Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-08-05
Written for the Northwest. !
MAGGIE.
By PHEBE FIELD.

II was little odd the way in which Mag
gle came TO rs.
You see sister Jane and had always plann-
ed to adopt some little houseless children
and bring them up, but everything had SEEM
ed TO hinder. ..r
There was brother Joe's family to be cared
for while he was in the war, for Joe's health
was poor for long while and he couldn't do
much.
Then sister Ellen came home to die, when
that good-for nothing husband Of hers left
her out West alone. She was sick we'll on to
two years, and when she died il was almost a
relief, for she was SO low-spirited and took
no interest in anything.
After that James health gave out and for
long time we we're almost afraid that she
never would be well again.
And all this time we had Jack, brother
Joe's boy, nearly all the time until he finally
went to college.
So you see though we had never given up
our plan, sister Jane and !, of making home
for the homeless and being mothers to some
Door little innocent souls that had never
known what 1t was to have mother; it had
someway been crowded out and set one side.
But that spring when Jane began to be
quite we'll and strong again, and there seemed
to be nothing special to hinder, we began to
take up the old idea and to think seriously of
taking child.
A. haI hakk fok n n hahv "
Jane suggested, "for then we can train it
from the start, and not have any bad habits
to overcome" And meekly consented,
though I did have few misgivings, for re-
membered Joe's wife's babies and what
trial they were in teething time, but did not
say word for Jane was SO pleased with the
idea, and talked about "our baby" long be-
fore we really got one.
We had quite time before we settled down
to take the child, for Jane felt as though she
must have them all when she saw the poor
little motherless things. We went to the
'.Orphan's Home" for we had decided wehad
rather have a child that we knew nothing
about, and one that had no relatives to come
hanging around. I told Jane she should have
the choosing, and finally, after a great deal
of changing her mind and an immense
amount of comparing the babies, she select
ed fine large boy, very handsome little
fellow of about six months. He looked per-
fectly healthy and hearty, and in reply to my
question, the matron said the child was per-
fectly we'll as far as she knew, only she be-
l.. Id oaIs
Well, we took him home in triumph; Jane
was happy and SO was I, though did feel a
little uneasy when thought of what the ma
tron had said about him.
We had made some clothes for our expect
ed child, but they all proved to be so small
that the boy could not be squeezed into
single garment, but we could easily make
more, so Immediately went down street to
purchase materials, leaving Jane to take care
of the baby.
It took me good while, for was not used
to selecting child's outfit, and when reach
ed home found Jane completely exhausted.
She had had to hold the great heavy child
every minute, and she had all the ornaments
down of the brackets and shelyes trying to
find something to amuse him.
took him then and Jane got dinner, and I
could not help noticing the alscity with which
she gave him over to me, and the relieved ex-
preston that overspread her face.
don't know what allied the child, or what
was the matter with our treatment of him,
but he worried and fretted all the rest of the
day, and finally along in the evening instead
of settling off to sleep, as we fondly hoped, he
began to scream as if in pain.
Jane was frightened but thought of what
the matron had said and concluded it was
only collie. But before the night was over
concluded "only collie" was more than had
bargained for. We we're up with that child
nearly the whole night; we gave it every
thing we could think of, and walked the floor
with it by turns. Jane went to the nearest
neighbors finally and got some one to go for
the doctor. When morning came the baby
was better, but Jane had to give up and go to
bed, while it seemed to me that had never
been so tired in my life.
I told Jane that thought the baby had bet
ter go back to the Home, for it would certain
ly be the death of us before we would get it
raised
She made no objections and took the child
back.
Nothing more was said about taking a
child, and we had settled down into our usual
quiet routine, when one evening as we were
sitting in our pleasant little parlor there came
q ring at the door. When had opened the
door slim young girl stood there who asked
timidly "does Mrs. Brown live here?" "No,"
I said, "the Miss Browns live here"
She looked disappointed, and soon found
that she was in search of Mrs. Thomas
Brown, who lived quite atthe other end of the
city on Pine street.
saw that she looked pale and weak, and
leaned against the door for support, and her
face looked ghostly white in the moon light.
She was turning wearily away when I said
"you look tired, come in and rest awhile"
She flashed grateful glance at me from
her great dark eyes and followed me in with
out word. lied her into the parlor where
sister Jane sat reading, and she sank into a
chair and turned 80 white that l thought she
was going to faint.
She rallied. and after sitting short time
and drinking the glass of milk brought her,
she thanked me and said she was quite rested
now and would go.