Lum Likes Widder and Kids

Originally Aired: January 29, 1940 Lum #250, "Lum Likes Widder and Kids," Lum finds himself in quite a predicament after inviting Mrs. Beaumont and her children from Tennessee to Pine Ridge as a prospective bride. While Lum was away, Abner moved the widow and her youngsters into Lum's house on Doc Miller's advice, since the children have whooping cough and the tourist cabins are too cold. Now Lum is furious, hiding out in the tourist cabins himself and desperately trying to avoid the family he originally invited to marry into. His anger only intensifies when the children accidentally turn loose all his livestock, scattering them across the community. At the Jot 'Em Down Store, Abner and Grandpappy Spears discuss Lum's situation and come to an interesting conclusion. Despite Lum's protests and repeated attempts to back out of marriage proposals, they believe marrying the widow would be the best thing for him. Abner has come to see Mrs. Beaumont as a sensible woman who genuinely cares for Lum, and both men agree that Lum needs a family to break him out of his rigid bachelor ways. When Lum arrives complaining about his scattered livestock, they confront him directly with their recommendation, but Lum adamantly refuses.