Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-08-24
AN ADOPTED CHILD.

stare at me like thati She Is very dirty,
Simpson"
She'll wash, mem" T-s -r-
"Weil, 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 at Der in the home One can never
tell about that kind OF children"
Mrs. Lee turned away with sigh az the
housekeeper left the room az sl;
II don't know but | shall be sorry took
her," she thought "f my own little Elsie
had only been spared to me what a beantifui,
good little child she would have been by
this timer ftss f-
Two long years had passed since that cruel
day when the new nursemaid burst into the
room where sat the startled mother, crying,
"Shes goneI I've lost bern and ending with
burst Of hysterical tears. Oh, what hours
of vain and agonized search followed The
little baby daughter, left alone in her car
rage for a moment while the careless maid
entered a store to ask the price OF some
coveted article, had disappeared, nor could
one clew to her whereabouts be discovered
from that time -rr--
Gradually the belief that their darling had
in some way met an early death became fixed
in the minds Of the parents and they finally
ceased 10 feSaTu her hs ioos 0hu nfohH0a ioi
her as one dead.
Another year passed, and then fell the Sec
ond overwhelming blow Of the death Of her
husband, and after year OF Loneliness, being
comparatively wealthy, Mrs. Lee decided to
adopt into her home some little friendless
waif. instead Of the daughter who would
have been a comfort to her declining years
"Shes come, mother" she said, as the do"r
~ alIariv lady oufarad the
room. tts. ---
81 don't believe she will be pretty after all
and do so dislike homely children of that
class. Her eyes are too large-out of all pro-
portion-and her nose is so much too small"
"My dear" said her mother smiling,
'.when you were her age you were nearly all
eyes. and you had scarcely any nose at all to
speak Of. was sometimes afraid you would
never be presentable." She smiled with
motherly pride at the fair face opposite her.
"And, my dear" she continued, more
gravey, remember you have adopted her
now for your own, and have, perhaps, the
making or marring of her life in your banda
You must be patient with her and allow for
the difference in blood" "r
At this moment Mrs. Simpson entered, hold
ino the child by the hand. Both ladies ut
tered an exclamation. The rosy face fresh
from the bath, the straying locks caught
with a blue ribbon and twined into golden
curls, and the uniform of the home ex-
changed for dainty dress Of white, made
the child almost unacceptable. She slipped
her hand from Simpsons and crossed the
room with little, stately tread us 90 my
mamma r. she asked with sweet shyness
looking up at Mrs. Lee from under her long
lashes 'Sall me love oof'
mo. no, childr exclaimed Mrs. Lee, draw
ing back involuntarily; then, seeing the
hurt, disappointed look on the little ones
face, she added, 81 will love you. yes, If you
are a good child, but you must not call me
mamma, call me 'aunte. | can't help it,
mother" she said exctedly, answering the
look of disapproval, ~ can't give her Elsie's
place-nor Elsie's name, as you suggested.
We can call her Mabel after you, if you
like You know we were sorry we had not
named Elsie after you" she added. apologet-
icaly.
During this speech the child had been look
ing piteously from one to the other. Den
where is my motherF she asked.
Come in here, dear" said the elderly
lady BE good little girl and you will
find mamma. sometime" and she gathered
the little waif close in her motherly arms.
Den me wait" murmured the little one,
and in few minutes was fast asleep in her
new home.
"Whatover am to do with her, mother7
or all things detest an untruthful childr
"You are too harsh with her, my dear. A
frightened child will tell a lie nine cases out
of ten, where the truth would have done bet
ter | used to think | should never be able
to break your brother Of that very habit,
though he is now deacon in the church and
one of the most pious men KNOW
But she deceives me, mother, and the
other day missed that little coral pin Of
mine, and when | asked her for it she denied
all knowledge of it with the utmost limo
cence and then | found it shut close in her
little hand One can't teach child honor
and honesty when they have common blood
in their veins. | believe thoroughly in hered-
itary virtue and the refinement of an I'M
broken line of noble ancestry Mrs Lee
raises her head proudly, conscious of that
same noble line of ancestors for herself.
"You can't help plum trees bearing
pums mother neither can you help the
natural vices of the lower classes from ap-
pearing in one of their own, however much
of an exception she may be in the matter of
looks she finished. ta
Her mother smiled, then looked grave
81 do not by any means hold that the cir
cumstance of birth is responsible for our
little ones faults, Augusta" she said ''In
fact, your great grandfather was notorious
--swindler, my dear, though, to be sure, he
reformed and lived a Christian life for many
years before he died Because a man is
noble in name, he is not necessarily noble in
nature as well There are lords in novels
and louis in palaces. Remember the chi,d's
constant associations, my dear, and do not
expect three IloEths-or, possibly, even three
years--to entirely eradicate the training in
vice she has already received" go. -.s-
We'll. mother, l will give her another
trial" replied the daughter reluctantly,
"though lad almost made up my mind to
send her back and let her take her chances
with the rest. If she gives me 2sy proof
that Is, thSt she will improve in Tune"
Little feet pat;ered through the bali little
hands fumbied at the door.
Mes tuIn," she announced. stopping on
tie threshold With the wonderful intuition
Of childhood she scented danger Of some
kind and retreated to Mrs. Taunton's chair.
''Tell grandma what makes Mabel sach
naughty girl r said the latter, taking her
tenderly in her arms. --' $50. t5-
'Mabel dood now" protested the little one,
uastling her cheek on Mrs. Taunton's hand
mabel forriet, an de black man catch her
en- make her tell tories" This last with al
evident appreciation of her own imaginative
effort. SIC, -'
Augusta, how can you steel your heart
against herr cried the elder lady. gathering
the little. satisfied mite close and kissing the
Of her curly head
II don't. mother" answered Mrs Lee. with
tears in her eyes, II love her too we'll. am
sometimes afraid. But blood viii tell 30,
know, and too much indulgence will be sure
to spoil her. | am afraid the responsibility
will be too much for me, and that | must send
her back in the end" - ezs lGAt4
The child slipped down from her place and
stood before Mrs Lee with folded hands
Mabel be dood now she said grarely,
mabel love oo-dont send Mabel 'wayc
Her lip quivered ominously
Poor child" said Mrs. Lee, moved against
her will mo. Mabel shall stay If she will
be good
The next afternoon the ladies left the house
TO pay a promised visit, leaving Mabel seated
on the floor quietly engaged with a new pic
ture book, with big Bruno for company.
les Mabel be dood, she said in reply to