The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-10-28

covered with stones, that 1t has been
said of its pastures "the sheep had to
have their noses sharpened before they
could get at the grassl'
The scene wasn't an inviting one, the
day WA chill and gray and the dead
leaves lying upon the ground were Of
ldingy brown
Tho little barefooted. poorly-clad
child moaned and shivered efresh every
fime she deposited . handful OF tubers
in the big basket
Come, hurry up. Rache; I'm long
way ahead Of you," called ont a boy in
;blue checked shirt and overalls. Lets
make haste and get this job done and
go down to tho brook. I know where
there's lots o. minnows, and pap said
might 20 fishing tomorrow If the pota-
toes were all in"
'>oh. Jack. do you s'pose they'd let
mo go with your"
The little face 50 woe-begone and for
1orn a minute before was full enough Of
life now, and all aglow with antici-
pated pleasure, while the little red fin
gers fell to work with feverish rapidity.
The task was soon completed. and
two light hearts gave freshness to the
feet that turned toward tiny brook
tina: ran, gurgling, through the meadow
at the end of the field.
But sharp eyes were looking from tho
1ow-roofed farmhouse few rods away,
and a shrill cry of Rachel. RACHEL"
brougb. the girl to a sudden standstilL
Once more it was repeated, and this
time in a tone not to be disregarded.
Its too darned bad" sympathetic
ally exclaimed Jack, hurrying on.
Its always the way" muttered the
poor girl, slowly moving back over the
rough ground in answer to the sum
mons; nothing but nasty work, work.
work. ! most wish't l was dead-so
therei'
Come. come. spring to-" were the
words that met her at the kitchen door.
There's all them dinner dishes piled
up in the sink and Pm most tired out.
See. nov, how quick you can wash 'em
up; it's most time to set the supper
table I declare to Moses don't see
where the time goes to-" and Mrs Mar
tin turned into the "sitting-room" and
topped down in creaking rocking
chair. Rachel was a little bound"
girl, aged twelve. Two years she had
lived on the Martin farm and had six
more to serve
The people who had pledged them
selves to give her home and clothe
her in return for such service as she
could render were not Intentionally
cruel They meant to be kind to her,
and were, in the main, as they under
stood kindness She had enough to eat
md drink, and her clothing, though
eoarse and scanty, was as comfortable
as that OF other poor children They
had no understanding of naked, starved
soulsi
Their own existence was cold and
hard. like the soil they titled: their
lives had always been full of toll, bar.
rem of recreation Jack was their ONLY
Indulgence He came TO them when
they had forgotten their youth-if they
had ever known such-and all that
was soft or tender IN their natures was
lavished on him So he had holiday.
now and then in excess Of what falls to
The lot OF the ordinary boy.
On one of the rare occasions when
Mr. and Mrs Martin had been called
away for day Rachel had hurried
through with tho Homework. and. ig-
noring the ''stint" of knitting left 70,
her to do, had wandered off trout fish
ing with Jack. and this was her one
''red letter day."
What matter that she was scoided
and sent supperless to bed? Nothing
could blot out the Joy of that one free
Aayl
Now Jack had gone to plead for