May I ask the cause of all this excitement? asked the stranger in the little village.
Certainly, replied the countryman. "We're celebrating the birthday of the oldest inhabitant sir. She's a hundred and one to-day."
Indeed! And may I ask who is that little man, with the dreadfully sad countenance, walking by the old lady's side?
Oh, that's the old lady's son-in-law, sir. He's been keeping up the payments on her life-insurance for the last thirty years!