The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-25

"a uS "ItIout
grumbling-so far as the outer world
| knew-owed no man dollar and per-
mitted no man to owe him one. He
was well-to-do, the neighbors also con-
ceded, had one of the finest farms in
| that region, and snug sum in bank to
! boot
His wife, Mary Ann Dobson, was a
small, thin little creature, with pair
of faded blue eyes in which ever lurked
touching expression Of WEAKNESS of
both body and spirit. She had not al
ways been pale and weary looking, as
friends of her girlhood could vouch,
but years of hard toll in kitchen and
dairy-toil which had helped to swell
the sum in the bank very materially,
and to add acre after acre to the farm
had taken the roses from her cheeks
and brought that look in the eyes
which spoke Of q weary body and
starved soul.
I'm about tuckered out" was her
usual response to occasional visitors,
and the sigh with which she dropped
into the chair and the nervous twitch-
ing of her toil-worn hands left no
doubt in the visitors mind that Mary
Ann Dobson told the truth.
There were neighbors who whispered
among themselves that Jehiel Dobson
was too near" much too near" for
the comfort and well-being of his pale
little wife, but the majority of the
farmers wives thereabouts performed
daily the same routine of duties, and
went to bed nightly much more weary
than the farm hands or the horses
themselves, so they had in consequence
no sympathy to offer and asked none in
return.
One morning in May, in the year of
our Lord 1887, Jeheil Dobson said to his
wife:
I've bought that field, Mary Ann.
what I've been hankerin' fer so long
SO | reckon I'll have to get a new hand
onto the farm. Jim and me can't do
the work of four men much longer, I'm
a-thinkin'."
Timothy Smiths feld?" asked his
wife, as she passed him his second cup
of muddy-looking coffee.
''Yes, he had to sell at last" "chuckled
her husband. Il knowed it would come
last year when he broke his leg and
was laid up fer 50 long. He was in
debt then. you know. and he'd TO git in
deeper, of course, durin' them long
months of sickness"
Yes" said Mary Ann, sadly, ''rimo-
thy has been unfortunit. poor fellow"
He did kick agin sellin' the field"
went on Mr. Dobson, but l understand
from Deacon Blake that debts air
a-pressin' of him, and he he'd to sell
that or the house. you see.
Yes" assented Mrs. Dobson, "apd
it was lucky for him that you wanted
that bit Of field. wasn't it, Jehiel?''
wall, l reckon the luck was pretty
ginerallv on my side, Mary Ann, fer
seein' as now ne was SO anxious to sell,
I hemmed and hawed fer quite spell
afore | let him see as how l wanted tho
field jest now at all. You kin have il,
Mr.. Dobson,' saws Timothy, for the
same price you offered last summer
was year: but | warn't 70 be csugh.
that way. Mary Ann, so | shook mp
head and says: Yes. Timothy. but
LlAuNS al ~ la 4 tLtf Na-7, cA-A A&cs
about give over buyin' it anyway"
Mrs Dobson sighed and gave her
husband look of mild reproach, but
said nothing
Timothy's countenance fell con-
tinued Mr.. Dobson, "and calkerlated
onto get.in' the field for about half Il.
worth on the instant And / did, Mary
Ann" gleefully, "and so the field a
mine at last
Poor uufortunii Timothy" repeated
Mrs Dobson- II suppose its all right,
Jehiel. sence the Scripture says: To
him that hath shall be given; and he
that hath not from him shall be taken
away even that which ha hath, and
reckon you was to take the little he had
for some purpose o. other, what we
car't see Jest exactly aOw-"
Mr Dobso1 cieareA his throat. then
coughed. and ate tie remainder OF his
meal IN silence * ~as his old cheer-
ful sell a. dinner. when he inpa rtei -
his wife the news that the uew hand
had been engaged
What would yoz sav II I'd tell Ton Il
was Timothy hirnseItgr said he. witE a
laugh But i. IS ali the SANE lie
cole 70 me this Dornia' With tears n I.