Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1909-03-25
THE SORROW
THAT MENACED
DIAMONDVILLE

The council of the little town of Dia-
mondville was in session.
Diamondville was peculiar in one re
spect-it was composed exclusively
either of millionaires or of those who
We're independently we'll off,
Suddenly there was sensation. The
door opened and a man came in. Ills
name was Jepet and he was the only
poor man in town
There was an awkward pause. The
mayor twitched nervously in his seat.
The town clcrk-who owned three
railroads-looked anxously toward
the newcomer Everybody was UNI
easy.
Well, Mr.. Jeplet," said the mayor
what can we do for you? / hope that
you had a pleasant Christmas. l I'M
derstand that your children Jared pref
ty well?"
Jeplet himself was plainly uneasy.
YES" he said, "thank you. All went
we'll Nevertheless, l 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 it 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. LAS 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
Womans club and the Old Masters
had been disposed of temporarily, OF
the suffrage question lulled to sleep
they have filled in the time by making
a personal visit to Mrs. Jeplet anc
| getting up subscriptions of old clothes
for your children. What would we
have done without you at Christmas
Jeplet? Why, for some years now, as
| gathered my boy around me, l have
been enabled to say to him:
s'Just think Robert, of the poor lit
tie Jeplet children who SILVER in theil
miserable howell while you are sur
rounded with luxury But how can
say that now, Jeplet, if you are goins
away? You mustn't leave US in the
lurch like this
lie sat down amid subdued applause
The mayor spoke
Citizens" he said, we are indeed
confronted by a crisis in our affairs
How can we go on enjoying ourselve!
without some poor family to cater to
And who can take the place of the
Jeplets? They We're so absolutely
worthless and offered so many outlet!
for our activities that their loss vii
Il
let now my heart swells to think tina
he is wearing my clothes. Jeplet, yo,
mustn't go! We cannot do withou
you!'
Jeplet shifted uneasily.
I'm awful sorry, your honor" HI
said but l don't see no way out o
it,
is there anything that you need?
asked the mayor, anything that an
of us may have forgotten? Haven't al
OF our children visited you regularly
Just mention anything that you ma
want and | am sure
A confused murmur of abiect viii
ingness on the part of every one wa
now heard.
Jeplet, under this pressure, wa
plainly uncomfortable. He locke
around, and as he saw the anXiou
faces tears filled his eyes.
We'll" he said at last, 81 suppose
you feel that way l shall have to sta,
but would you mind letting me off fc
the summer"
Certainly not" said the mayo
May we inquire where you are &,
ing?" ssy.
Jeplet smiled family.
You See he answered, you hay
been so good to me all these yeal
that | am pretty we'll off myself, an
| thought if you didn't mind I'd like t
get little vacation and take my fan
lily to Europe"
Relics Lost to Germany.
, The artlovng public of German
sustained heavy blow" SAYS tt