The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-12-07
LEAVING HOME.
Uncle Hanry's Heart Is Touched
by q Familiar Picture.

OA46 Az oAN OoA Wy ~N~N'N~ ~ S@AS
fair groun DIS, and the first building
they entered was tho Art palace. 1t
must not be inferred from this fact that
they loved art-not at all. They came to
this structure simply because it was a
part of the exposition they had not Wis
tied before They had come several
hundred miles to see the fair, and it
would weigh heavily on their minds if
they failed to see any portion of it I'm
PEELED by stern sense of duty, they
had done" every building, from the
convent of La Rabida to Horticultural
hall-even though the exhibits in
some of them were as unintelligible
to them as the inscriptions on an Egypt
ian obelisk. The Art palace and the
Fisheries building alone reuSained to
be visited; and it was to complete their
cycle of sightseeing that they had
come to the fair this morning.
1t took no close observer to see that
they were simple, well-to-do country
people. One knew instinctively that
their paths had lain in sequestered
places. through cool, green pastures,
WhCi . CN hAA2S g oHNN SOAAeSASS
~ and birds sang through the long sum-
mer days. 1t was plain to be seen by
their honest faces that they were far
better versed in the ways of nature
than in the wiles of man. This trip to
the fair was the supreme event of their
lives-the brightest bit of color woven
into the dull gray warp and wool of
their existence. They had never before
seen anything more important than a
county fair; and this great carnival Of
the nations seemed SO stupen dous and
overpowering that sometimes a feeling
of awe came over them. Th ey realized
the hopelessness of seeing and compre-
hending more than a small part of the
whole At such times, I'm Gle Henry
would sigh and sadly remark that he
"reckoned" it was too big for him
Uncle Henry was the head of the
family. He had kind, honest face.
and look of simplicity that was re-
freshing. Lucy, his wife, was hearty.
buxom old lady, who looked at peace
with the whole world. Their youngest
child was with them-a pretty, budding
girl of seventeen or thereabouts. Then
there was Uncle Henry's sister, an old
maid, whose patient face gave evidence
that her life had been one long sacri-
fee for the welfare of others.
81 never did care no very great sight
for chromos." remarked Uncle Henry,
as they passed rapidly through the va.
rious sections
Il kind O. like to see EN-" said his
wife. But dear me! Here's SO many
you git all mixed up. You can't begin
to stop and look at 'em all close, for if
you did you wouldn't git through in all
day."
'sMa, look herer' called the girl, at
tracted by painting of \ bouquet Of
gorgeous flowers. Amt this beauti-
full? Wish 1 had it Reckon they'd
sell it. pa?"
Course" answered her father. "Sell
anything here for money"
Won't you buy it for me?" she
coaxed.
whats the use buyin' pickchers
when you git such nice ones free with
every pound of tea you buy?" Uncle
Henry asked.
But they're not like these here. pa.
These are all painted. They're only
printed"
"Oh, see. All done by hand. eh?
Wal, think some Of 'em better been
left undone."
They sat down on one Of the sofas to
rest
Ma, I want to learn to paint" said
the girl. There's lady stays at the
Johnson's who teaches folks to make
pictures. Can't / learn?'
Il reckon it's nice to know how to do
such things " said the mother. What
do you think about it. Henry?"
Think it's nonsense" said Henry.
decisively. mo earthly use Let Flora
learn to paint. and our house would
soon be q regular pickcher gallery, like
this. You go into the Johnson's, where
that teacher stays, and you see sun
flower here and cat-tail there, and a
long-legged bird of some sort over yon-
der johnson was tellin' me his girls
had got the craze SO bad they even
decorated the coal-scuttle and the
spade, and wouldn't let him use 'em.
II Flora wants to learn to paint, III git
some white lead and Gil and let 'er
tackle the front-yard fence
No one made any response, and he
continued: We've seen all this we
want to, l guess. Let's go over TO that
place where the queer fishes IS"
They were passing through gallery
in the United States section, trying to
and an outlet The old maid sister,
vino brought up the rear Of the little
group. chopped to examine picture
moro closely.
Look here. Henry" she said.
The picture to which she called his
attention was entitled: breaking
Home Ties" The scene was plain,
bare room in an old-fashioned farm
house A lad, perhaps eighteen. was
leaving his boyhood's hcne TO go out
alone into the broad. unknown world.
His mother. an intinity of maternal af-
lection in her fearful eyes, stood by
him, both her hands resting on his
shoulders. The boys father had turned
toward the open door. In Ills hand
was carpetsack like those our grand
fathers carried: il held the few belong
ings of the departing lad The aged
grandmother regarded the scene. look
Of sadness IN her patient face young
lady sister sat near By. her hand rest
Ing on the head of the family dog-a
great, noble animal. that looked
anxiously into The Young mans face as