The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-09-04
A RIDE WITH UNCLE TOM.


cause his sisters husband George Clark
was very sick. George, who vas a pat
tern-rnaker. had been making fair wages
but two months OF sickness and a helpless
family OF wife and three children had
dlssipated what little he had saved. Tom
VINO had come 70 help them If he could
! and be Of comfort 20 his sister. became
a burden instead OF support. He could
not find work. and the best he had done
| thus far was to make himself useful
around the house nursing Clark. wipins
/ the dishes and even helping with the
! washing when Sarah was driven to that
| expedient for livelihood.
| Then George died, ana there was 4 bill
OF $50 from an undertaken: the doctor
would Ike 20 have something ION ac-
/ count, the grocer and the butcher he
san TO wonder when they vo,lId 10 maid
! and the landlord who was inclined to be
very Ienlent. suggested that the family
! ma smaller quarters within their
means Their home was squalid enough.
/ thought Tom. as he groveled about at
oaypreak every morning for the shoes
mat ne had worn 10 shreds looking for
a Job. Then he wou. tiptoe past the
cot where Tommy. his nephew and name
sake pea kec and wan. lay asleep. Some
nines, II there was a whole loaf he
would cut a slice OF bread but oftener
ne preferred to risk his breakfast on the
ouo tob or STRENGTHENING or chores that
sometimes turned Up in Halsted street.
On FRIDAY, for the first time in weeks
ne tailed 10 return during the DAY. and
ms sister who knew how hard he was
trying, plucked UP courage She guessed
that he had found work. and the hone lent
her nerve 20 buy pound OF caifs liver
lor supper lie came through the alley
WINE they sat in the kitchen. He was
ortNlnS a one-horse wagon, and in Won
oering delight they all ran out 10 meet
hiIn-Sarah, Tommy, the gray-faced boy
OF - ana Mamie, who was and could
run. and Gertie, who toddled and stood
transfixed with error OF the horse. Ttvv
jumped down from his seat and tried 70
smile, but one of his eyes was swollen
and black and there was blood on his
shirt
What's the matter, Tom?" asked Sarah.
lifting her scared baby.
got a job driving said Tom. and
ana its all right now tiff I can hold If
There's strike going on. it seems. and
Wen. that how | got the Job and the
sinner both Bot it'n be all right. Sa-
die' he continued. patting Tommy on
the mead ana trying to cheer up Il
guess maybe 6'll be over tomorrow. I'm
70 Keep the horse and they're TO allow
me Tor his feed. and I'm to get ten a
week and it's TO be regular job IL I can
NOSp the wagon going
Sarah didn't Ike the looks Of this Her
husoand had been union man ali right.
ana she. in spite OF want worry and
oVerwork, knew the meaning Of the uzlv
word ''scab.y
Better gfvett up. Tom" she said, hest |
tatinsly. watching with weary ewes her
poy Tommy as he leaped in and out OF the |
wagon. pettcd the horse and tugged at the |
Nd, "a ness Don't mix up in it. They might |
XIII you. and-and we may come out all |
IIent. II get the WASH money tomorrow. |
-, ION DO IT, Tom George, poor George. |
ne wouldn't have liked It. Tom"
II eT eyes filled up as she said this. but /
- IVY was silent, unhItching the horse !
re tied II to the fence and followed her
n 10 supper without a word. When she
hed served him and saw that he was /
STUBBORN, she went round to McIntire's /
next door and borrowed a newspaper.
! heh she sat down on her own doorstep
10 read the stories of the riots. Of The
strike, and of the efforts, violent or per
suaslve, 10 prevent the teamsters from
working Then she went in and laid the
PAPER beside her brother. He picked It
up and read the accounts Of this unheard-
OF turmoil into which he had that day
ventured.
The teamsters amt striking" he said
Al last, so I'm not a scab. anyhow"
I q
rather you'd drop it. Tom she said. The
children had gone out again to play with
me horse They fetched weeds and grass
10 IL from neighboring lots. and Tommy |
came in wanting to mount the solemn
BEAST. Sarah washed her brothers bruised
eye and begged Of him TO take back his
wagon and horse. but Tivy. who saw
how thin she was, felt how her hands
rembied and knew that her scanty earn
nss were not sui--cient for herself, dis
missed the subject with:
1 II try it once more, Sadie. The paper
says therel be more police tomorrow.
md maybe I'll get through better"
But IN the morning when he crept out
'aSt 1ommys be- the boy awoke. and
coping into his tattered clothes followed
us uncle into the yard ITO see the horse -
And when the hitching was done and the
lorse was watered Tommy cried for
lde and the mans heart swelled with
stubborn and loving determination as he
Irove away from the gaunt. tear
meared. clinsing little fellow standing
lsmally al the alley gate.
AT noon Tivy came nome. His clothes
we're in rags. his face was a muck of
1000 and mud. His wagon was Uttered
WITH rocks, tin cans and garbage, and
ven Tommy. who ran to meet him. was !
'oncer-struck. He came from his wagon
lto the kitchen and washed his face {
{ the hycrant. then he tried to reassure Z
IS sister while he changed his clothes I
Or an old suit Of Georges
Il m not hurt a DIt." he said Il don. ,
eny they Were pretty rough. but-weu.
omato cans and vegetables aren't half as
ad as the names thsy fred at me. I'm
Ding 70 give IL one more try. II I don't
et through this afternoon. III quit !
lon't worry. Sadie 1
lie went away through the backward D
nd. mounting his wagon. drove Of H.
as ten blocks from home when hs s
owed down and heard a weak pirlns- I
Dice crying. Gimme a ride. Uncle J
omY' /
IL was Tommy. GREATNESS and spatter-
!. De had run all the way from homo. ,
nd bis uncle took him up and sat him =
pon the high seat Haif an hour later. :
hen Iivy = wagon went down 70 the de- :
u loaded with boxes. a weazen. sickIy.
g-eyed. delighted child sat beside fbe
liver. His little shirt was ragged ana I
He'd. his feet were bare and there VS. g
, hat upon his tousleo. yellow hair. Apai n
the mobs OF excited men sureing alont- y
e street through which tbev passed Il
ere was none 70 hurl stones NJ the box
Vi the few who cried -'scab" were q
haned when tuey looked into his want &
ached face. q
and thereafter be rode every day with T
ncie Tom--John II Raftery- =
His Legal Friend is Happy. Too.
(FTom the saltimorc Herald p
Judge tell Won klinEers fs h.qr~- a.
feels IS y no has just found money. \,
Fudge-f7ows that f.
Re has employed lawyer who has u
cceeded IN having his taxes lowered n
- dollars