Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-09-17
whats a wifepn


'Why, you must call me Husband
instead of Tom, and must call vol
Ma instead of Jane 1 must work
and get You things. and you must cook
and mend my Clothes"
1--WE a ball of cotton and bic
needle" said Jane. "She gave 'em te
me-"
you'll come, thene'
Eyes. Pm afraid; but, if l could
never see you any more, [ should CRY
ali the time"
Pm going to be a farmer" said
Tom. ''Wc'u 90 to where there's
land, ard I'll plant beans and corn.
I've got some put by in paper bag.
took it one day. When they grow I'll
pick them. I'll build house big
enough for us out of boards or some
thing, and we'll never come back here
ngain-nercr."
| Never! o, dear!' and Jane began
to cry. After awhile she said, softly:
"Of course, l shall bring the Child?'''
go, yes" said Tom, land all your
| clothes"
Then they decided how they were to
escape, where they were to meet, how
Jane was to make bold to ask for an
extra piece" that day, pretending the
dog had stolen hers, and how Tom was
to hide half his dinner in his cap.
Then, as some summoning bell rang,
they partcl-Tom. bright and brisk
with his new ambition; poor little Jane,
limp with fear and remorse, but de-
dermined to follow Tom, whatever his
fortunes might be.
At ten that night Jane. with a tear
swollen face, Little bundle of calico
frock and red flannel petticoat under
her ann, and 1.-The Child" clasped to
her heart, met Tom at the big tree out
side the poor-house fence. There was
nothing to steal in the establishment;
so, as no one ever wanted to get in, it
was not very hard to get out.
Besides 1.-The Child and the frock,
Jane had her bread in a bit of newspa-
per, and Tom had made quite bundle
of possessions. He had his little bag of
corn and beans. iire-shovcl. shirt,
his old shoes and long stick with a
hook at the end, once the handle of an
umbrella. On this he slung ali their
joint property, except the dol, and adj
dressed Jane as follows:
Remember now, you are my wife,
and must do exactly as l say-that's
the law; and l must be good to you and
do all the hardest work; but you must
cook and mend for me. and 1 think
you'd better begin to call me Husband
right away"
Yes" sobbed Jane. 20, isn't it
dark"
"No," said Tom; "besides. if it is,
all the better. We'd get into the woods
before they catch us. We shall be out
OF the town by daylight. ~
Then they walked on-poor Jane
stumbling often. but Tom held her hand
and did not let her fall. At length the
last little white house was passed; then
came the church with its tall spire, and
then long paling fences about bits of
meadow-land They were in the coun-
try, but not yet in the woods, and both
children were growing very sleepy and
very tircd-,so very tired that finally
there was nothing for it but to sit down
on the grass under hay<tack, with
Tom head on James knee, and 90 fast
asleep.
Sunrise awakened them. They ate
Their bread and butter, started on
again, and in few hours the woods
were all around them.
Were safe at last" cried Tom.
Nobody can ever end us here. Ill
build house and plant my corn right
away. Do you know how long it takes
corn TO grow? And beans9"
no" vantured Jane, doubtinglyz
mot long, guess" e.,
II guess not" echoed Tom, 'but z
wish we had some more bread and
bUttern
BY and by the two explorers came
to a nice little spot in the woods c.ose
to pretty brook. 1t was very damp,
but there was Il clearing which it was
easy to plant. Tom dug it over with
his tire-shovel. and put in his beans and
corn in straight rows Then, with an
old knife that was his greatest treasure,
lie cut unlerbrush and low branches
enough to make queer kind of leafy
hut big enough for both to creep into.
1--WE can eat outdoors. We shall
only want home. at night and when it
rains" said Tom.
But Jane felt doubtful. Her little
flesh was black and blue already. and
yet the grass was long in the bayfield,;
here it was sparse and dry. Bcs.tles,
she wanted her warm milk and water and
her slice of bread and butter. Tom
found some huck'eberr.es hard by, but
they did not help the empty stomachs
much, and even at sunset the corn had
not begun to grow. neither did the
beans show their heads above the earth!
Suddenly an awful thought struck
Jane
when it grows, Tom," she said,
1--WE haven't any sauce pan to cook it
in"
'.N1ore we haven't" said Tom. Then
hope dawned upon him. 1--WE could
roast the corn" said he, land bet
there's an apple-tree somewhere.
They wandered about looking for the
tree or more berries of some sort The |
tree did not appear, but at last they
found some berries-just one or two at |
q time and the poor children had
nothing else to eat. Hungry Tom could
have devoured his own shoes Meek |
Jane. before she lay down on the hard
yet damp ground, asked just one ques-
ton:
"Do you think the beans will grow
tonight. Tom?''
Il told you to say Husband" said
Tom; then added, graciously: Eyes,
Ma. suppose they will. -
Then Jane put the ''Child" close to
her cheek, and slept the sleep of the
weary.
Good Farmer Morton and his plump
wife, coming homeward from a visit to
their married daughter about dark next
day. let the cd mare walk as slowly as
she pleased through the wood-path.