Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-03-21
TWO WOMEN'S LIVES.

OF al the people In the world, these rwt
women would be most asto0ished II they haf
known they would ever be written about
They lived large part Of their lives IN tn.
town where 1 was born; they sleep in tn
graveyard there There is nothing about
their tombs to distinguish them from theil
neighbors in that quiet spot; yet the re
membrance Of them comes to me, since Ihave
passed my youth, with comprehension and
a pathos and reverence that makes them
different and nearer than the rest.
They were very unlike in looks, tempera-
ment and surroundings yet they impressed
me from my earliest years with a wondering
awe-even the awe they inspired was SO
different that it seems to have been two dis
tinct emotions could not tell what it was
that made them. to my childish mind, so at
tractive and so wonderful, but that there was
difference between them and the people
round about I recognized, believe, before
could talk
One Of my heroines was delicate, soft
voiced Vnginian, Of gracious type Her hus-
band a most courteous gentleman, seemed to
have no business in life save to dispense
hospitality They had moved to Illinois to
be in a free state. They had black servants, y
whereas other people had 'hired girls Her
dwelling had galleries" all around, and other
houses had "porches-' She never did any
household work herself, whereas most Of the
wives there were busy all the time Her
hands were SOFT, her dresses beautiful; her
gait, her drawing voice, even her leisurely
laugh betolened time to spare. She sat much
of the time on the shaded gallery, and taught
her children their lessons and life ran for her
in sunny grooves.
The other-Aunt NIFTY Inskip-was an old
maid, with magnificent, large, dark eyes and
satiny hair brushed smoothly in deep loop
on either side her face, and tucked neatly be
hind her ears. She was not a fussy, fidgety
old maid, but so brisk, busy and capable that
even her voice had an exhilarat-
ing, clear sound, like a distant bugle,
rousing all laggards along the line.
Her very name, it seems to me now,
betOkened her character. II she had been
only Aunt NIFTY she would have been a soft,
sympathetic creature whom all the world
wept out their troubles upon; but the
"Inskip" gave the balance-wheel, and Aunt
NIFTY Inskip she was called by old and young
She was always ready to help. Our town
could no more have got along without her
than without the courthouse and church bell,
but she never wasted a tear or sentiment
She was sense clear through, and that, when
people are in a tight place, is much better
than sentiment If one was very i'll, Aunt
NIFTY Inskip was the volunteer nurse. When
people could be trusted with no one else,
Aunt NIFTY Inskip took charge, and never a
wink of sleep did she give herself when she
was the watcher. Were people in sore straits
and perplexities, she was the clear Drained
nilot who took them through Was there a
church fair, it was failure without Aunt
NIFTY Inskip at the helin- She was at tne
head OF our sanitary COMMISSION; she was at
the head OF everything that demanded courage
and clear sense and work She was not but
cross or mean IN her leadership Inc more
difficult the project, the more power she put
forth-that was all. Nothing seemed impos-
sible with her. l do not know how Aunt
NIFTY Inskip supported herself and family,
for she was always working for the public,
and there was no man IN the house, and she
had half dozen dashing young nieces VINO
did nothing but max" the mouse hNeiy anu
have good time-that is, at least, l thought
so then, but i suppose they really did all the
household duties, but were so merry at their
work that II seemed only play. lhey were
splendid company. and all OF them mad SPLEEN
aia eyes ines mar fi wen, an i,
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