The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-12-29

| Lucu db his CHIlUTcuS uuWdSueU IdceS,
and turned with anger to his eldes,
daughter.
What is the dining-room for, Dora:
| Why are we all huddled in here?" he
asked.
| 'It is easier-a little-that is all
father" faltered Dora.
"Easier!" he echoed, scornfully. ''All
that you seem to think of from morn
ing 20 night is how work may be shirked
and made easier. l am sick OF it,"
| He went noros ely to the door, as il
to leave without his dinner, when Lit
tie Pitcher called out:
''Papa-daddy! is 90 sick of baby.
.oo?"
I She looked SO cheerful that he came
back and kissed her.
Wont you have dinner with us.
| please, father?" asked Dora, tinidly.
Silently he took his seat, and silently
| the meal was concluded. When he fin
| ished his hasty meal, he left the room
and the house without word
Strive to conceal it as they would,
the children felt that the banging of
the front door behind MIN dispelIed
every cloud. Their clatter began again.
''Oh. blow! it's nearly school time!'
cried Jack, SO happy in the conscious
ness that he had used forbidden
word that he tried to balance himself
and chair on the chairs hind leg. The
experiment. favorite one with him,
ended in the smashing of his plate,
which was the one object within clutch
when he fell over backward.
Nearly school time? ?-ow, my
poetry moaned Billie. seizing her
book and studying frantically. This
was a frequent device of hers to enablc
her to escape being asked to help with
the dishes
''Be good sweet maid let those who
will be clever do noble deeds not
dream OF them the whole day long and
SO make life death and that vast for
ever one grand sweet song be good
sweet maid let those who WILL Billie
ratified off, without pause or an in
Election, twisting her red forelocks into
one stiff bristle.
"Oh, chestnuts." interposed Jack
"You ought to know that at your time
of life. Keep still; I've heard it fifty
tinesr'
Then you'll hear it fifty-one times"
gabbled Billie, aggravatingly. BE
clever do noble deeds not dream of
them the WHOLE
TO avoid being forced to hear it the
fifty-first time Jack rushed upstairs
and shut the door after him. With his
flight Billie's ardor in her recitation
cooled. She shut her book and began
to look for her hat, which the ingenious
Bones hid every day in a new place.
Jack reappeared, indignant at fresh
grievance.
81 declare, Dora Golden. it's mean of
you. Here's my pants, that you prom
ised to mend by noon, not even
touched!'
'Here" was a mere figure of speech,
as Jack was empty-handed, but Dora
was as sorry as if confronted with the
tangible proof of her neglect.
''Oh, Jack, l got so worked up over
my new sonata that forgot every thing
else! Let me mend your pocket now"
''Or tomorrow. or Christmas, or next
year." assented Jack, emphasizing his
polished sarcasm by pointing to the
clock. billie, start.'
II shall fail in my poetry-simply
fall" declared Billie, resignedly, land
all because dinner wasn't ready in
time"
Go back to your snorta. Dora, my
DEAR" advised Jack, cynically. There
are dishes to wash and pants to mend,
/ know, but snortas are first and best
Ta-ta!'
The two children tore out, and Dora
WAS left alone.
She was very miserable. She was
weary of the work, of the contention
and of the dispiriting untidiness of
their home. The growing intolerance
of her father frightened as muc b as it
grieved her. He was unhappy at home
well. SO was she herself, she thought
rebelliousiy. Dishes unwashed, beds
unmade. garden neglected. clothes un-
had only one pair of
hands. The work was too much for
Eer.
The worst of it was that no one
sympathized with her or gave her credit
for all she did. Her father accused her
of shirking her duties. the children
found fault with her, she was nothing
but servant without a servants priv
ileges.
''if could only be great musician,
they would have some respect for me
thon, but it is considered crime if l
even touch the piano. Why was l
taught, if my father frowns every time
he sees me at the keys? Or if l could
do some noble action, save all their
lives or something. they might find out
that they really loved me. and that
honestly tried 70 do my best
Great tears rolled down her cheeks,
and fell upon her clasped hands Yes.
dying seemed the only way ont Of 1t
just then. But presently into her
thoughts came the lines that Billie had
been studying. She, too, had heard
them fifty times: do noble deeds. not
iream of them the whole day long"
How can be noble? If I 90 up
stairs aud mend Jacks trousers what
8 noble about that?" Dora asked her
'elf, bitterly
In answer came another line of
poetry which Jack called smother
Chestnut" "Howe'er it be. it seems to
ne. It's only noble to be good"
They certainly help each other out |
,emarkably," thought Dora
Then with grave smile she said |
loud: Il certainly see no better start |
ng point than that torn pocket"
With half-fear that lost minute |
would destroy her resolution. she sped !
,pstairs into Jacks den ana mended |
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