Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-10-27
How We Adopted Johnny.
E z FLAGG.

E E. FLAGG.
Every body said it was absurd. or
aearlY every body. There were some
exceptions. just enough to prove the
rule that if YOU try to do good in an
uncommon way you mag count on
having the majority of your friends
and acquaintance against you Ii we
girle had gone without sugar in our
tea, and fixed over our old hats every
season, and turned our old dresses till
they reached the last verge of shabbi-
ness. til at we might save money to
help support an orphan asylum, no
one would have made the slightest OBJ
Jections. Everybody would have
thought it all right and proper; but to
adopt babyl take it right into our
home and hearts. who ever heard of
such u thing? And then Johnny's
father was an awful drunken brute.
Very likely ne had the hereditary taste
for liquor. and would turn out bad.
But Rose sententlously remarked that
IF nobody ever heard of such a thing
before it was high time they had;''
while Mag wanted to know 'if it was
poor Johnny's fault that he had
drunken father?'' adding with toss
OF her shapely head, What is the use
Of our being minister's daughters if we
cant do as we like?n
But though We thus threw down our
y,F -. 4 "a.
was not without some misgiyings that
we intruded into our father study
with this startling plan. Our father,
who was writing home missionary
sermon, paused in the midst of his
statistical researches and looked mildly
amazed. while Rue, being the eldest
aud alread engaged to teach the dis
trIct school, took upon herself the part
of laying it before him.
Il fear you do not realize the great
ness OF he undertaking. my daughters.
4 would not wish to discourage you in
any good work. but it is a great re-
spOnsibility to take child to bring up.
especially boy, and one who has"
Our father paused, but we knew
what was in his mind OH, that awful
law OF heredityi and set God is good
and even Nature is not all inexorable,
4ataIic slernness. There is forgiveness
with her, that she may be feared
''But, father, finally answered Rue.
you said yourself how you hated to
have johnny sent to the almshouse;
that such children needed especially
the moral education and the religious
restraints of Christian home"
'And we have planned it all among
ourselves" interrupted Mag. I'VE
shall make our old dresses last ever SO
long, and not lay out an extra cent
that we can help"
swell. my daughters / will think
about it"
And oar father returned to his list
of figures, thinking, no doubt, in his
secret heart that our wish to adopt lit
tie Johnny was mere Vagary of the
moment
1T is great undertaking, know"
remarked thoughtful Rue, as we shut
the study door behind us. We ought
90 count the cost first"
"As If we hadn't counted it hun
bred times already" exclaimed impul-
give Mag. Say, girls, am going off
straight this minute to get him. I'll
sell the matron we want to borrow him
for the day."
Aud away she ran, soon appearing
with little JOHNNY, for the almshouse
was was not far of. We looked ask
ance for a moment, first at each other
and then at him. Johnny put his fin
Z ger ia his mouth and returned the
compliment AS Mag had captured
him while engaged in testing the
'plastic properties of Mother Earth on
Che brink of the most convenient mud
puddle, he looked good deal like a
T very young pilgrim who had set out
7for the Celestial City, but fallen into
1.-the Slough of Despond by the way.
81 should think those things in the
bureau drawers upstairs might just fit
Johnny" suggested Rue family.
Oh" exclaimed Mag. but not an
ather word did she say; and we all
went upstairs, Rue leading Johnny,
large eyed and wondering. There
they were in the bureau drawer, lust
as when our DEAR dead mother folded
them up and laid them away, dropping
bitter tears, while we. in awe-struck
silence, followed her ON t,p-toe and
looked in. There they were in their
Gair, unwrinkled smoothness, with that
faint, sweet, shut-in order, which is
like no other that know Of. For ten
long years that little brother. just
JohnnY's age. had been living With the
angles. He did not need the pretty
embroidered frock. nor the tiny shoes
Yust worn little at the tip. nor that
CAV string of coral beads, yet it gave
as prang to disturb them.
When we had washed and dressed