Wichita eagle., 1886-09-08
NO ROOM FOR MOTHER.
Driven From the Homes OF Her Wealthy
aughters in Old Age.

auShters In Ola age.
Going North, madam"
No, ma'am."
"Going South, them
don't know, maam.
"Why, there are only two ways to
CO."
II didn't know. I was never on the
| cars. I'm waiting for the train to go to
john
John? There is no town called John.
Where is it?"
"Oh! Johns my son. Hes out in
Kansas on a claim.
4 am going right to Kansas. myself
! You intend to visit?"
mo, ma am."
She said it with sigh SO heartburn
dened, the stranger was touched.
"John sick?"
NO"
The evasive tone, the look of pain in
the furrowed face was noticed by the
stylish lady as the gray head bowed upon
the toil-marked hand. She wanted to
hear her story; TO help her.
Excuse me-John in trouble?'
No, no-I'm in trouble. Trouble
my old heart never thought to see."
The train does not come for some
time. Here, rest your head upon my
| cloak
"Y You are kind. If my own were so
lshouldn't be in trouble tonight"
What is your trouble? Maybe can
help you"
Its hard to tell it to strangers,
but my old heart is too full to keep it
back.
when was left a widow with the
three children, I thought it was more
than l could bear! but it wasn't as bad
as this"
The stranger waited till she recovered
her voice to go on.
50 1 had only the cottage and my will
ing hands. toiled early and late all
the years till John could help me. Then
we kept the girls at school, John and
me. They were married not long ago
married rich, as the world goes. John
sold the cottage, sent me 70 the city to
/ live with them, and he went West to
begin for himself. He said we had pro-
vided for the girls and they would pro-
vide for me now"
Her voice choked with emotion. The
stranger waited in silence.
a l went to them in the city. l went
to Mary's first. She lived in a great
house, with servants to wait on her-a
house many times larger than the little
cottage; but l soon found there wasn't
room enough for me-"
The tears stood in the lines on her
cheeks. The ticket agent came out soft
ly, stirred the fire and went back. After
q pause she continued:
Il went to Martha's-wentw with pain
In my heart never felt before / was
willing to do anything so as not to be a
burden. But that wasn't it. 1 found
that they were ashamed of my bent old
body and my withered face; ashamed Of
my rough, wrinkled hands, made SO
toiling for them"
The tears came thick and fast now.
The strangers hand rested caressingly
on the gray head.
"At last they told me that l must
live at boarding house, and they'd keep
me there. l couldn't say anything back !;
my heart was too full of pain. l wrote
to John what they were going to do. He
wrote right back, long, kind letter, for
me to come right to him.
s. l always had q home while he had a
roof, he said-to come right there and
stay IS long rs I lived II; 4 mother
s,4ould never o our 10 >'tg.a.'er-. 50
! I'm going To john. Hes 90 only !.
70 II hands ard his gI;a en- ;tI
hut ilt.rr'o room lor MS q. N t.s.i---
! God bles6-him-
The stranger brushed d tear from
Ler fair cheek and awaited the
conclusion.
Some day, V hen ] am gone where
! I'll never troubles them again, Mary
and Naitha will think Of it all. Some
day, whe the hands that toilet for
them are folded and still when the eyes
that wat he'd over them through many a
weary night are closed forever; when
the little Old body, eut VITA ;he cur-
dens it bore for them, is put away where
it can never name them
The agent drew his hand quickly be-
fore his eyes, and went out, as If to look
for the train. The strangers jeweiled
fingers slIoked the gray locks, while the
tears OF sorrow and the tears Of sympa-
thy fell together.
The weary heart was unburdened.
Soothed by a touch of sympathy the
tloub.ed soul yielded to the longin for
rest, and she fell asleep.
Tie agenl went noiselesslv about his
duties ihat he might not wake her. AS
the fair stranger watch, 4 she saw a
smile on tie careworn face. The lips
moved. She bent down to hear.
I'm doia. it for Mary anu Martha.
They Ii take care of ne some time.
She was dreaming Of the days in the
li,tle cottaCe--of the fond hopes WI h
inspired her, long before she learned,
with u Lrol>en heart, that some day she
would turn, homeless in tue world, TO
90 IN Johu Il (ni,.a on ColIranf