The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-05
Dad and Man.

ways out in the deSolate West. / should
not like to say how many railroad men
know the place, or have wondered row
they could escape from il. 1t is always
quite pleasant to be leaving Bixby-or 1t
would be if il We're not for Dad and Nam.
The first time I saw Dad and Nam
was when my route was changed from
Omaha to Denyer-I am a mail clerk
and l landed at Bixby with wait of
thirty minute. horribly empty stomach
and no visible way OF filling it.
Don't they eat out this way?" I asked
The. Auditor, who was, in the mail car
with me.
4 should say So" said he. "If we eat
anywhere We eat at BixbE.'
''Macduff,' cried I, IF there's any place
to lead to, please lead on
He did. We went down the uninterest-
ing front street. as like fifty other front
streets had walked down as one pea to
another.
What do people mean by living here
ruminated aloud, l was a Chicago man,
ard had ideas of my own about what
a town should be. Auditor, who came
from Peoria and hated Chicago, answered
rather sourlv:
There's no accounting for the dirty
holes some folks like to live in
We turned down a street that was ali
blackness save for one flashing and well
coming glow that came from the head
light of an engine. The headlight stood
before a long, low building with storm
doors ct the entrance and storm sash at
the windows. Once behind that door, the
winter had vanished, and we were in
long apartment, brightly lighted, with
rough, gray walls, trimmed with flags and
vines, and filled with men.
A shout went up as we entered.
why. Thee; that you, my boy?' I
distinguished a woman's voice saying.
I'VE were thinking this was your night.
Is your baby better?"
'Oh, heap better, thank you, Nam.
This is my assistant, Will Williams. He'll
become one of your family, 1 expect"
Well I'm glad to hear it," said a
hearty voice, and [ saw a woman with
large, kind face. reaching out her hand
to me across a sort of counter behind
which she sat in a high rocker. MY fam
lily is large" she said, but never too
large to have additions made to it."
A pleasanter, (more Notwithstanding
old woman it would have been hard to
find. Her blue eyes beamed at me with
sincere offer of friendliness, and the
hand 1 grasped had fine, firm grip to it.
This is the sort of person one can
count on" / concluded, instinctiyely. a
moment later an old man entered carry
ing bucket of coal. He had a large,
kind face, too-indeed the husband and
wife seemed singularly alike. 1 was in
troduced to him and he reached out d
grimy hand.
Where do you live, sir?'
''At Omaha
Married."
NO"
Live with your folks?"
Yes"
That's good. That's mighty good
Glad to see you here. Hope you'll make
yourself acquainted with all our boys"
By this time Nam had luncheon laid
for us on a snowy tablecloth. 1 am a
trife fastidious about my eating, and
there have been times when 1 nearly
starved to death because I could not force
down the fare 1 got at railway eating
houses. But this meal, though simple, |
was delicious. and 1 ate till l was actu-
ally ashamed Of myself.
I talked but little: it was better Is lis !
ten. The laughter and conversation GO /
k1g on was like that Of a home circle. /
Nam led it, and she seemed to know all 7
about everybody, and to be giving every /
one bit of friendly encouragement.
80, you'll soon be fixed all right. she |
said to a young fellow who had confessed /
to her that his new housekeeping was
on small scale. when was first mar
ried 1 had only one f1atiron to my name, !
and l couldn't seem to get money enough 4
together to buy another. So 1 used to |
use 1t till it was cold, and then do some
thing else till it got hot again. But it |
was awfully trying. Dads shirt used to /
get dry as bones while | was waiting for /
the fiat iron to heat. But it's better now,
as you see. L own six irons now" she
concluded, with an accent of dry humor
20, you're a rich woman now, Man,"
cried one of the boys"
And I've travelled" she laughed. Don't
forget that I've travelled This appeared
10 be a tremendous joke, and Nam
ehuckled and shook over it and Dad
and shook The BOYS" made
merry over it, too, and Nam couldn't let
The joke go, but cried between her fits
If LAUGHTER.
Not every one has Travelled, you know.
It makes great difference. I don't care
10 associate myself with folks that have
lot travelled.
I'VE had to leave then, and as we
lastened along the street, leaving the
laming headlight at our backs, and with
he cordial good-bys of Dad and Nam
still ringing in our ears, l asked Auditor
what the Joke was.
why" said he, dad and Nam Ferris
nave been right at that spot for sixteen
,ears and they're institutions. All the
fellows know them and tell them their
roubles and go to them TO be. doctored
md petted and encouraged. They've got
20 used TO it that 1 really don't know
low they would get on without the old
oIks. Well one day Nam was talking
md it came out that she was just pinihg
o go to the Omaha exposition. No one
lad ever thought Of that. Nam had new
n been known to go anywhere. She
hadn't even had time to go 10 church. II
{ isn't the passenger boys its the freight
rev that's taking ID her time. and she
lever has time TO say that her soul IS
Ter own. In fact, I suppose she has for
,otten a long time ago that she belong
o herself How she came to think Of
he exposition I don't know. But she
aid to one OF the boys: A body might
eel herself mighty fortunate to be able
o go to that show. 1t must be pretty
Veil. IL came across some of US what
: vould mean to her and Dad TO go there
md see the thing. and how surprised they
would be al night when the white ouiic-
ngs were all lit uo with electricity 80
2evnolds-Tin Reynolds. you know
rarted it He wrote telling Dawson. the
General Passenger Agent at Omaha,
bout the matter. and Dawson sent on
transportation.
Then we dubbed together and got
.ew suit for Dad and new dress DOR Nam
md headgear and parasol and all man
.er OF truck Nelson OF the Executive
ommittee Of the exposition, used 70 be
me Of their boys" and he forwarded
pass. and Hawthorne. the Division SUI
1t Omaha, made them come
- mes M The had -