The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-06-06
What Anne Adopt.d.


lMrs. Mary A. Denison, in Youths Companion.I
"Mother, can't we adopt baby2'
Mrs. Walters looked up in establishment
st the question. Little six-year- odd Anne
stood there, her blue eyes dancing, her brown
hair blown about her rosy cheeks by the
wind.
AS there was & small boy in frocks, nearly
two years younger than Anne, and 9 pair
Of elk months wins in the cradle. the ques-
ton did seem needless.
adopt baby Why, my dear, people
only to that when God has net given them
one" ssid her mother. 81 could not possibly
take care of another baby"
"But could. mamma. I'd Just do every-
thing. Mary Lowells mother has adopted
one, snd Mary says its the cunningest little
thlng"
"But we don't need it, for we have more
than other people-two dear little Dsbies,"
said her mother, kindly, seeing how much in
essnest she was.
"Well, / know that, but can't we adopt
something7" asked the child anxiously
"Oh yes; find some poor little mother ess
Rittea-a yellow one would be best, cause
yellow kittens are mostly all drowned"
This was Bob's sd vics. Bob was nine years
old, and 8 great tease.
Don't want that 1 can get hosts of cats
without adopting them," said the child.
"Well, hen OF goose then; being some
thing OF goose yourself you will know
what to do with it."
"But want something that thinks said
Anne, after moments thought.
''Thst's not a thinking thing the Lowells
have got" raid Bob, pausing in the midst of
bis whiting. at looks like roll of cotton
wool dressed up and laid in crib"
"But it isn't. 1t can just screamP said
Anne, earnestly.
"Then III buy you dear little pig, tina.
can squeal beautifully said Bob.
"Make him stop, mamma" cried Anna
her eyes full of tesrs. "Hes teasing me,
and ! do want to adopt something"
"Adopt me-" said Bob. "I'd make you
81 don't want you. I've got you already
said Anne
HWhy, my dear5whom could you adopt7"
asked her mother, kindly. "You already
have a father, mother, sisters and brothers,
"Oh, know nowl" cried Anne. sWe
haven't any grandmother Why can't we
adopt one of them2v
"Well, We might, if we could ind stray
old lady, wandering about, and looking for
some one to adopt her," said her mother,
laughing, while Bob fairly danced with fun
ct the idea.
"Ifs not such bad though" said Anne's
mother, when she had got over laughing.
"Perhsps Aunt Betsy viii consent TO be
adopted for q few months"
"SplendidP CALCULATED Anne. "Can't we
go for her right swsy7 1t will be 30 nice to
have grandmother in the house"
$50 1t will, and perhaps papa will drive
over to Lexington to morrow, and see what
she thinks about il, her mother replied.
Aunt Betsy was the children's great-aunt,
and. s. Anne expressed it, plenty old enough
to be grandmother. She lived with step
daughter, and her son had borrowed Whist
little money she had, on interest.
The sons wife was not an agreeable wo.
man, and considered her mother-in-law
great burden. There was one other son,
whom people called wild and "goed.for
nsught," a We nderer in California.
Anne's mother knew that her dear old aunt
was unhappy, and had long been thinking
of asking her to the house for q visit
Anne's idea of adopting a grandfather
gave rise TO other thoughts, and her mcther
resolved to offer the old lady home. No
objection was made to this plan; her son
made his mind easy about the money no
owed, by paying interest, and troubling him
self no further.
TWAS indeed delightful to feel that she
had home where everybody was kind and
attentive, pleasant room with her books,
her knittirg-wofk, her stocking basket close
to Ger hand, while flowers and vines and pic
lures made TIE walls beautiful. And then
to feel that she was the adopted grandmother
OF dear, lovable, laughing little child.
Everybody but Anne called her Aunt
Betsy; to Anne alone she was "grsndms,"
and the old lady enjoyed the distinction.
Anne took her under her own special pro-
tection-she gathered flowers tor her,
threaded her needle, took her hand as they
wei to church, ard est close by her in the
peT, taklDg pains to let everybody know
that she was her adopted grandma, feeling
rather exultant over the fact that herself had
provided this luxury for they family.
Aunt Betsy repaid her fondness with In
terest. She dressed dolls, and cut whole,
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