The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1909-04-01
! THE SORROW
THAT MENACED
DIAMONDVILLE

The council of the little town of Dia
mondyille was in session.
Diamondville was peculiar in one re
spect-it was composed excmsiyel!
either Of millionaires or Of those WHIT
were independently well on.
SuddeRly there was a sensation. The
door opened and a man came in. Hi:
name was Jeplet, and he was the only
poor man in town.
There was an awkward pause. The
mayor twitched nervously In his seat
The town clerk-who owned three
railroads-looked anxiously toward
the newcomer. Everybody was un
easy.
Well Mr.. Jeplet," said the mayor
"what can we do for you? hope that
you had pleasant Christmas. un
derstand that your children Jared pref
ty well?"
Jeplet himself was plainly uneasy.
Yes he said. thank you. All went
well. Nevertheless. am determined
TO leave you"
Every face in the room blanched
Magnate Smith. one OF the leading
men Of the place, and noted through
out the nation for his philanthropy
sprang to his feet,
Can II be possible, Jeplet," he ex'
claimed, that you are going to treat
US with such ingratitude?"
"Sorry, sir, but"
Magnate Smith fixed him with his
eye.
Let us understand each other, Jep'
let" he said "As you know, YOU are
the only poor family In our pleasant
and attractive little borough For
years YOU have gone on having chill.
dren with absolutely no means of sup
porting them You have been depend
ent upon the charity of others. and you
have been practically the only means
by which we could display our own
charitable tendencies.
Our ladies' have come to rely upon
you, Jeplet, to vent their higher i'm
pulses When things were dull in the
Woman's club and the Old Masters
had been disposed OF temporarily, or
the suffrage question lulled to sleep,
they have filled In the time by making
personal visit to Mrs. Jeplet and
getting up subscriptions of old clothes
for your children. What would we
have done without you at Christmas,
depict Why for some years now, as
gathered my boy around me, have
been enabled to say to him:
Just think, Robert, of the poor lit,
tie Jeplet children who shiver in their
miserable hovel, while you are sur.
rounded with luxury But how can
say that now, Jeplet, II you are going
away? You mustn't leave us in the
lurch like this"
He sat down amid subdued applause
The mayor spoke.
Citizens he said, 1--WE are indeed
confronted by crisis In our affairs
How can we go on enjoying ourselves
without some poor family to cater to-?
And who can take the place of the
Jeplets? They were so absolutely
worthless and, offered so many outlets
for our activities that their loss will
be irreparable Why, as look at Jep-
let now my heart swells to think that
he is wearing my clothes. Jeplet, you
mustn't go! We cannot do without
you"
Jeplet shifted uneasily.
Pm awful sorry, your honor" he
said, but | don't see no way out of
It."
rs there anything that you need?"
asked the mayor, anything that any
of us may have forgotten? Haven't all
of our children visited you regularly?
Just mention anything that you may
want and | am sure"
A confused murmur of abject will
ingness on the part of every one was
now heard.
Jeplet under this pressure, was
plainly uncomfortable. He looked
around, and as he saw the anxious
faces tears filled his eyes.
well" he said at last, Il suppose if
you feel that way l shall have to stay,
but would you mind letting me off for
the summer"
Certainly not" said the mayor.
MAY we inquire where you are GO
ing?" ,saseH
Jeplet smiled family.
"You see," he answered, you have
been so good to me all these years
that l am pretty we'll off myself, and
thought il you didn't mind I'd like to
get little vacation and take my fam
lily to Europe"