The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-02-25
BILLS WIFE.
A Character so Common That Many
Will Recognize Her.
Regular Style
Stays u In. or 8 In. apart

Bill Sinclair and his Vile were IN ,
town the other day. 1t 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 ques-
tions. She looked for long time at a
washing machine that stood in front Of
hardware store. She had been want
ing one for long time. With five
hearty children and two men to cook
and wash for, she was often completely
worn out by noon on wash days from
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.
"lf they bought every new tangled
thing that came along" he told her,
"they'd land in the poor house yet with
So she passed by the washing machine
with sigh. Her handful of shopping
was soon done and she had nothing to
do but wait on Bill. She wandered
YEARLY up and down the street carry
ing the heavy baby and trying to hush
the children when they teased for a
nickle to buy candy. The butter and
eggs she brought in barely paid the
grocery bill and there was no money to
buy candy, though she would like to
have got it for them. Every now and
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.
Bill himself, cheerful and hearty with
a good cigar between his lips, joked and
tchatted with his friends and carefully
selected new double harness. Bill is
proud of his horses and takes good care
Of them. When Bill comes to town
alone he goes to restaurant and gets a
good dinner, but of course he could
hardly be expected to pay Is cents each
for four children and woman. He
bought them some cheese and crackers
land few bananas with the butter
money and they ate in the grocery
store. His wife, tired and worn out
with the long ride would have liked a
cup of coffee, too, but forebore to men,
ton it. She and the children were used
to denying themselves. She had sug-
gested new wrap as they drove in
Her velvet cape was six years old and
frayed and shabby; but Bill had consol-
ed her with the remark that if he fed
, that bunch of cattle this winter there
will be another hired man to cook for
and she probably wouldn't be able to &c
out much anyhow. Next year if they
did we'll, he would. She subsidized meek
ly as she always did. She lived in
never ending hope upon his promises
of the comforts next year. would
bring.
She was tired out and ready to &c
), when at last Bill came and all were
3 safely placed in the jolting wagon. Bill
= had good buggy, but as Bill said, you
cannot pack woman and raft Of kids
: into small buggy, and he had to have
] the wagon to take home the harness
9 and a couple of plowshares, anyhow.
Bill is a good man, prosperous and
! respected. His word is as good as his
5 bond anywhere. His wife does the best
$ she can to help him but she is not very
4 strong, somehow. She was pretty
7 girl when she married Bill eight years
> ago. She was straight and strong, with
$ a happy smile and brisk, capable ways
: you'd never think it to look at her now
: faded, listless and bent. The neighbors
' say but that is only gossip, that's all
: Lawrence World.
Foley's Honey and Tar is best fol
!. Group and whooping cough, contains nj
opiates, and cures quickly. Careful
! mothers keep it in the house. For sal,
by L. P. Van Werden.