The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-20
The Eueni1g Story
"Sorter Useless.
(By Donald Allen

Josiah Streeter was unusually
sturdy and strong, and he was very
proud of the fact.
His wife was unusually sturdy and
strong, and she was proud of the fact.
Farmer Streeter could twist a bar
rel of cider around as easily as a city
tailor could his goose. He could
shoulder a bag of flour at the gate
and carry it into the house without
breathing faster. He could hit
yearling calf over a rail fence, or hang
up dressed hog to cool no matter
what the weight.
The wife, had never been heard to
lsay that she was tired, and had She
asked the husband to move bureau
or lift the soap kettle off the fire it
would have been a matter of great
|surprise.
/ When a man hired out to Farmer
TStreeter he must be a strong man. If
he couldn't work sixteen hours day
and not get tired he was put down as
weakling and advised to look for a
job in a clothespin factory.
1t was into such an atmosphere
that Ruth Streeter was born, and her
coming was a disappointment to her
parents and a wonder to others.
why, she's a dwarf" exclaimed
the father. @
"Oh, she'll grow but she'll never
be strong" replied the mother.
You can't hear her squan more'n
a rod away
Il know it,
IF she has the, measles or the
whooping cough, she'll be goner,
sure"
Yes, she won't last three days.
And what are we going to do
about it?'
why, Josiah, we can't kill herr
"Noap, of course not, but why
couldn't she have been a bouncer in
stead of little runt?'
Very early in her young life Ruth
betrayed the fact that she was going
father and mother had loud voices;
the child spoke softly. Most children
of her age would have been roaming
the fields or c1imb bling trees, but this
one had more interest in pictures
found in the few books in the house.
The hired men would have made a pet
Oh her. but her look of dignity kept
them at a distance.
When old enough to be sent to the
district school, and after she had been
a pupil for couple of weeks, the
teacher called at the farmhouse.
You must not let Ruth study her
lessons at night. She is SO anxious to
learn that she will overtax her
BRAIN he said.
Don't she look frail to you?" was
asked.
she seems to be perfectly well, but
she's never going to make a strong
woman
That's what her father and me are
afraid Of
'Afraid?''
Yes-that she'll grow up to be a
lady instead of knowing about house
work! How much education should
she have?"
Just as much as she can get"
But we can't have a lady in the
house!"
But Ruth is going to grow up and
get married and leave you. Don't you
think it will help her to get a better
husband if she's a lady and well edu-
Gated ?''
1T may was the dubious reply.
That evening the matter was talked
over between the parents, and the ia
Their said: Il can see a heap of
handled just now. Does Ruth know
feather bed with one hand ?"
She has seen me do it, and didn't
seem to care
Does she know that you can bring
two big hams from the smokehouse at
once %
Yes. but she don't praise me-"
Has she been told that I can hoe
more corn in a day than any man in
the county,"
Yes, told her.
And that I can lift a barrel of
cider?'
Yes"
And that I won prize pitch
Il have told her all this sighed
the wife.
And she-she-''