A LITTLE DIFFICULTY IN THE WAY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1020, 7 January 1882, Page 4

A LITTLE DIFFICULTY IN THE WAY.

An enterprising agent (says A. Ward) for a well-known Cleveland tombstone manufactory, lately made a business visit to a small town in an adjoining county. Hearing in the villiage that a man in a remote part of the township had lost his wife, he thought he would go and see him, and offer him consolation and a gravestone on his usual reasonable terms. He started, the road was a frightful one, but the agent persevered, and finally arrived at the bereaved man’s house. The bereaved man’s hired girl told the agent that the bereaved man was splitting fence rails “ over the pasture, about ten miles.” The indefatigable agent hitched his horse and started for the “ pasture.” After falling into all manner of mud-holes, scratching himself with briars, and tumbling over decayed logs, the agent at length found the bereaved man. In a subdued voice he asked the man if he had lost his wife ? The man said he had. The agent was very sorry to hear it, and sympathised with the man very deeply in his deep affliction ; but death, he said, was an insatiate archer, and shot down all, both of high and low degree. He informed the bereaved man that “ What was his loss, was her gain,” and would be glad to sell him a gravestone to mark the spot where the beloved one slept —marble or common stone, as he chose, and at prices defying competition. The bereaved man said there was “ A little difficulty in the way.” “ Haven’t you lost your wife ? ” inquired the agent. “ Why ! yes, I have,” said the man, “ but no gravestone ain’t necessary ; you see, the cussed critter aint dead. “ She’s scooted with another man.” The agent retired.