The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-04-02
Little Mother.
BIZ LYNDON BURKR.

Sis was out In the bedroom playing with
the baby, who kicked and laughed and
gurgied In an ecstacy OF life. The two
year-oic was roguish fellow, aud. as his
mother was too busy TO devote much time
20 MIN, Sis was Is principal caretaker.
Iney called her Little Mother. How baby
loved ner! Sometimes he was a bit tyr
an1icai, and kept her playing with him
ana nursing hin. when she would rather
nave played with dolls; but, on the whole.
she nked his merry ways, and made him
q substitute for the ordinary girls doll
Do 1t adm F." gurgled Baby. as Sis
played her face on his little round breast
ana caused him to scream from the tick
ing. with series of baby words. which
no one can Initiate unless talking to n
onDy, SIS repeated the 'eating-up" proc
eSs while Baby shouted and struggled In
Mrs Trask was getting ready the break.
iast In the room that served as both
Kitchen and dinin room. Mr.. Trask was
away from the town at work. Above
the aroma a Of boiling coffee It seemed to
ner sne could detect a smell OF burning
wood. Once she thought she had heard
the cracking of flames She opened the
door to the bedroom, but glance showed
her that all was we'll there.
Sis, you had better get Baby dressed"
shc said, as she re-cntered the kitchen
through the Enclosed door.
Ihere was third room, used chiefly
for storage, to one side, and through this
the pipe led to the 6ue in the farther
wall. Mrs, Trask opened the door, aud
was Mortified as volume of smoke ana
a mass OF flames shot into the room. The
whole Interior .Tas on fire. 1t required
only q glance to tell her that she alone
would be unable to quench the flames
She slammed the door shut to cut Off
the draught.
sis, the house is on frer she shouted.
Wrap the baby In a blanket and take
him down stairs. Quickl"
Opening the door TO the hall, she gave
hnE -
draughts In the stove, she gathered hur-
riedly a few clothes in bundle to carry
down stairs.
IL, the meantime Sis had carefully bun
died baby In the bedclothes, her aim not
only being to save him, but also as much
clothing as possible. She had all she
could lug down the long fight of stairs to
the, street AS the cold OF the outside
broke. In on. them baby screamed and
kicked, .deeming 1t a treat, aud In doing
SO he loosened some OF his wrappings.
and tripped Sis, who fell headlong But the
Little Mother was too loyal to her charge
to let him be hurt, and held him SO that
when. she clambered to her feet he was
was splendid frolic. Her side hurt, but
she carried her little brother to Mrs.
Carson's up stairs half n block away,
where. she laid him on the bed to rest
herself.
Meanwhile the other dwellers In the
house had turned In an alarm of fire, but
ere the department came they had the
fire put out When Mrs. Trask went TO
Mrs. Carson's, after 1t was all over, to
get her baby, she noticed Sis holding her
side, with drawn expression on her
face.
Are you hurt, Sis?"
my side hurts she said.
A doctor was Immediately summoned,
and he found that Sis had broken a rib
In her fall.
but the child is safe" he said. MADAM,
this little grl-this Little Mother-is
heroine"
mo, not that" said Sis. blushing.
''Yes, just that" answered the doctor;
land to show you that | mean II and
appreciate your deed | shall give you my
services for nothing, little GIRL"