The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-01-03

horse trades, several hogs and cows
had changed hands. and Alvin Johnson.
the oldest man in the town. stood oil
the steps of the posioriice and said:
I'm a-tcllin' you that boom has;
struck Jericl-o It's 10 ..ilpncral
boom. founded ninu ;.,r anlnumt of eat
nip grown arpt:nd here t,.I its ,::i.ar
thin that has COME 10 star Ii.s q.
second Chicago of uIIr Town Let IL;
give three cheers for oar friend ,in Il
heart. But for that lie oi hi; -
might have lived and lied unaunwu 80
the world"
The three ministers got together ana
talked il over and then sent for the old
man. They told him that he ought tn
be ashamed Of himself and gave Lin
general raking down. lie listened
10 what they had TO say and then re
Piled:
Gentlemen, | have told story be
fore the Liars club. DO you receive
it as Il lie or the TRUTH
why. it's falsehood pure and sim
pie"
Sorry TO disagree with you. gentle
men, hut that story is the solemn
truth. | can prove every incident of
it,
At that they grew more severe with
him and talked about warrants and
constables, and when he left them be
had tears in his eyes. Deacon spoon
err WIS sent around to see him and tell
him he had better 20 a little SLOW but
his reply was:
why, | thought you all knew that
was telling the solemn truth. There
has been so much lying here that
thought l would slip in something
truthful for change"
Say, YOU do it nicely" compliment
ed the deacon ms he winkcd at him.
But / can prove the story TO be
true
It's the slickest lie | ever heard.
and You shall receive all credit for il
Don't trade it off for any other"
Other men cOmplimentpd him on his
gigantic lie and winkcd at him when
he declared he had been telling the
truth, and the iron entc"ad the old
mans soul. He wrote letters t, cot
oradO, and in the course of couple OF
weeks he got afiidayils as 10 the truth
of his story. They even sent Oh claws
from the feet OF the bears Bankers.
merchants and ministers united in say
ing that Mr.. Goodheart had never Lecn
known to tell Il lie. He got all this
al
came around and poked him in the
ribs and winked. and the ministers
called on him and said that his moral
example was dragging scores of men
down TO pcrdition. After they had told
him this the old man went TO the Liars
club and told his story once more. He
took plenty of time and rung in all the
old incidents and few new ones. lie
was listened To with the closest attcn-
ton, and when lie had finished he
shook hands with every liar and wuil;
ed away with mournful face on him
Several parties tried to cheer him w.
by saying that he ought to get posi-
ton with daily newspaper rs circula-
ton manager, but NJ smile came 10 his
face.
The next morning it was discovered
that Mr.. Goodheart had committed
suicide by hanging himself in his room
ut the hotel. Three days later two
men from the west arrived. They
brought more proofs, and the ministers
and all others had to knuckle under
and admit that the old mans story
was gospel truth That killed the
Jericho boom in day and dissolve I
the Liars club in Il week There was
novelty in lies, but none in truth. In
general, the town was conscience
stricken and anxious To make repara-
ton. Every one turned out to the IN.
neral, gravestone was bought by Pop
ular subscription, and when it was
placed at the head of the old mans
grave it bore the words:
Here lies Abijah Goodhcart, but he
wasn't lying when he told the story
of the snowslide" NJ. QUAD