Widder Leaves Town

Originally Aired: January 31, 1940 Lum #251, "Widder Leaves Town," After initially being horrified by the Widow Beaumont's seven children when she arrived from Nashville expecting to marry him, Lum has undergone a dramatic change of heart. Abner and Grandpappy Spears congratulate themselves on their successful intervention, having convinced Lum of the joys of family life. Now Lum can't do enough for the youngsters, bringing them candy, playing with them constantly, and even traveling to the county seat to buy toys since they're stuck inside with whooping cough. Abner reports that Lum has gone from trying to pay Squire Skimp twenty-five dollars to run the family out of town to being the happiest fellow around, completely smitten with both the widow and her children. While waiting for Lum to return from his toy-shopping trip, Abner and Grandpap settle in at the Jot 'Em Down store for a friendly game of checkers. However, their game quickly deteriorates into a heated argument over who gets which color and who moves first, with the two old-timers bickering like children themselves over the rules and trading insults.