The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1917-06-13
. IT'S AL III RIGHT 4! :
Uncle Billy Met Death as He Had
! Lived, With a Smile. +
elxty-Year preserved Boy" Went
!" Through World Scattering Sun.
shine and Optimism All
About Him.

Everyone In the community knew
Uncle Billy, whom Rhoda, his seventy
year-old sister; described as a "pre-
served boy" The little old mans SIX
ty years had subtracted all the hair
from his head except thin remind
er Of white fuzz on level with the
tops Of his ears. The back Of Uncle
Bily's head looked like a big egg
In nest Of wool: his face suggested
a full moon on the disk Of which two
twinkling stars stood guard above q
smile.
Uncle Billy was always busy, and
usually he was doing something worth
while. One Of his favorite expressions
was, 'Doing nothing Is the hardest
sort Of work." Uncle Billy tried to
like everyone, but he had little use
for one Of the neighbors named Bru-
ton, whose wife worked the garden
while he spent the day at the village
store playing checkers and talking pol
itics. O.
But. Uncle Billy had faith in other
people. He often commented upon
the fact that the persons we like best
are usually those we know best, and
one day he said to his sister: ':Rhody.
that man Bruton is all right; the fault
was in my mind. I didn't look at him
the right way"
Uncle Billy was always hopeful. E
he ever had the 'blues" no one knew
it except himself. Usually when two
persons meet, one says "Good morn
ing!" or 'How-dy-do?' and the other
replies, "Good morning!" or ':How-dy-
do?" When anyone greeted Uncle
Billy-morning, afternoon or night.
his response was always: "1t's all
right" IF you suggested that the
world is growing worse, the little old
man shook his bald head vigorously
and replied: mo, no, no. no! And
even If it were, it would be our BUSH
ness to leave it better for the next
generation"
The fact that Uncle Billy was UNDER
sized caused some thoughtless remarks
that would have hurt the feelings Of
another. But they did not hurt Uncle
Billy's. He would say, with a laugh {:
''You can't hurt my feelin's," and go
whistling about his business. Even the
dogs recognized the little old man as
their friend. More than once, when
some thoughtless or cruel boy tied a.
tin can or package of firecrackers
to dogs tail, the frightened creature
ran to Uncle Billy for help and pro-
lection.
No one ever heard Uncle Billy recite
creed, and no one ever heard him
boast Of what he had done, was doing
or expected to do; but everyone knew
that he was religious and that his life;
was clean and his heart was pure.
Uncle Billy believed that people are
affected by the language they use. One
day one Of his nephews spoke pro-,
fanely in his presence. "Oh, my dear:
boy!' exclaimed the old man. If
you expect some day to get through
the pearly gates and shout 'Gloryr
you'd better begin now to shape your
mouth for it,
One clustering March midnight
Uncle Billy's sister Rhoda leaned;
over him, placed her wrinkled hand:
gently on his brow, kissed his hot
cheek and whispered: "Billy. the doc
tor says you cannot stand this pneu.
monia."
Out Of his eyes there came a
twinkle, as Of the stars, and, attempt
ing to pat his old sisters cheek, he
painted: TITS all right, Rhoda = it's
~0H -