The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-14
THE PREAMeULAToR.


had been bbed joIted
infancy within that cagng wckerwork, fallen
away.
And for eight eventful years it had served indeed
only cradle and bed for these young Bal
fingers but occasions it be confessed. it
ushered service general delivery wagon
for divers family washing from the Balinger Hand
Laundry.
But this many day it had lain neglected and aban-
doned of the basement There
ANONYMOUSLY marooned under heap of broken wash
tinware the venerable and rec
less bodied old preambulator seemingly given over
to dust and miIdew.
But west of sixth and east of Third avenue
just kinds OF small boy They those who have
wagons and those VIII not. And for this reason
it would be wrong that the Ballinger perambu-
lator had been altogether forgotten.
For months past certain sharp young eyes had in
spected it enviously through gloom Certain nquisi
young fingers had shrewdy examined its somewhat
wabbIy looking These fingers, in fact. had
even secretly studiousy added further damage 10
the old perambuators wickerwork body-so often and
carefully patched and woven forlorny together
with bits of coarse srng-the better establish
general useessness for that much dapi-
dated family with little bostering up
Patsy BaIlinger perceived, those four wheels could
made as good Thenthen, indeed the rosiest
of his life should be attained.
To own a hand wagon, to possess luxurious
fouwheeler of his own long the most sugared
fancy of Patsy BaIngers adolescent days. AS
errands distributor in general of the Baiinger
Hand Laundry family gatherer of kindlng wood
hood of Washington Market, Patsy had grown to see
great possibilities in four old wheels. To coax
wheedle them from fond but none too indulgene
mother Patsy early enough realized impossible SO
had decided to pinch them All that ne now await
ed the right opportunity
one momenous afternoon he even called in his bosom
friend fellow picker-upo unconsidered TRIES
innie Doogan taking discreet advantage of an unlocked
for and, confess, almost sleefuly welcomed Ill
ness part to haul out the old pera
bulaor and put its four well worn wheels 10 the most
abusive dangerous of tests. They herocally with
stood these assaults however and when Patsy
exhibited to Binnie commodious box ION which was
branded the mystic legend, New York State Eggs
which he had long harbored in secret against the time
the wheels should his Binnie for the construction
the wagon and on the spot
'HuIly gee Patsy dey'd make peach" was his only
comment viewing upurned carriage with the air Of
a connosseur. And Patsy knew that with one brief
half hours work transformation could be brought
and presto! there possessing the finest
of delivery wagons coating vehicles and
the pleasure carriages all IN one But
still he hesitaed. enormty OF it all somewhat over
powered him.
1t was not indeed Binnie artfuly intmated to
Mamie Ziska who of late had shown lamentable signs
softening key Weinberg that Patsy had come
into possession a four-wheeler of his own that the
still vacIlating plunderer took step. Once Mamie
pledged extended tour to the wharves
Thirteenth Patsy straightway appropriated
wanting the ironwork of the fire escape
and meekly carried what he knew was to be his
last armfuI kinding wood From that day forth he
determined, should come on wheels
II CUES things is comm my way. right, right
was his he the drawn blinds OF the
Balnger Laundry. and assumed therefrom that he
should have clear for action the following
day.
Then it was that the unexpected happened For rea-
sons he could fathom at the moment pale-faeed
young emerged from the Ballinser doorway carry
ing a black hand-satchel.
Within he found old Mother Connors in possession
there standing in the front room OF the little nat
was the old perambulator itself once more bound up
cords a0don
work body a commodious blanket From the depths
of this blanket he looked, the sound
of shrll and hungry voice wailing. And Patsy knew
the worst had happened
For one moment looked and then, with flushed
face indignant eyes. he fed from the house-hed
shamed and broken the river front where he tried
to hide his fall eyes of men and lose his sor-
row in petng the drivers going TO and from the
Twentieth street dump.
Where's me Patsy?" asked the young mother weak
ly calling mothers Will be such hours for her first
where's me Patsy?" she asked repeatedly through
ont the dav and it was late that before old
Mother Connors lay hands the indignant youth
and drag him bodily in TO his mothers bedside
The sick looked at him with hungry and yet
strangely tmid Then she looked at the peramu-
ator.
There's little julie av a sister for yez, Patsy, she
Whispered sroking his hand Patsy did not answer
Won't ye bit of peek at her. Patsy?" she
pleaded.
Patsy half turned his the perambulator,
but the sight wheels holding it up so ariy
much for him. He shook his head sulKliy and
swallowed hard.
Me boy. boy, what is it?" whispered his mother
TREMENDOUSLY. with the her white cheeks
II was all much for Patsy. lie broke down and
bawled most vigorously.
II wanted whees,' he cried through shaming
tears. 4 wanted dem wheels fur me wagon"
Me boy, poor boy was all the mother said
drawing him breast with Jealous love Then
she released squirting body and he made his escape
It's a useless ould rag thing, that carriage
ventured Patsys several hours later TO Mother
Connors.
'Tis good tin more" protested the old nurse
An givin me a hesdscne continyus. wild its jsgin'
and squeakn'.' the sick woman added
"A bit Nv butther tn wheels suggested Mother
Connors.
No no, lis the sight il turns me head these
DAYS Would yez mind Mistress ConRors putin it out
in tn hall an tein Patsy mebbe he could be shppin
II OF some ere tHcudn DC worritin his mother
I can do fine Wild tn baby a bit own bed. I'm
thiukin'
And Patsy. two days later. arhy escoFting Mamie
Zisa on an Of the North river whsrves
neither knew nor understood The in all his sky
in fact was that certain unbe wits OF the west side
roadir~ legend which adorned his wonderful