
Il tumble round among the
Ton his customers and serve
qHite as often he would tell
~ around and see if they could
It hey wanted themselves, but
. primitive people then and
mt to be so. We said 4 have
When we didn't say L seen
Of we felt an honest scorn for
~ folks who were more cor
their language. We were al
re with Uncle Billy we
advantage of his unbusiness-
nd we appreciated the free
lowed us.
81 the old fellow is dead!
IS named Lish ,Jewett, | re-
u1yed a great trick on Uncle
lime. He was the village
iddicted to didoes anyway.
aimed to keep most every
k, but he didn't keep very
1i it, and every once in a
ould get out of something.
uU ont that he was short on
r lad about half a pound of it,
loes he do but go around and
1uly to ask for soda.
uople are all willing to do it.
o.'y too little to vary the mono
1iStence in that little town,
md young and rich and poor
$500 | nele Billy's store and call
W The old man was generally
D. TX catching on, but somehow
tumble in this instance, al
.e was certainly suspicious.
Iut Peterson came in towards
nd asked for two pounds of
Gle Billy betrayed his curiosity.
m he you wantin' soda for,
-hed.
s. says Doc what would |
el to grease my boots? What
body want with soda?'
says Uncle Billy L reck-
Of maybe you had diskivered
to' use for it out O the COM
very body in town has gone sody
-us like. I've sent to Saint
5o3tload to meet the dee-mand.
hty curious how they'll get a
ltlin all at once here. | don't
can o Californy peaches'd do
as well, would they? I've got
fine peaches.
admit ordered a boatload, but
az in a big supply of it, and of
asst AS soon as he got it the de-
VI off. Uncle Billy. couldn't
mo now that happened. For
three weeks everybody that
co the store would be asked
y were off for soda, and it
mat everybody had all they
II home.
,st Jewett thought he would
job on the pastor of the Meth
iIch.
pastors name was Dolby and
"A good sort Of a man, only he
slt his edge worn off, being
md not long out of the semin-
was as polite as the proven
1T Of chips and he talked as if
I-ading out of a particularly
0ok. Lish saw him coming
' toad in his buggy and hailed
aSked him if he wouldn't stop
q Billy's' and get him a pound
lie had just come from the
Dself and knew how the old
ceiling on the subject.
FL do so with pleasure, Mr..
aid the pastor. If there is
d tile commission with which
TO intrust me do not hesitate
oD it, | shall be most pleased
te it,
s all, thanky, Mr.. Dolby says
j he obleeged to you
It paStor clucked to his horse
-el on to the store, where he
Old man just in the act of
zee with tobacco.
Gf passon,' he said as soon as
.t lis quid into his cheek.
10 you do, Mr.. Stoval, says
~. / hope you are in good
to'able,' torable, says Uncle
e. YOU got any soda, Mr.. Sto-
$ he pastor.
says Uncle Billy 'Sody!
On say? Why, dog my cats,
sody enough ter raise the
corner OF hades.'
"r time, | remember, Glen
down to visit his sister.
"a conductor ON some railroad,
'd great deal of respect for
IN our town, the nearest one