West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-04-03
THE JERICHO POSTOFHCE.
Pap Perkins, Postmaster, Tells About
the Discussion Regarding the
Widow Hopkins.


was sitting iu the postoiice and talking
about various things Ioab Warner came in
with a blue comfort around his neck and
red mttcns on his hands and such an air
OF Importance about him that ever, body
knew there was some big news al hand.
loab was in no hurry TO unbosom himself
lie backed mp to the stove aud warmed
his coattails aud he asked Henry Craw-
ford how his sick COW was getting along
and il was an OF 10 minutes before lac got
ready TO- say:
Gentlemen. thcto is a case Of mistot-
tuuc aud distress right here i'm Jericho
I aud ! believe I voice the sentiments Of
ever, freeman iu ,his libc t,.loviug com.
muGit, when ! say that all will bc done
that can bc I appear before YOU this
cvcu.u' to say that the Widder Hopkins
is sick and is out of wood. I am to
! speaker as you am know, hut bu, the
weather is purity near zero. whatever that
is AMI there should bc no unnecessary lie
lay. should like to hear from Moses Bling
ham ON this mattcr'
As Tor me said Moses as he got OF
the head yt sucar barrel aud straight.
cucd up % m ever ready when the voice Of
/ mercy calls as most of you know, but don't
believe m rushing things. Seems to me
thrt before pledgn ourselves TO any per
uckicr policy we ought to have an possible
Information at hand to guide us. We an
know that the Widder Hopkins is the Il.
hct OF jim Hopkins chief OF our fire
/ departments who was ted through "a thrash
bee machine two years ago and left her
with a. cents to face cold and cruel
world We know this but We don't know
that She is sick and In wart-that is we
don't know it omcialIy, aud we won't know
10 till committee Is appointed to call on
hcg aud report move that such com.
mittcc be appiutcd. aud ] should like to
hear from Squire Spiker ON the subject
n can say that the news strikes mo
/ like "a thundcrbolt began the squar. who
/ had been looking at the pictures In q
family almanac but confess TO great
surprise Why did the Widdcr Hopkins
fail sick What is the natur Of her sick
mes, WHY is she out of wood Is b a
genuine case ol distress. or is il an un-
worthy appeal TO our sympathy as mp.
/ holders ot the glorious constitution
- don want to see no wddcr suffer In
our midst but don't want TO ind my
symp3thies misplaced. Pears TO me that
. tbis case demands e public mcctin' OF the
Taxpayers OF this town. But let us hear
from Aaron Bradshaw about it,"
Aaton was of the opinion that IL was
case Tor the taxpayers to handle and
notice was at once written ont and posted
. up calling mass meeting the next evening
in the town hall. Mex, day there was as
much excitement in the air as il new
lightning rod man mad struck Jericho, aud
the farmers for three miles aroud MIXED
their COWS an hour earlier than usual so
as 90 bc ON hand When the meeting
/ opened Elder Harmon was made chair.
I man. and hc 40 once called upon the com.
miilec OF investigation TO report Il was
reported that ihe Widow Hopkins was
down with pneumonia. with no wood for
/ hcr Kitchen stove. and that IL seemed a
genuine case oi distress and one appeal
. ius 90 the sjmpIthios OF jericho. Elder
/ Harmon had begun to wipe his cyc with
. ouc hand aUd feel in his pocket for cent
vitl the other. when loab Warner. the
. original discoycrcr OF the the case. rose
/ ua and said
"FcIier citizens of Jericho. there are
some things wc know aai some things we
. don .uow. We know chat there is 4
/ WdIer Hopkins vc know that she Is
sick we know that she wants wood and
medicine What $50 don know. but which
tuis large and extensive audience ofliberty
loyiu people is here to hud out. is whether
tho widaor is to- pc aided from thc town
fund or by private charity nirs ON the
ono hand { am there n IT'S on tother
baud am there jus, the same Never
shli, 30 Doe said tnat Ioab Warner went
aeIn poor widdcf ia like to hear
what Squat striker las TO say on the
subject
"Wb1t I've got TO say is uis. replied
Che squar bc slowly arose. 1.-The poor
wc aiIus have with us. of should have and
its our duty CD take care Of 'cm. a
question arises however. Did the Wild.
der lIopiI Ius catch pneumonia through her
carcincss gon barefoot Of anything or
was it an act ol Providence. same as
/ when my wife bad the measles ~ we
was t0 vote money out of the town fund
for people who got sick through their own
carelcssucss 10 might bee found unconsu.
tuuoual let us bc right and then go
ahead.
D5odbcar Smallmau had been itching
Go make speech. and he got chance
when tHe squlr s1t down rlc stated on
with thc discovery ot America by Colum
bus. but observing the agitation of bis
audience hc cut 20 short aud come down
t3 tnc surrender of Lord Cornwallis Hc
bad dwe.t ON tho subject about 90 minutes
when some one hit him Boo uIc back with an
sypIo aud br suddenly wound up by
saying nat hr was willing to contribute TO
tha relief of every distressed widow boz
America Il. or uo Iau Some one then
ma.c motion tlat ibe sum of Is bc voted
'r.m l.e .lun fnuj for ,Hc benefit of tbc
N .dou lInpsD. but EUa Ecbsc got up
and saId
Hr rHurmfn and fellow citizens I'm
opposed io ,hat motion. Z shall oppose 30
as long as have tongue to speak in
tle FIRST place. do sou want TO bankrupt
tle town OF jericho. ln thc next do YOU
went to u1mper ih. Widdcr Hopkins 600
sIr ,I wart straubrfres and cream AID fbe
rest 1f ler days Chicago dates her
downfall. ifom thc day slc voted $40 90
p1mprr % sick w.ddcr Buffalo had n sick
wIddcf aud voted hrr oysters and beef
tea tud where is Buffalo to dat. ST.
Louis i1i Thousand wfddcie who we're
900 af "nfk IrI dpiI wrI when she frlt
ithsr duty t1 vote cm s- t.ieeo Tor shoes
aud tturNus. ihlw WIdotrs are tp day
dcm4ndu .eaIsaIuH lud kd gloves let
H "... hH. Irt us move slowly
as tt.' sac down IisH Billings como
Iptfn. .H an1 Elder Harmon c4ufbt
l"i h'm and asked 'Dr his opinion
WHAT'S t.. trouble. asked f.Ivh
wHotn.r fHo town should hclp tbc
"'oder Hopkins or whether we shall
H'e 'one havc fou Din akin about