Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1911-10-06
courthouse o
b. NJ QUAD
b. NJ QUAD


mc0 4 Spru ueul VI IT, phs WIZ" 0S~~
moved over to the village cf Valley
Stream II seemed to her that the pco-
p,e thereof greeted her In an of'ish
manner
All villages have their customs. The
custom In Valley Stream. and one that
had prevailed for a quarter OF cen
fury. was for a newcomer to at once
state certain facts to Deacon horner.
! IL II was a widow she WAS expected
TO state her uge. her income. her tnfen-
tons regarding second marriage.
whether or not her late husband died
happy, to what church she belonged.
her attitude In regard TO church ar
fairs and picnics. X she attended the
circus and whether she was going to
live extravayantly or economically.
The deacon had always taken 1t upon
himself to act AS inquisitor and then
90 from house TO house and spread the
news. lie gave the Widow Sharon
three days TO get settled and then
called
Then and there the good man re-
ceiyed the surprise OF his life. He had
scarcely propounded question No. ]
when the widow replied
"Sir. 1t Is none Of your business!
Deacon lIorner had never been
baked before. and 1t vexed him.
The widow had brought four hogs
with her. having been farmers wife.
and two days after the deacons call
one OF those hogs came and rubbed
against his front gate.
Deacon Horner lifted up rock and
batted that hog The hos was hurt
and run away sQuealing. boy told the
Widow sharon OF II, and she put on
her hat and went straight to justice
of the peace and got out summons
for malicious cruelty to animals.
There was state law covering the
case. aud the deacon was fined $40 and
costs.
1t may be remarked again that Dea-
con Horner was u good man. but there
Is d limit to goodness. Not that same
hog, but another OF the Widows dock.
got into the deacOn's COW lot. Vhere
was nothing for him to damage. but
the widow was sued for trespass ana
had to pay s. damages. She paid II
and waited II you will wait long
enough u COW will get into your garden
and devour your cabbages. In this In
stance IT was the deacon's COW. ana
there was another suit for trespass,
and the deacon was mulcted. Did he
forgive the widow and promise that
his COW should be good In future7 He
didn't he said to himself that he
would bring that defiant widow low.
All Of sudden the village Of Valley
Stream began asking about the last
hours Of the defunct Farmer Sharon.
1t was said that he died OF heart dis
ease after quarrel with his wife
about another man. Perhaps the Wild
ow was not actually murderess. but
she was very close to It. She heard
the story. and she set out with an iron
jaw on her to run 1t down. In TWEEN
ty -four hours she had 1t fastened on
the good deacon and had begun suit
for SANDER Deacon Horner made out
not to care. but when his lawyer came
to investigate he was more than will
ing to settle for 500. Mr.. Sharon
had not died from heart disease. but
from the kick Of horse.
Then the fighting widow had to SO
and put her foot in 1t. In some way
she learned that Deacon Horner hadn't
paid his pew rent for fourteen years
and that he had passed a bad two dol
lar bill on a windmill man. She was
indiscreet enough to repeat this. and
the first thing she knew the deacon
was after her. As matter OF fact.
his pew rent was all paid up. and he
had the receipts to show. And US for
the bad bill. 1t was windmill man
who had stuck him. The widow had TO
give back that 500 to settle the case.
BY this time there wasn't family In
the village. nor for five miles around,
that wasn't taking sides. and society
was upset and the churches suffering.
Would be mediators had been to the
deacon and his reply was:
I'm sorry there Is any trouble. but
I can't let no widow run over me-"
And when they had gone to the
widow. she said
III you think l am going to let any
old wldower boss me around you are
sadly mistaken"
Both sides were waiting for the next
move. when the village was visited by
peddler Of rat and mouse traps. He
had whole wagon load AS he passed
| from house to house he heard OF the
| quarrel. and when he had got to the
Widow Sharon's and sold her two
traps. he sat down and said;
I'm going to stop this rumpus be-
tween you ana Deacon Horner l,
isn't right. and It isn't nice. You and
he ought to marry"
| "W.h-a-tv
Aud the rat trap man called on the
deacon and said:
Drop It: You arc hurting yourself
your church and the town. Court the
widow and marry her"
"W.h-a-t!'
| A seed had been planted. and II
wasn't four weeks before It sprouted
| After their nrst establishment wa,
over the deacon began TO speak wei
Of her. and when be finally made m
excuse to call at the house. he wa.
pleasantly received Within the yea
there was a marriage.
How in the world did that peddle'