The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-09
Two Sides to a Question

Two Sides to Question
Evelyn Carpenter was a girl of decided
Opinions. She was also possessed OF a
viii of her own, and a very determined
way OF enforcing II. A rather tall, hand
some girl, thoughtful brow, in rather
| comlcal contrast with the proud bearing
and independent appearance OF their own
er. she wended her way homeward with
| the quick. irregular step of one who
| chafes inwardly at the world, and knows
| none OF whom 10 lay the blame. She
! sought mission, new sphere of action
for the benefit of her fellow creatures.
Suddenly, before she had sufficiently
! awakened from her reverie to notice
| whence 1t came, a food Of sweet song
! seemed to soothe her ruffled feelings A
! lark, imprisoned in narrow cage, pour
| ed forth TO the needless world outside its
soul OF melody through hard bars Of
wire.
! The sense OF relief which had stolen
! over the girl gave place to one OF anger,
combined with some odd satisfaction.
! Here at last was an opportunity 10 Go
/ good, even if il were but obtaining the
! freedom of one poor, hopeless lark. And
| who more suited 10 the task than she,
! the president, self-consttuted only three
/ days since, of the N Society for the
/ Promotion Of Christian Charity Toward
Animals? The song that had soOthed her
! unawares now made he'd soul burn with
/ in her. Crossing the road with decided
/ step, she entered a little shop, over the
/ door Of which the bird sang on. II was
: a cobbler's workshop, she found, scat
! tered as such places with implements OF
| the trade, and pervaded with the pleas
; art smell of leather. A little, bent old
man, with large spectacles on his wrinkled
4 4
| nimbly over the rough leather, put aside
| his work and shuffled forward 10 the
counter. He moved slowly and with diff
! Guilty, for his old limbs were getting past
| their work Pleasantly, but rather curl
Ously, he babe her Good day" scarce
hoping for work in his poor shop from
so smart and nicely dressed lady. Ev-
elyn felt somewhat uneasy at the old
mans harmless aspect.
This bird" she began rather timidly,
SIS 1t yours?''
The cobbler looked at the cage with visi-
bic pride.
Yes, yes miss, my bird sure enough;
and fine bird, too; not better bird in
all N, miss" He rubbed his hands
and smiled genially. Evelyn was silent
as he continued, half to himself as old
men do:
-Four years it is I've had him; four
years, and scarce a day off his song. Il
was my boys my Dicks youngest that's
gone for a sailor; 1t seems only yesterday
he came in just as IT might have been
you, miss, today, with the bird in his
hands and says he
But beggin' your pardon you was say
ingy-"
What will you take for the bird?' she
asked, not feeling quite so sure Of hex
cause, now she mad actually plunged In
TO the battle
Wouldn't sell him, miss; wouldn't take
a sovereign for him, not if 1 was starry
ing"
Evelyn took out her purse and counted
its contents-two and sevenpence half
penny. She drew out two shillings, saying
in firm and superior tones: Two sni-
lingS; not a penny more"
The old man looked at her kindly, and
explained gently, as if TO a child Git was
really very irritating):
mo, miss, I don't want OF sell him. 1
was sayin', you see il was my lad gave
me the little bird before he went to sea.
No, I'm not likely to part with him for
that, dearie," indicating the coin with
smiling contempt. "Ay and him all the
chick or child I've got left since Dick
died II minds me o. my lad when I
hear him sing so bright: often when I'm
feeling lonesome and low-spirited he Ii
chime in so cherry, and set mbe thinkin'
how my boys coming seon-eh, dear! Ell,
dear! No, you can't have him; but never
mind, never mind" He nodded kindly,
as if to comfort her in her disappoing-
ment.
Evelyn's patience could stand it no len
ger.
do you suppose I want to keep the
poor bird?" she broke forth. Il want 10
buy il TO give it back its liberty, to let
it be free in the fields and the blue sky.
Surely you know how very, very cruel
it is to cOnfne a creature made to soar
and sing at the very gates Of heaven IN
a narrow cage with scarce room to turn"
This was delivered fluently, being a YER
batim quotation from her speech at tie
opening meeting of the aforementioned
society.
Poor. miserable bird" she concluded,
apostrophzing the unconscious lark.
The cobbler, simple soul, was a good
deal taken back at this convincing TRADE.
He attempted a defense, however.
NAY, mes not miserable-hear him
sing. Would he sing like that if he
weren't happy?"
yes" cried Evelyn. "he sings because
he longs to be free. That IS the song OF
despair, and not Of joy"
The old fellows face fell. Her elo-
ouence half convinced him. Evelyn felt
rather heated, and wanted, she didn't
know why, to get out of the shop.
Come" she said, again, prohering q
coin. two and six, and far more than
the wretched bird is worth"
Nay" he said. sadly, I'm not going
TO sell him. He's Ike an old friend TO
me, and ne loves me, TOO, that he does"
Keep your bird. then" cried the an
CRY reformer. Keep 1t, and let il die in
its miserable prison. Some day you viii
perhaps repent your wanton cruelty"
With which grandiloqUent threat she de-
parted, with rather more haste than dig
nifty.
That night. getting into bed, Evelyn
came 10 the conclusion that sch had made
rather a poor show.
She had also a lurking idea that her mo-
tive had not been quite so much the cause
OF righteousness as the pleasure OF re-
porting progress 10 her new society. Her
passionate words kept rec, i-ing 10 her
mind as she lay sleepless han through the
night. She wondered II little birds had
their duty 10 do. as she had; whether.
perhaps, in giving pleasure 10 a lonely
old mans declining days, the lark nigh,
not be uuconsciously doing its great
Makers bidding in the place for which
He intended it. She WIS. she decided,
over-young 70 judge hastily. And. being
q thoughtful and conscientious girl. she
brave-y resolved 70 90 the nex- morn
ing. humble her pride 20 the dust, ard
own herself in the wrong.
About 9 o'clock the next morning, wax
ing. with rather q red face up the mar
row street. she perceived the old fellow
standing a. his door with The empty cage
in his hand; he was gazing toward the