The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-31
JOY AT THE FAIR.
The Delightful Experience Of a
Eard-WOrking Family.

'sWall. when be we a-goin' to the
fair, Alviry?"
''Hev you gone plum crazy. Eben
+ Jenkins? The fair amt for the likes Of
us. It's only for rich folks an such
Don't you read ev'ry night bout the
big doin's an the hifalutin' times OF
! the directors, an the furriners, an the
fxed-up women, gallavantin' roun
] ev'rywhere? How'd we look, I'd like
! to know, attendin' of them receptions
they're a-havin' of pink an yeller an
all sorts of colors, to suit the skins,
s'pose, of all them natives from far.
away countries?"
'It's noways likely. Alviry, that we'd
be obieeged to j'ine these doin's. I've
ben a-workin' an savin' for a hull
year, jest to go to the fair few days
/ YOU an me an the children. 1t seems
like it would give US taste of some
thin we've needed all our lives
II s'pose you'll hev your way, Eben
Jenkins; you most always do. But
can't for the life of me tell how were
! goin' to pay for the winters coal, an
! the hannels an shoes, an ev'rything G
that'll be comm along soon enough!
OF course, if you go to the fair I'm
boun' to go. too, for didn't promise to
be your pardner for better or for worse,
and if it's to be the city of destruction,
SO longs / draw bre'th you'll fin me
by your side:''
Never mine that, Alviry! 1 know
Z - l. E
long as I've two good hands you an the
children'l never go hungry, an it's
cause of all this that | think we ought
to go to the fair, an I'm mos sure the
money we'll spend'll be made up to US
some way"
Il hope it's not fyin' in the face of
Providence we are, Eben Jenkins, that S
all I've got to say!'
Next week the shop'l shut up few
days for repairs, an then, Alviry, well
all take a vacation an see some of the
wonders that the world has sent to Chi
cago.'
Full, indeed, We're the next few days
for the members of the little house
hold. There were two children, Hiram, q
SllIQy Doy VI GbClSc, IOSc lCI tllC oEdIu
was hourly working with tremendous
zeal upon half-fedged impulses, and
his little sister Ruth, who had quiet.
dreamy ways, ''for all the world jest
like her father, imaginin' an visionin', +"
her mother said, ''but sweet an lovin'
for ali thatr'
1t was but few hours ride to Chi
Ehan Jan1r,r,r !, g,
wife and children drifted into the great
human current sweeping on in ceaseless
course TO the White City and it's Won
ders.
1t was pleasant sight to watch this
family of four within the gates The
father was thickset and strongly built,
with an air of rugged strength and pur-
pose, His garments were chosen more
for wear than nicely of fit; his necktie
was awry and his stiff boots creaked,
but there was something wholesome
and helpful about him that rested all
VINO saw him.
His wife was slim and spare and
moved with nervous energy. Her cloth
ing dated some seasons back, but this
SliC tio llOI L Oio HOC
bother her. Hiram's jacket and trousers
were of home manufacture, made from
fathers" and large enough to grow
In" The only bit of fnery about the
party was little Ruthie's hat, with it's
pink ribbons and apple blossoms, no
prettier than the childish face beneath
them. The children carried between
h,,rra l,,ncb h,Si-af %
sweet-scented grasses, a family souvenir
from way down east" .s'
Through the streets. and over bridges,
and on and on untiringly they went un-
til they reached the Administration
building. Scarcely had word been
spoken, the silence only being broken
by the children's EXPLANATIONS.
Suddenly Mrs Jenkins stopped. She
seemed strangely agitated. The veins
upon her forehead were swollen, and
her looks betrayed repressed emotion.
What is it, Alviry? Is anything the
matter? Are you feelin' sick?"
"Feelinn Eben Jenkins, what amt
/ feelin? might as well out with it
first as last. I'll give in, twas Jest
burnin' shame of me opposin' you
bout comm to such a he'venly place.
Seems like | can't get over it, an ] amt
got no words to tell how sorry am,
nor how glad am that you went right
on so quiet like an had your own way.
Why. it's worth livin' full lifetime to
leave the housework an the drudgery,
and forgit it, as If it never was. With
all the whiteness, an the music play
in, an the peaceful feelin everywhere,
it's mos ike the fulfllin' of the blessed
Promise!'
It's paid already. Alriry, bein' its
done you good" said her husband, in
gentle tones, turning toward her
beaming face, with kindly light in
his honest eyes. ''It is real helpin' an
uphftin' like. An don't you notice,
h!virv. how there's nothin' noisy, nor
cent piece and two pennies-which told
me that she had dropped portion OF
some money that she had taken with
her. All this made me very unhappy.
detested mysteries, and it was evil
dent that one of the sort which ! had
always thought unnatural when intro
duced into the pages OF novels had
arisen in nay quiet little home.
l remembered that ! had met my wife
by chance; that our Introduction was
brought about by chance acQuaint-
ance, who really knew nothing OF
either of US: that she was alone in the
world. without any living relative, or
claimed TO be 50; 4 teacher OF music,
with few pupils making & hard struggle
for life. Very possibly disreputable
father or brother had turned up, to
whom she was obliged 70 give assist
ance. and whom she did not wish rae To