Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-15
HER ADOPTED SISTER

Elsie was an only child. and except for
this fact had everything in the world to
make her happy. Toys without number
and host of grown ups, who We'd with
each other in their efforts to make their
little relative happy. Despite this. Else
longed for conpanionship of her own age,
and would leave toys, playhouse pony.
for any child she could find. This was all
right in itself, but Elsie was not very choice
In her friends. They might be dirty. ragged
and anything but attractive, to say MOTH
Ing of occasional sore eyes and suspicious
coughs.
Elsie's mother felt very sorry for her
little girls and did all she could to make
her feel less foriorn. In the neighborhood
where Elsie lived there was not a child
near her age. which made the little girl
very lonely in her big. shady yard, just the
place for hide-and-seek, tag and house. If
one only had some children to play with.
One day, Elsie's mother looked out in the
yard, but Elsie was nowhere to be seen.
repeated calls brought no response, al
though the house was searched. In little
while Mrs. Shaw heard some scampering
little feet way up in the tower, and climb
ing there found Eisie-and the most dis
reputable specimen of a little girl that Mrs.
Shaw had ever seen. Her large, dark eyes
and tangled hair told her that Else's friend
was some little italian from settlement of
.
Elsie, however, was all smiles. and intro
duced her companion follows
See mother, isn't she nice little girl?
Her name is Esmeralda. She says her
mother won't care because she had five
other children. She's three and half, and
I've decided to keep her to play with me.
She's very unSelfish, mother. She let's
me have my way all the time, and is not
bit disobeying when play. Besides,
she hasn't either whooping cough or the
measles. for L asked her. and shes clean
at least she's clean on the outside
I'm glad she's such a nice little girl, but
what are you doing up here?' inquired Mrs.
Shaw.
Were hiding" admitted Elsie. 81 was
afraid the policeman might be hunting for
her. SO 1 thought I'd bring her way up
here"
But DEAR" said Mrs Shaw. you
couldn't keep the little girl. Her mother
other children. 1 am very much afraid that
my little girl has deliberately stolen play
mate
mot stolen mother. Don't people ever
adopt little children? Well, that's what l
have done. I've adopted Esmeraida.
Mrs. Shaw had great trouble inducing
both children to come with her. Taking
one by each. hand she led them through
meralda lived. She bought both children
some candy consolation, and took the little
Italian girl home much to Elsie's sorrow:
Not long afterward a friend of Mrs.
Shaws died, way out west, leaving a little
girl about E1sie's age unDrovided for. Mr..
and Mrs. Shaw had a long consultation as
to what they should do, but remembering
Elsies experience with Esmeralda, deter
mined Ito take the little orphan.
And they did, and two weeks later. the
dearest chubbiest. rosiest-cheeked, clean
est little girl arrived at Elsie's home. From
that time onward. Elsie was blissfully
happy. Toys became doubly pleasant.
games assumed new meanings. and simple
pleasures multiplied themselves. all be-
cause Elsie now had some one to share
them with her-her dear little adopted
sister