The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-12-29
THE FIFTY-FIRST TIME.
How "Billie's" Poetry Brought Sue
cess to Good Cause.

Jack and Billie Golden went to the
same school Being brother and sister,
one would suppose that they might oc-
casionally walk home together. at
least at lunch time.
But in the first place neither of the
children wasted much time in walking,
since running was SO much more easy
and natural, and it seated them so
much the sooner at the dinner-ta BILE
In the second place, though Billie was
amiably enough inclined to Jacks COM
panv, Jack much preferred to go with
the other boys.
Billie's baptismal name was Belinda,
but il was too formal for ordinary use,
and did not accord congenially with her
short red hair and her somewhat boy
ish appearance and manner of speech
To Billie herself the full name "Be-
linda" had so often prefaced some SEN
tence OF banishmcnt from the school
room. the tea ia bic or the family circle,
that its associations were of a gloomy
character. She thought billie" an
essentially feminine name, and never
heard boy called by that appellation
without a shock of surprise.
She was about a year younger than
Jack Out of school hours she and he
were on excellent terms with each
other On this particular day, al
though two minutes past noon saw
them separately speeding their inde-
pendent ways home, they happened to
meet on their own block Billie shouted
companionably:
Hi. Jack! wait for me; Ill want
to ask you something's
ASK ahead" answered Jack, slow
ing up alongside. with reflection that
every body on that block knew them to
be related. so that it was no use pre-
tending to be strangers.
"Um-um," mumbled Billie. casting
about for something to ask, ''um-say
do you think Dora will have dinner
ready?"
Not much! Is it ever ready?"
Pretty seldom. But ] say. will
father be home, or is this the day he
has to stay at the Officer"
mo such luck; he'll be home"
Jack Golden, that's your father
you're talking Of" said Belinda, virtu
ously, but she spoiled the reproof by
grinning admiringly.
did you think / was talking of Tom
Taylors father?' snapped Jack.
By this time they were at their own
garden. They entered it by hurling
themselves against the gate, which
gave way for want of 4 latch.
The garden was large and neglected,
as the duty of watering it fell alter
nately to Billie and Jack, who were
each every day SO sure that it was the
others turn to water that the beds
were generally. as now, baked to clay.
In California. where these two lived.
the rain waters gardens at but one
period in a year. and SO the Cobdens'
flowers suffered.
Dada, Dack! Dada, Billie" shrieked
a ba by's welcoming voice.
Where are you. Little Pitcher?"
AM" responded the shrek.
The children raced obediently to the
back stoop. where the yellow-haired
baby stood, and they greeted her with
rapturous kisses. Their next greeting,
just as rapturous, was bestowed upon
Boncs. an unSainly black dog, who
barlked madly, for his nature was emo.
tional
Bones and Little Pitcher proclaimed
to the neigh borhood. in the heartiness
OF their welcome, the return of the
Cobdens from school The shrieking,
barking, talking quartette swarmed
voraciously into the kitchen, where an
untidy table was but half-set. and where
a distressed, pretty girl was hurriedly
frying some food upon a red-hot, spa..
tered stove.
Dinner not ready yet, Dora?" walled
Billie. The surprise in her face could
not have been greater if the pain of
the situation had arisen from its novel
ty.
Not quite. Billie" replied Dora,
gathering a new wrinkle Of worry as
she remembered that the dish she
wanted for the chops was still among
the unwashed collection in the sink
Not quite, Well, like that. It's
always not qui,e!' bawied Jack, seiz-
ing roll, and deveuring it as if he had
not seen food for days.
What have you been doing all morn
ins, Dora?" demanded Billie, also seiz-
ing roll.
Il have been practising replied
Dora. with an attempt at dignity. which
was weakened by her starting tears
80 children, please go play little
while! / viii call you when dinner is
ready"
1t was not very long before she did i!
call them, but it was TO poor mcal.
ana into hot and dirty kitchen Not
that they minded much-one room was
as good as another. provided II held i
dinner. and one eataele was as good "a
another, provided there was enough o.
il
In the Insight Of their bois;erous and |
aughins alteration at the table. their |
'ather entered the room. \ hush IL /
'tsntly fell Oh the children. Jack, who
had been entertaining Little Pitcher by
;hewing one end Of chop while /
letting Bones chew the other. read !
ms fathers frown condcmna-
ION which struck him abjectly dumb /
Even ia their moments OF best behav- /
o. these children were inclined 20 b. /
'umb before their father. Since their i
Roihcr's death hc had become so stern. I
% silent, that hi;arity in his presence
VAS Impossible. !,