The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-10-20
AN ADOPTED CHILD.
Growsyour

"And her eyes are so big and-chili,
don't stare ut me like shat! She is very
dirty, Simpson"
"Shenl wash, men,"
"Well, take her away and do the best
you can with her. I'm afraid she won't
turn out TO be as pretty as | thought she
would when / looked ut her in the home.
One can never tell about that kind Of
children"
Mrs. Lee turned away with q sigh as the
housekeeper left the room.
II don't know but shall be sorry took
ner," she thought. "If my own little Elsie
mad only been spared to me what a beauti-
full, good little child she would have been
by this time!"
Two long years had passed since that
cruel day when the new nursemaid burst
into the room, where sat the startled
mother, crying, "She's gone! I've lost
herm and ending with burst OF hystericai
tears. Oh, what hours of pain and agon-
lied search followed. The little baby
daughter, left alone in her carriage for a
moment while the careless maid entered
store to ask the price OF some coveted
article, had disappeared, nor could one
clew 10 her whereabouts be discovered
from that time.
Gradually the belief that their darling
had in some way met an early death be
came fixed in the minds of the parents,
and they finally ceased to regard her as
lost and mourned for her as one dead.
Another year passed and then fell the
secoad overwhelming blow of the death of
her husband, and after ayear of loneliness,
being com paratively wealthy, Mrc. Lee de
oided to adopt into her home some little
friendless waif, instead of the daughter
who would have been q comfort to her de-
clining years.
"She's come mother" she said, as t.e
door opened and an elderly lady entered
the room.
81 don't believe she will be pretty after
aIl-and do so dislike homely children
or that class. Her eyes are too large
ont of all proportioA-and her nose is so
much too small"
"My DEAR" said her mother, smiling,
"when you were her age you were nearly
all eyes, snG you had scarcely any nose
at all to speak of. / was sometimes
afraid you would mover be presentable."
She smiled with motherly pride at the
fair face opposite her.
"And, my DEAR" she continued, more
gravely, remember ou have adopted her
now for your OVID, and have, perhaps, the
making or marrying OF her life in your
hands. Eou must be patient with her
and allow for the difference in blood"
At this moment Mrs. Simpson entered
holding the child by the hand. Both
ladies uttered an exclamation. The rosy
face fresh from the bath, the strayjng
caught with a blue ribbon and twined into
golden curls, and the uniform of the
| al mt
white, made the child almost unrecogniza
BILE. She slipped her hand from Simp
sons and crossed the room with little
stately tread. 'Is 90 my mammas sh:
asked with sweet shyness, looking up a
Mrs. Lee from under her long leshes
J "S'all me love oog"
"No, no, childl" exclaimed Mrs. Lee
drawing back involuntarily; then seeing
i, the hurt, disappointed look on the little
, ones face, she added, "I will love you, yes
, if you are good child, but you must no
, cali me smamma,' call me 'auntie.' can
) help il, mother" she said excitedly, ans
, wer,ng the look of disapproval, Il can
, give her Elsie's place-nor Elsie's name
(. as you suggested. You can call her Ma
bell after you. if you like. You know W
were sorry We had not named Elsi
after you," she auded, apologetically.
I During this speech the child had beer
8 looking piteou'iy from one to the othe!
"Den where IS my motherw she asked.
"Come in here, dear" said tho elderl
lady. BE good little girl and so
will find a mamma, sometime" asd sh
gathered the little waif close in her moth
erly arms.
e "Den me wait,n murmured the littl
J one, and in few minutes wss fast hslee
in her new home.
G .'Whatever am to do with her, moth
D err or all things / detest an untruthfr
: childr'
!. "You are too harsh with her, my dea
y A frightened child will tell a lie min
@ cases out of ten, where the truth woui
q have done better. used TO think shoul
D never be able to break your brother G
Q that haoit, though he is now deacon /
the church and one of the most pious me
Q / know"
''But she deceives me, mother, and tn
, other day missed that little coral pin c
!, mine, and when | asked her for il she d.
! MED all knowledge of it with the utmo'
innocence, and then found it shut clos
!, in her little hand. One can't teach chill
II honor and honesty when they have com
4 mon blood in their veins, l belieS
!. Thoroughly in hereditary virtue and I'll
!. refinement of an unbroken line of mob
% ancestry" Mrs. Lee raises her hea
T. proudly, conscious of that same mob
NJ inc OF ancestors for herself.
d "You can't help plumb trees bearin
" plumbs, mother; neither can you help I'll
natural vices of the lower classes fro
appearing in one of their own, howev
l. much of au exception she may be in Il
,r matter of looks" abe finished.
d Her mother smiled, then looked grav
Is ~ do not by any means hold that ii
ID circumstance of birth is responsible II
IT our little ones faults, Augusta" she sal
le "In fact, your great grandfather was
rs notorions-swind!er, my dear, though,
1T be sure he reformed and led Christii
! life for many years before he died. B