The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-08-21
bank account.

dStOuAL
In the meantime they had both be-
gun to grow old. They had no chill
dren now. The last, their little Dor
Othy, five months old, had been carried
silently away in that very wagon.
OF late years the wagon had been in
the habit Of giving out now and then.
One by one new wheels, new springs,
new boards and new bolts had replaced
old ones; still, to all appearances, IL
was the same old wagon. 1t retained
its individuality like the famous Jack
knife that had so many new blades and
new handles.
The wagon served alike for mill and
for meetin'." On week days 1t carried
butter, eggs, farm produce and gro
ceries. On Sundays il carried Mr.. and
Mrs. Bradley to church. The we'll
known rattle was signal 20 beIated
churchgoers who were Just getting
ready to hasten their toilet
Each year Martha had found 81
harder work TO climb up into the aged
vehicle. It had never been an easy
task. The act OF getting into that
wagon was a complex one The men
usually climbed over the wheel, the
easiest if not the safest method. But
like the majority Of the geutler sex,
Mrs. Bradley preferred to risk her life
in the orthodox way, and SO went by
way Of the steps
1t was a back-straiuing process
Clutching at the dashboard with one
h. 81, a. q.
was carefully lifted 70 the high step
which depended from the middle of
the wagons side. Having reached
this halfway stage, the body oscil-
lated on one foot while the other foot
was swung madly IN the air, eDdeavor-
ing to find the other step which was
higher up on the wagon side. when
found. the owner executed a kind of
Oblique hop, and then, if all went
well, little more oscillasins landed
the person in the wagon. During all
this there were minor dangers likely
to be incurred, such as stepping upon
the skirts and tripping. Lucky was
the person who understood philosophy
web enough 70 prevent the farther end
OF the seat from fitting up into the air
at some stage of his maneuvers. Mrs.
Bradley was so well versed upon this
point that she always waited until her
husband had seated himself upon the
other end Of the seat before she at
tempted the feat
Whenever q stranger. uninitiated,
was struggling and getting red in the
face he was sympsthizingly informed
that il he'd always ben a hard wagon
TO git into"
The steps looked very innocent, and
that was the worst of it. The feminine
portion of the town had become wise
female was overtsken and offered a
ride in the hosPitable-looling wagon.
she usually preferre 70 walk
Mrs Bradley was quiet and uncorn-
planning woman, but fun Of energy. In
the hard working days, when they
were clearing" the farm, she learned
10 subdue her pride. But Of late. with
more prosperous times, her old spirit
began 10 reaSsert itself A struggle"
with William resulted In = new carpet
and some new curtains for the sitting
room Another struggle brought forth
q new bonnet and cloak for herself
.nd new suit for him And row She
had fully determined 20 have n new
carriage IN which 20 ride % church
She knew that the struggle would be
grea: and possi BY Of long duration 4
Bat she had bent her back and strained !
her nerves long enough clzn beriEz T.
into the OLD market wagon. while her 4
poorer neighbors rode By N their con-
Portable carriages
William. YOU'VE got 20 gii car 4
rage Is most breaks ny bsek every .
time cit INTO The wagon. and cant .
stand Il mach longer
oh. sell hev one 49, tiune: doa't .
To1 vo--y. ! cant rit IL jist Eow. for ,
IN sav.n'. ca latin 20 bay that eoli % I
Gay barns"
This 7-z. the Srs; TIA. she had A.a-d 4
Of as inteEtloa - bay tie Gel, I.