Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-26

| drowndedD 1t alarmed me somewhat, for
1didn't know but it had affected his brain,
and while hunted around for indications
Of skull fracture, or something to &C.
count for it. pressed them both to my
bosom and cried: my dear, dear boys"
In my heart thanking heaven for them,
even with all their pranks.
We were only partially dry when they
seemed to get over the agitation they felt
at gazing at me, and clarored for some
| thing to eat
Racing like horses, compelling me to
keep up with them, we came upon the
rest of the party just as the fishers were
gathering around the CRY" that fortu-
nately was carried on ice from the city in
case Of disappointment, you know. Owe
always noticed that it is the custom to
prepare for such elnergencies.)
Julia, smiling into Jim Hammond's face,
looked exactly Ike the girl she was half a
dozen years before, and the whole COM
pany had returned in the trimmest man
ner imaginable
Mamma, mamma" cried both boys,
just as one Unexpectedly caught me by
the foot and the other went up my back.
Naturally, we sat down. and though my
wife sprang toward Us, with her ''heart
in her eyes" she laughed and laughed
again, and peal upon peal rolled out from
some twenty or more threats.
After time Mother-in law Spiller broke
in upon the screams in this manner:
"Well, he hasn't murdered the children,
thank heaven, whatever else he's killed"
There was murder IN his eye." quoted
another.
do you suppose he has beaten the
children?" tragically whispered young
man Of the party
it wasn't so dreadfully amusing to me.
Why, if l had been sitting ON a hornets
nest, my sensations would have been quite
as pleasant. l think.
My head ached terribly. but I was half
starved, and put away my first thought
1t did seem as if they would never let q
fellow alone. and laugh after laugh fol-
lowed every word | said The boys gave
their version of the affair, and I gave vari-
GUS ones, fear.
When Mrs. Spiller said Fought to have
looked after them and not allowed them
to get out into the water" could not see,
in the face and eyes of my own story, any
way to improve matters; and SO, with
splitting temples and blistered feet, l
less of the little scamps my wife and her
sisters were tenderly coddling.
After such meal they said they had no
fear for me, unless indigestion carried me
off; SO. in spite of my well laid plans to
sink away in corner and be pitied and
petted. l ignored the headache and man
fully carried the boys aboard the boat,
followed them here and there till saw
them safely inside the carriage that took
them home. l felt hilarious when found
there wasn't room for me inside or out
side either, and started for q street car,
regardless Of the fact that my dress had
lost its springti1ne freshness, SO to speak,
and entirely forgot that without the aid
of the pins and needles my mother in law
produced, | should have been obliged, as
the other fellows said. to have confscated
O. suit Of clothes.
OF course, there was the inevitable old
lady and young lady, TO whom, as gen
tleman, l do my duty. and from whom I
commonly receive very polite treat ment.
Though the car was crowded, l could but
notice withdrawing of skirts, even
frowns, from some of the passengers, and
undue familiarity from others of tho
rougher looking class, and | soon left the
TO g ride with such promiscuous crowd
l hadn't taken three steps when some
body shouted: Hello, old fellow"
Been on bat?" asked another
''The cigars, John" cried third.
The laughter Of tho villains brought
around policeman, who fairly howled
with the rest.
What was the matter?
Well. found out when, at corner
drug store, | faced mirror.
My nose had assumed colossal proper
tons and its hue coTresponded well with
the color under one eye, which to man
inexperienced in picnics and tho care Of
boys like mine might have suggested an
unpleasant encounter with fists. Alas, SO
the world is judged. The wicked escape
the condemnation they deserve and tho
good, like myself, are tried and convicted
all unheard. Does anybody suppose can
endure another picnic? Not L; and as l
told you before, I'm . man Of spirit; but
here they come-nother -in-law, the girls,
Cousins, everybody. to make their plans,
suppose.
later.-If people would not take ad-
vantage Of a mans love for his family it
would be possible to have ones own way
sometimes; but they came dozen strong,
insisting upon it that Julia wished to go
80 much, and could | have the heart
to disappoint herr" and perhaps we shall
not all be here another year" in fearful
way from Mother Spiller. Julia herself
looked most beseechingly at me, and
finally said; Well, thank heaven Katie
is too young to go and thank heaven. too,
Sizes girl" (katie is our baby.) There
were dark looks among them. and / knew
what they thought; but they seemed to
consider the matter settled.
Oh. those boys of mine! Why, only last
week they took possession OF tho hose and
turned stream of water through the
house. and now before me arc the carpen-
ters and upholsterer's bills.
There was such demolition Of bric-a-
brac, too, that am surprised to hear my
wife interceding for anything that CON-
prls Us to take Alph and Del away from
home.
l cannot understand why it is. My
father is good and quiet man. was a
good boy myself-Fn sure Of it.
1t may he that M grandfather, or per-
haps SOHO of Juia's ancestors, are re-
sponsiole for things-yes, I'm convinced
that IL must be on that side Of the house;
in fact, on Mother Spiller's SIDE
III quiz U2cle Ben, and possibly I may
be able TO meet them with an overwhelm-
ing argument when they say, IS they
have many tines, Men arc but boys
grown tall" ind intimate that my chill
Gen cone honestly by their inclination
TO get into r,ischief.-Ned Given in Bos-
ton Traveller
With Men as with Trees
1t is with men as with trees: II you