The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-10
JOE LANEFORTS JINTSET.


It was sUusznhere in the Forties that ]
took charge Of the youngsters who came to
school in the olElog school house that stood
near Sycamore creek, In western Indiana.
In those days school was ''kept" rather than
taught, and tIrs teacher was the master by
might as well as by title. Like many other
schooImasters Of that day, 1 boarded round
with the scholars"
The school house, was one Of the backwoods
kinda log cabin, with open fireplace and
two windows. each adoZen or more panes in
horizontal length, and but single pane in
height. The seats were primitive, and the
two long plank desks rivaled the windows in
length. Pegs in the wall served for hats,
caps and bonnets, and shelves in the corners
held dinner baskets and the like.
Across the creek from the school house, at
the top Of a hill overlooking the little valley
through which Sycamore creek ran, stood
the Lan1fort cabin, hewaed log structure,
Two rooms and left in size. A foot log,
chained at one end to tree, ,spanned the
stream lust below the ford, and served as
bridge for foot passengers.
The Lanlforts were looked upon asa set Of
ne'er-do-weils The children were almost
always tardy at school, though they lived SO
near the school house. Therewere five Of
them in attendance Jim, the oldest, was in
his fifteenth wear; but he was considered
somewhat feeble minded, the result, II was
said, of an injury received in early child
hood. Next came Bob, a boy of II, and then
Sally-and really, 1 have forgotten the
names of the other two.
can theirs two more of US to home, " said
Bob to me one day. "Jintsey an the baby"
How old is.Jintsey2'' 1 inquired.
colder than me. She's next to JIM" was
the reply.
Il should think she would like to come to
school with the.rest OF you" l remarked.
Course she would, but she's got to help
NANNY Nanny, shes mighty poorly some
times
And. Is 'Jintsey' your sisters real names"
''Weu, VIC cali her that-all but nanny.
NANNY, she allus calls her jamie"
, 1t was a. queer looling little figure which
stood at tls.threshold Of the school house one
forenoon not long after this conversational
iI3-year-old girl, under sized, almost dwarf
,ish, but 1.-THE IN body and well proportional,
except that one shoulder was slightly higher
than the other Her face had prematurely
old and somewhat sicllly look, but it was
iligated up by eyes of peculiarly penetrating
gaze.
It was Joe Lankforts Jintsey She had
brought IRnch for her brothers and sisters, as
she explained to me in a low and timid voics.
She placed the dinner basket on one of the
shelves in the corner, On the girls side of tde
house.
Mothers ailin' this mornin', and every
things late" she added, as she turned to the
door to leave. Then, after quick courtesy,
she passed out and went home.
In the course Of time 1 began boarding
with the Lanllforts. ! found Joe LankfOrt
TO be one Of the people who seem TO enjoy
life best when more or less miserable. His
inain source of sorrow was an ''everlastin'
mortgage" as he called it, with which his
farm was burdeDed. This incumbrance stood
in the way of all sorts Of praiseworthy
schemes, for Joe LankfOrt was a man of
good intentions
lie would build a new house when he had
paid off that eveTlastin' mortgage" Jlntsey
should 90 to school Fright straight along
when the mortgage was lifted. The ailing
wife should have the best doctors in the
state" but for the mortgage.
The aillng wife and mother went about the
house slowly, "a If in constant pain from
some hidden malady, but doing domestic
service as though her ailment were a mere
tride.
But Jintsey was, it seemed to me, the rul-
ing spirit OF the household On her face the
mothers eye rested In reliance and conf
dence; the fathers countenance grew less
anxious when Jlntsey spoke to him; the
children seemed 10 regard Jiutsey as member
in-chief Of all childish woes and lnlshaps, and
they came 20 her continually with their petty
trials
And JIrl. the simple minded fellow, watch
ed his sister much as an over obedient dog
watches ms master. Like a dog, too, he
growlod, snapped and snarled at the rest
sometimes, but at the feet Of Jintsey lie wor
SHIPPED. TO him her word was law.
''Jintsey can do more with Jim, when he
gifts into one o. his mad spells than nae or the
ole woman" dos said.
Joe Laa.lfor5 had taken his wife ''to see
the doctor''-IS was more economical than
asking the doctor 10 come and see the patient
and tho PHYSICIANS decision, after n care
fJS examination, was brief In few words,
with perfect kindness, ne told them the Truth.
Mrs. Lanifort was doomed. and when they
went homo they carried q burden beside
which the mortgage sSsmed rs light as air.
OliierSs Etifitl Tx bcNsSt NdASS AilttNt
soon. Mrs Lankfcrt, the case viii become in
durable. Ia fact. nothing can cure You now;
but travel might benefit You considerably"
That evening, just before bedtime, Mrs,
Lana1fort called JinIsey into the kitchen.
The daughter leaned, rs if tired, against the
jamb OF the fireplace, rs her mother sat down
in the only char n the room.
jamie said the mother, after brief
silence, jamie. Two got sonethin' to say to
YOU. I'm sicllly. you know, an the doctor
ssys I've GOT 10 take a journey long jour
nev"
The girl looked quickly into her mothers
face in q wondering way.
IAN you'll have TO look after things while
I'm gone, jamie, the mother went on to say,
lin my piece, jamie, f'r the house work ii have
&c go on jest the same"
jamie shifted her position until her fore
head rested on her forearm, and she looked
straight IN the hail empty fireplace. For
some in6edna5le c2use she dreaded 10 LOOK
longer in her mothers face.
You know how the homework Is done,
jamie. You won't have much trouble % sit
through with that What I'm bothered
about is your pap an the mortgage. Mebbe,
though. he'll git through somehow. An
JIM Poor jim, hes got sech a temper when
he's reused up I'm SO afeard thar it'll sit
-hin into trouble. Ycu know he baint-
lf.,.. .,.-9 10 50 ',---~ heart qlta5