The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-11-28
A TRUE TALE.

Here is the most admirable preSenta-
ton that can be seen any Saturday of
the year in Wichita. Take a good look
at it and see what you think of it. It is
taken from the Lawrence World.
'Bin Sinclair and wife were in town the
I other day. IT was the first time Bills
/ wife had been able to get away since
last spring. She had the baby with her
and three of the other children chung to
/ her dress asking questions. She looked
long time at a washing machine that
/ stood in front of a hardware store. She
had been wanting one for a long time.
With five hearty children and two men
20 cook and wash for. she was often
completely worn out by noon on wash
days, frem bending over the old wash
board There was jagged edge in the
zinc on which she sometimes cut her
knuckles, but Bill thought she had better
try and get along with it for while.
IF they bought every new-fangled
thing that came along he told her, they
would land in the poor house yet with all
them children 20 feed and clothe.' SO she
passed by the washing machine with
sigh. Her handful of shopping was soon
done and she had nothing to do but wait
for Bill. She had no place to go and
rest and she wandered YEARLY up and
down the street, carrying the heavy baby
and trying to hush the children when
they teased for a nickel to buy candy.
The butter and eggs she had brought in
barely paid the grocery bill. anad there
no money for candy. though she would
have liked to have bought it for them
Every now aand then she hurried back
TO the store where Bill had told her to
wait for him, to see if he had come.
He was always impatient if she kept
him waiting.
bib, himself cheerful aand hearty.
with a good cigar between his lips, joke1
and chatted with his friends and care
fully selected a new double harness. Bill
is proud of his horses and takes good
care of them. When Bill comes TO town
alone ne goes to restaurant and gets
good dinner: but, OF course. he could
hardly be expected TIC pay a quarter each
for four children and n woman. He
bought them some crackers and cheese
and a few bananas with the butter money
and they ate il in the grocery store,
His wife tired and worn with the long
ride, would have liked cup OF coffee.
too, but forebore to mention it. She and
the children were used 10 denying them
selves. She had suggested a new wrap
as they rode in. Her velvet cape was
six years old and frayed and shabby, but
Bill had consoled her with the remark
that if he fed that bunch of cattle this
winter there would be another hired man
TO cook for and she propabaly wouldn't
be able TO go very much. anyhow. Next
yer perhaps. if ne did wei She had
subsidized meekly. as she always did. She
lived in never ending hope upon his prom
ises of the comforts next year would
bring
"She' was tired and ready TIC go when
at last Bill came and all We're cafely
packed in the polling wagon. Bin had
a good buggy. BUT, as he said, you can't
pack 4 woman and a raft of kids into a
small buggy. and he had TO have the
wagon 10 take home the harness and a
couple Of rloy shares, anyhow
Bib Sinciare is good man. pros
porous and respected, His word is as
good as his bond anywhere HIS wife
does the best she can 10 help him. but
she is not very strond somehow. She was
a pretty girl when she married Bill. eight
with ! happy smile aud brisk, capable
ways You'd never think il 10 look at
her now. faded. 3istiess and bent The
neighbors say-but that is only gossip.
that's an