Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-07-21
s Agk ADOPTED SISTER. =
How a Dear Little Girl Proved Her
Love of Companionshp.

Love OF compromising.
Elsie was an only child, and except
for this fact had everything in the
world 10 make her happy. Toys with
out number, and host of grown-ups,
who wed with each other in their Ell
forts to make their little relative
happy. Despite this, Elsie longed
for companionship of her own age.
and would leave toys, playhouse or
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 any
tnng but attractive, To say nothing Of
occasional sore eyee and suspicious
coughs
Elsie's mother felt very sorry for
her little girl and did all she could to
make her feel less forlorn. 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 she
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, although the house was
searched In a little while Mrs Shaw
heard some scampering little feet
way up in the tower. and climbing
there found Elsie-and the most dis
reputable specimen of little girl
h,t 4
large, dark eyes and tangled hair told
her that Elsies friend was some little
Italian from a settlement of foreign
ers down on the railroad tracks.
Elsie. however, was all smiles. and
introduced her companion as follows.
See, mother, isn't she nice little
girl? Her name is Esmeralda She
says her mamma won't care because
she had five other children. She's
three and half. and I've decided 70
keep her to play with me She's
very unselish. mother. She lets me
have my way all the time. and is not
q bit disobeying when we play Be
sides she hasn't either the whooping
cough or the measles, for ! asked her.
dllu sic Nltdil ltdSl SHt CltdH
on the outside"
I'm glad she's such a nice. little
girl but what are you doing up here?"
inquired Mrs. Shaw.
We're hiding" admitted Elsie 81
was afraid the policeman might be
hunting for her. so | thought I'd
bring her way up here"
tsnut cafd Chan
couldn't keep the little girl Her
mother and father want her. even il
they have FIVE other children. am
very much afraid that my little girl
has deliberately stolen a playmate
Not stolen. mother. Don't people
ever adopt little children? Well.
that's what have done. I've adopted
Esmeralds
Mrs. Shaw had great trouble in
ducing both children to come with
her. Taking one by each hand she
led them through the village where
she learned that Fsmeralda lived.
She bought both children some candy
for consolation and took the little
Italian girl home. much 10 Elsies sor-
row.
Not long afterward a friend OF
Mrs. Shaws died, way out West,
leaving a little girl about. Elsie's age
unprovided for Mr. and Ms. Shaw
had a long consultation as TO what
they should do. but remembering FL
sizes experience With Esmeralda, de-
termined to take the little orphan.
And they did. and two weeks later.
the deanest ohubbiest, rosiest-cheek-
ed. clesnest. little girl arrived at FL
sizes home. From thar ime onward
Elsie was blissfAy happy Toys be
came doubly pfeakant, games assum.
ed lew meanings and simple pleas
urss multiplied themselves. all be-
cause Elsie now had some one to
share them with her-her dear little
adopted sister.