Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-20
THEM TWO. !"
copyright. 1905, by Louise R. Baker.)
Written fo= The Star
CHAPTER ".

ana Maud wondered at both as they stood
together on the back yard gate looking
out over the world.
II wouldn't want to live there for moth
ing. said Maud. decidedly pointing a
plump finger at the ghostly farm house;
then her blue eyes sought the tall trees
and the chimneys, and the magniicence OF
the great house OF the neighborhood sank
into her soul There's where I'd like to
live, Rosy she said
Il guess it's a pretty place" said Rosy
Il guess If there are children there they
have nice time"
L guess they do said Maud obviously
Il guess they've got horses TO drive and
lots of things. Mrs. Burdette's piano. she
added gravely, sounds like an old tn pan
Ii was her I'd burn it up,
Rosy smiled radiantly. Kathy had said
long ago that she was sure Maud had
talent for music, a very great talent be-
cause she sang an air correctly when she
was a little bit of gil and always $ opped
playing with her doll to lis en- to the asylum
PIANO, which was kept in excellent tune.
Rosy herself did not know, by the sound
OF IL, whether Mrs. Burdettes piano was a
most excellent instrument or one that in
justice to the melody, ought to be burned:
but if Maud thought it sounded like an old
tin pan, why, it did. She was proud OF
her sisters talent.
"If there are children in that house.
pity them
II guess they have to work" said Rosy,
but people work and be happy only
you ought to know how. | made a terrible
looking bed this morning, Maud"
i don't like any re alton of mine to be
making Mrs. Burdettes old feather beds"
said Maud haughtily. She's big, and ought
to make them herself"
Il don't mind making beds" said Rosy,
but wish kathy or somebody at the
asylum lad shown me how to do it Mrs
a hat 10
big girls weren't taught to make beds
It's none of her business said Maud.
Il wish kathy or somebody had shown
me how to sweep" Rosy went on sadly.
They used TO let Kathy sweep the recre-
alton room whenever she wanted TO.
thought II was easy; but it's terrible hard
10 get dust out of the corners, and il
makes you perspire to sweep carpets. /
like to wash dishes only it hurts your
hands"
She looked at her little rough hands.
then placed them beside Maud's and gave
a low little laugh in which there was no
Jealousy. Don't they look different she
questioned
:" Tain't fair" said the blue-eyed girl,
something rising in her throat. Rosy.
don't YOU wash her dishes"
Il think said Rosy. Frightening that
it doesn't hurt the hands. because Mrs.
Burdette's been washing dishes all her life
and her hands are white and soft My,
what lot OF dishes Mrs. Burdette must
have washed
Then the children's attention was at
tracted by queer looking little figure
darting out from the old farm house and
running toward them.
It's girl" said Rosy
And she isn't bit afraid of the cows"
gasped Maud, full of fearful admiration
Look, she's running right In front of the
her arms in great state of agitation -.be
careful, They might poke you. Little girl,
little girl, the old red COW is going to butt
your
The little girl however, arrived at Mrs
Burdette's back yard gate in a safe and
sound condition, although she was painting.
only got a minute she explained
but seen you on the gate and | want to
know what a "sylum' really is"
Rosy and Maud laughed. II seemed very
funny to them two" for anybody to be
asking what an asylum really was
ITS beautiful great big house." said
Maud
with small beds in it and little chairs
and low tables" said Rosy.
rs the victuals good?' inquired the new
conner.
Things to eat?" queried Rosy.
The little girl from the farm house
"splendid"' said Maud Mrs. Burdette
says she's going to have oatmeal, TOO, when
the other boarders come"
You're the little girl boarder amt your
asked the visitor.
Maud nodded.
and you're the little girl help?" Her
eyes rested on Rosy.
Yes" said Rosy
Me and you, said the visitor still ad-
dressing Rosy, while smile broke over
her fra round face I'VE ought for to be true
yonder." She waved at the lonely farm
house.
I'VE saw you coming" said Maud. s'But
live at an asylum
NO" said the visitor Folks don't have
fathers and mothers at 'sylums do they"
'Kathy had a father, said Maud. But
you don't know who Kathy is. She's a big
girl that stayed at the asylum and went to
school. o. Rosy" she added, sudden light
breaking in upon her. 'Kathy must have
her keep. The asylum was a better place
to board than Mrs. Burdette's. wasn't ftp
Mrs, Burdette sets a good table" said
the visitor.
Little girl" said Rosy, you haven't told
US your name"
Mary Ann" said the visitor "Onct I
lived in the mountuns, over yonder" This
time she pointed to the blue hills that
could be seen far away.
Are they mountains?" inquired Maud.
They look like they go up to the skies.
How could you live there?'
The mountuns is all right said Mary
Ann; they don't go UP to the skies. They've
got houses on EN- same as the houses down
here, only most of ems little 1 got a
father and mother in the mountuns, but
amt seen 'em for long time. I've done
lived with Mrs. Brown for two years and I
like 1t fuSt rate when you git your Sun
day off, Rosy, me and you'll go walking in
the woods, and she can go long If she amt
too stuck up
What is a Sunday 2" asked Rosy.
Mary Ann showed two rows of very even
and very white teeth.
They're all sayin' round here that 'sylum !
children don't know nothin'.'' she said, but
don't think I'd ever come acrost a girl |
who didn't know about Sunday off. Maybe |
Mrs. Burdette'H be mean enough to say |
nothin about it, but you tell her that Mary |
Ann from Mrs. Browns was over to see |
you and was making arrangements to show |
you folks around the neighborhood on your |
Sunday off. There's the loveliest crick down |
in the woods and more wild flowers than |
ever thought growed outside the mountuns. |
Mrs. Brown she was sayin' yisday that |
'sylum boys and girls had awful funny |
names, but Rosy and Maud's plain common. |
I reckon Mrs. Brown knows more about |
Inlkin' cows and jarrin' fruit than she |
knows about 'sylums. Maybe now you
wasn't called Rosy and Maud when you was |
there, was your"
She looked so interested and eager that |
Rosy glad to be able TO tell her that |
they were also called them two"
"What?' demanded Mary Ann.
-bnx,, trxyr said nd and n