The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1912-08-09

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drawn up that says you'll be kind. "
why, I'll sign that, Of course,
was the reply; and the deacon, fol
once in his life, signed a paper with
tout reading it and looking for traps
He did more than that. He offered
to boss the funeral when 1t came of
and to be one of the pallbearers.
Then Cyrus Barnes, another wild
over, was sent for. He was awfully
sorry to find Jim so near the grave
and he was going to pull out a dolla'
bill and leave it with him when-he
didn't. He INDUCED in further word.
of sympathy, which made it SS pei
cent. cheaper for him.
Cyrus, I've been a poor stick OF
man. said Jim.
You have that" was agreed.
II ought to have been at worl
every day."
I'VE all know that"
IT'S a wonder you folks didn't still
me up
$50 'tis-so tits. We talked OF Il
many times. but W. knowed that Il
we put on the tar and feathers you'd
be too ALFRED lazy to scrape EN-
of, and your wife would have the
job"
That's right. She is good, Cyrus
"None better
And that brings me to what
want to ask. She won't have a dol
lar after I'm gone"
"Of course she won't"
She'll have to depend on the kind
ness of the neighbours
"She will"
Cyrus, you don't belong to any
church. but you believe in heaven
don't you?"
Yes, kinder
You'd like to feel that l was look
ing down on you and acting as your
guardian angel, wouldn't you?"
! If you are going to keep up your
laziness-"
But I'm not, Cyrus-1n going tt
hustle. I'll do all that ] can for yot
if you'll sign this paper"
What is it,"
! Just promise to be kind to, anc
that you will look after. Sarah. We
shall both feel a great deal better II
you will
The caller looked upon 1t as dy
ing mans whim, and signed. Wher
ready to go he said:
II hope you will get hustle on yo'
up there, JIM"
| Then three more widowers and one
old bachelor got the word to call
and in the course of three days the
business was wound up. Then
lawyer was sent for, the signed pa
! pers handed over to him, and
great calm fell upon the dying man
He smiled every few minutes. anc
made no understandable explanations
regarding what he had been up to
A few days later he passed away
and almost his last words were:
Sarah, if they want to be kind tt
you, let 'em go ahead
There was kindness from every d1
rection, from contributions to pay
the funeral expenses to groceries ant
provisions sent in for the widow
sustenance After about menth hat
elapsed Deacon Harrison received
letter asking him to call at the Law
office of the attorney who had thu
dead mans papers. When the goot
man came strolling in, only mildly
curious as to why he had been sum
moned, he was greeted with:
"Of course it won't take place fol
year, but allow me to congratulate
yo1, in advance"
"What dye mean?" asked the dea
con.
Your marriage with the Wido'
Bushwick."
"Shoo! What We joking about?'
| "Only this
The paper he had signed for jim
Bushwick was handed him. Hehad sign
ed without reading, and now behold
Il not only promise to be kind t.
James Bushwick's wife after she be
comes his widow, but to marry he
one year after his DEATH
by thunder!" exclaimed the dea
con as he danced around.
mo better evidence wanted in .
breach of.promis case" quietly re
piled the lawyer.
"She can sue and be hanged"
Better settle for couple of hun
dred, deacon. and carry of your pa
per. It wouldn't sound we'll t,
have people saying that you ha1
your second wife picked out while
her husband was alive"
The deacon hung off for Weel
and then came down. One by on,
the others followed suit. Each on,
was financially we'll able to do so
Money contributed by your goo.
friends, and nothing is to be sale
about it." remarked the lawyer t.
the widow as he handed her $3.50 O
the thousand.
To this day she has no other ide,
about it. Now and then some on,
says something about Jim Bushwick'!
laziness in Deacon Harrison's hearing
and he turns and replies:
why, there wasn't a lazy bone !,
his whole carcass! He made NOR,
! clean money In the last two week,
Of his life than did in the hull year
Yes, drat him, he did,"