Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1900-12-22


| 4 TORN PAGE FROM LIFE.
The sun was slipping behind the fringe
.,f trees across the field when Zeb Fulton
7e,chcd the end of the rows. With an eff
fort he Strengthened himself. The hoe fell
10 the ground. He unwound red hand
kerchef from about his neck, wiped his
face and, turning, let his eyes wander
over the patch of cotton. Something like
2 groan escaped him. 1t looked a hope
ess task; excepting for a few dozen rows
that he had hoed cotton could scarcely be
seen in the rank weeds.
Zeb Fulton mad moved into the Glib
town neighborhood, in the early winter,
from the Clear Greek country. There he
had owned a small farm; but, his wife
falling sick, he had mOrtgaged it that he
might pay doctors bills. \ crop failure
\ forced him to turn over the farm to his
creditors. With an invalid wife and four
helpless children it had been difficult for
him to rent a farm. Landowners wanted
men that had a good force of hands"
The cabin and little hillside patch was
the best he could do. Under favoring cir
hampered as he was, it looked almost
hopeless:
lie walked slowly toward the cabin.
As he climbed the fence between it and
the field the children came running to
meet him. The tired look vanished from
his face as they chung to his trousers and
reached mp for his hands. The smallest.
toddlng baby, he kissed and lifted to
his arms. The group entered the cabin.
Fulton sat down by the bedside, the
baby on his knee.
How have you been resting, Mollie?''
he asked, shade of anxiety in his voice.
There was movement in the quilts; a
thin hand was stretched out to him. Full
ton took it tenderly between his rough
palms
4Zeh, T'm so much trouble. How tired
you must get worrying with the children,
the cooking, tendi1S the crop, and me
such a burden-an' -
There. don't tax any more; Molle.s
You've had bad day. You mustn't
s. feel that way. r. I'll hurry she supper and
n galSp Overland see the doctor"
No, zeb, don't; you can't afford it,
81 and it'fl be of no use"
Don't, MoIlie, dou't-thats what
hurts. You mustn't give UP. The doc
a Tor will pull you through all right yet"
He leaned over and kissed the pale
brow.
There. now, see if You can't get some
sleep while me and the children cook a
s@ bite
M He took the children into the shedroom
e and closed the door. A fire was kindled
ri md supper placed on the stove, he took
81 Gown the milkpail and went down 10
some matched stalls to milk and feed the
q cow, the children following at his heels
Dr. Gaines and the village preacher
q Fora PERTH. were engaged in conversation
that night. So it happened that the Rev.
Pertil learned Of Fulton's sick wife. The
AeNt morning he drove out. 1t was late
N the day when he reached the cabin.
ana Fulton had already gone to the field.
Tie didn't remain long. After speaking
q few words 10 the sick woman and the
children he prayed and took his depart
ne lie saw at a glance that other
'hlngS than prayer and words OF sympa-
IN. were needed. He spent the morning
visiting the neighboring farms. When
ne returned home, late thar evening. tired
with the days work. he FELT that it had
not been in ain.
At noon, when Fulton was told of the
preachers visit, he said nothing, but
laeer expression came on his face
Whether of approval or resentment it
was hard to tell.
The next morning he was clearing
away the breakfast dishes and trying to
Hulet fretful child when he CHANGED TO
Glance out the door He was almost
Startled. \ dozen men were hOeing in
NuStrlously III the cotton patch. He stood
LOT some minutes regarding them, dazed
lie was not q hard man. and touched by
me unexpected show of kindness. a tear
'ame INTO his eye, rolled down his check
>plashcd on the plate he was drying. In
moment he was ashamed of his weak
ness and quickly brushed all traces of II
rom his eyes. He hung mn the dishpan
washed the baby's face and entered hi
Witt's ra~r,
"NIOiiie ma'U hovo ooY,,1o,x, e., a.;
1Fr, he said. as he began to tidy the
room. The neighbors are hoeing in the
rottOn.''
There was little smothered cry of
I'm so glad for you. Zeb."
Fulton picked up his hoe and walked
.9Nard the men. They saw him ap-'
nfoaching. One of them stepped out 10
meet him.
We've treated You shabby, Mr.. Full
In ne began. I'VE didn't know jest
NOW you were situated till the parsOn
'oa iT. roun' yesterday an tole u.s.
III shore L 'preciate yoTe Kindness
.giurned Fulton. as he began to chop into
ne weeds industriously
low You needn't work today" CON
r nG4ed the men. Wed rather you'd stay
Win Yer wife. Wen git over the patch
Sl9 night 'thout yore help"
fulton threw his hoe to the fence cor
.gF ana returned TO the house. The wives
~, the men had arrived in his absence.
" A'n he entered the cabin it presented
1r appearance Of having undergone a
-rharal renovating There was snowy
-5'h on the bed. and il was wheeled to
"aFFe his wife. dressed in a clean wrap
pr. could look through the sunshine
cross the valley \ faint color had
iep- into her cheeks ana brightness into
eyes The children. with clean
t.>SeS and faces, looked tidcr than for
nanny day. The baby sat on q Quilt on
-'s moor playing with n new rag doll.
some Of the women We're in the kitchen
I4s dinner, that they had brought,
'"l behind the she'd he c0uid hear the
.34l Of scrub boards "a others busily
"a>Ard the soiled clothes that had ac-
lated for weeks.
Fulton glanced abou- obviously. not
tng Just how 10 adjust himself 10
DO situation.
Vow you jest SCI down 10y vgre wife
s.~t today" said one of the women.
- l.