The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1916-01-21
THE WIDOWS
BEAR STORY
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1915. by Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.

James Hoke, farmer, was an impa-
tent man. and there were a hundred
people who knew 1t.
The time came when James Hoke
saw, admired and loved little Jessie
Gould. She knew Of his impotence
and had several samples Of it before
he had asked her to be his wife.
When she asked her mothers advice
the reply was:
"Bless you, child; n little impotence in
a husband only keeps the wife smart"
Miss Jessie said YES" and the mar
rage took place accordingly.
For about a month the young hus-
hand maintained q check on his impa-
tience, and then he began to break out
again.
Mrs. Hoke was q patient little wife.
When he was overheard raising the
old Harry and she was spoken to about
1t she always had the same reply:
eyes, James is rather impatient and
is easily put out, but he is quickly
over it, and, on the whole. he is the
best husband In the STATE
During his childhood the measles
had passed young Hoke by, as is the
case with about n child out Of ten.
He had been married about two years
and was as strong as an OK. when the
ailment suddenly grabbed him. He
laughed at it, fought it, swore at it,
but the doctors sent him to bed, and
there he lay fora week.
At the end of that time the patient
announced that he wasn't going to put
up with such a farce any longer. 1t
should be killed OF cured. Despite the
protests Of his wife, he clothed him
self and took q little walk. As If ma
ture had been waiting for him, a sud-
den shower of rain was let loose to
wet him to the skin. Three days later
Mr.. Hoke was q dead a
After two years Of widowhood peo-
pie began to wonder If Mrs. Hoke
would marry again.
One day old Mrs. Barnes came avis
iting, and as they had long been &C.
quainted she felt privileged to remark:
"Jessie. you must know that it is CON-
mon talk that you will marry again."
well, I think 1 could marry If l
wanted to-"
IF you should marry again l hope
it will be to q man who hasn't the fail
ing Of Impotence"
"But how is one to know? When a
man is counting he conceals as many
Of his faults as possible, doesn't hep
Thereupon, in a laughing way. the
| question was answered, as will be seen
later on.
Among those who came to "buy
| cows" Of the widow was Hiram John
son, an old bach and a farmer who
lived about three miles away. One
evening, as he came early, she thought
to put old Mrs. Barnes experiment to
the test. So. after they were seated.
with a pan Of apples between them,
she began:
mi. johnson. l want to tell you a
story. It is about a bear and a girl.
Would you care to hear it?"
II have always been mighty fond Of
bear stories" he replied as he threw his
apple core away and prepared to listen.
"Well when l was a girl ten years
old I went to the woods one day to
gather chestnuts, and all at once a
big black bear stood within two rods
Of me-"
"Gosh!" exclaimed Mr.. johnson, as
he brought his fist down IN his leg.
what was I to dot" asked the wild
ow. II was but a small girl. It was
the first bear I ever saw I knew from
the looks Of this one that be was both
hungry and savage"
"By thunder!". exclaimed Mr.. John
son, as he pounded his leg again.
"Just as I was about to faint away
from fright twelve large woodchucks
dashed out Of the bushes with horrible
growls and snarls and attacked bruin
With the utmost ferocity, and a battle
was on. Here was my opportunity to
escape, and l took advantage Of it.
Il got home all safe, but l could new
er make father nor any other man be-
lieve about the twelve wo0dchucks."
The story was ended, but that wasn't
the last of it. The next evening that
MI. johnson called the widow didn't
wait five minutes before she began:
II want to tell you a story about a
bear and q girl"
1t was SO on the third night, the
fourth, fifth and sixth. The widow
had set out to test his patience. When
she had retold that story thirty times
and had seer no signs Of Impotence in
her caller she met old Mrs. Barnes
again and told her of 1t.
Mrs. Barnes and the widow decided
that he was q patient man. and I'M
evening. when he jumped in with a
proposal of marriage before the story
could be begun. the widow received It
favorably. Mrs. Barnes came to con-
graduate her and advised:
Don't drop It too sudden. Keep ON
telling 1t for at least six months after
marriage"
But there ia a limit to everything.
One day when the wife had been Wis
lting q neighbor for the afternoon she
returned home to find a note on the
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