The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-06-09
AN ADOPTED GRANDMOTHER,

Mrs. Walters looked up in astonish-
ment at the ques ton. Little six-year
old Anne stood there, her blue eyes
dancing, her brown hair blown about her
rosy cheeks by the wind.
AS there was a small boy in frocks,
nearly two years younger than Anne,
and pair of sixteen months twins in
the cradle, the question did seem need
less.
adopt a baby! Why, my dear,
people only do that when God has not
given them one," said her mother. Il
could not possibly take care of another
baby"
"ButI could, mamma. I'd just do
everything. Mary Lowelrs mother has
adopted one, and Mary says it's the cum
ningest little thing!"
"But we don't need it, for we have
more than other people-two dear little
babies" said her mother, kindly, seeing
how much in earnest she was.
"Well, L know that, but can't we
adopt something?" asked the child,
anxiously.
"Oh, yes; find some poor little moth
erless kitten-a yellow one would be
best, cause yellow kittens are mostly
drowned" This was Bob's advice. Bob
was nine years old, and great tease.
Don't want that 1 can get heaps
of cats without adopting them, said the
child.
"Well, a hen or agoose, then; being
something of goose yourself, you will
know what to do with it."
Ri,t I wont com n tbo +bi,,lyo -
said Anne, after a moments thought.
That's not thinking thing the
Lowells have got" said Bob, pausing
in the midst of his whiting. cit looks
like roll of cottonwood dressed up
and laid in a crib
but it isn't. 1t can Just scream!"
said Anne, earnestly.
"Then I'll buy you dear little pig,
that. can squeal beautifully" said Bob.
"Make him stop, mamma" cried
Anne, her eyes full of tears. ''He's
teasing me, and | do want to adopt
something"
adopt me-" said Bob. "Td make
you nice big SON."
Il don't want you. I've got you al
ready" said Anne.
''Why, my dear, whom could you
adopt?" asked her mother, kindly.
" You already have father, mother,
sisters and brothers, uncles and
aunts'--
"Oh, know nowr' cried Anne. eve
haven't any grandmother! Why can't
we adopt one of them?"
"Well, we might, if we could find
stray old lady wandering about, and look
for some one to adopt her." said her
mother laughing, while Bob fairly
danced with fun at the idea.
Its not such a bad thought" said
Anne's mother, when she had got over
laughing. "Perhaps Aunt Betsy will
consent to be adopted for few
months"
''Splendidm calculated Anne. Cant
we 90 for her right away? 1t will be
so nice to have a grandmother in the
house"
80 it will, and perhaps papa will
drive over to Lexington tomorrow, and
see what she thinks about it." her
mother replied.
Aunt Betsy was the children's great
aunt, and, as Anne expressed it, plenty
old enough to be a grandmother. She
lived with step-daughter and her son
had borrowed what little money she
had, on interest.
The sons wife was not an agreeable
woman, and considered her mother-in-
law great burden. There was one
other son, whom people called wild and
a ''good-for-naught," wanderer 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 visit.
Annes idea of adopting grand
mother gave rise to other thoughts, and
her mother resolved to offer the old
lady home. No objection was made
TO this plan; her son made his mind
easy about the money he owed, by pay
ing interest, and troubling himself no
further.
1t was, indeed, delightful to feel that
she had home where everybody was
kind and attentive, a pleasant room
with her books, her knitting-work, her
stocking-basket close to her hand while
flowers and vines and pictures made
the 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 'grand-
ma and the old lady enjoyed the dis
tinction.
Anne took her under her own special
protection-she gathered flowers for
her, threaded her needle, took her hand
as they went to church, and sat close by
her in the pew, taking pains to let
everybody know that she was her adopt
ed grandma, feeling rather exultant
over the fact that she herself had pro-
vided this luxury for the family.
Aunt Betsy repaid her fondness with
interest. She dressed dolls, and cut
whole, though rather hideous, families
out of paper. She knit bright little
stockings and mittens, and kept store
of sugar-plums to which Anne had free
access.
Her granddaughter's little rocking
chair sat on the other side of the fire.
place; so close was the companionship
that Bob called them "our grand
mothars -