Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-06

lady while Rosy always was willing TO be
diligent The brown-eyed little girl had
made scrap book for the asylum children
that was admired and loved throughout the
length and breadth of the great recreation
room and increasingly shown to little new
orphans to make them feel at home.
Then one day mamma stood in the rec
reation room looking at them two. Time
had been busy with them again. and at
nine years of age Mauds fair curis hung
to her waist and ten-year-old Rosy had
plat OF which the whole asylum was proud.
THAT girl with the beautiful plait,'' said
the little old orphans to the little new or
phans. ''her name Is Rosy. She's been here
a long time, and the reason she's so big
Is because nobody can't take her away
unless they take Maud, too. Mauds the
other big girl, with the curls. Nobody
won't take EN- both"
This one you call Rosy would suit me,
I think said the mamma, whom Maud
tried to imagine was beautiful. but. some
how, couldn't. II just want her to help
around the house and run errands' But
you say they were put here with a condi-
ton and can't be separated? That's hard
on you folks. Who did it?
AN aunt" said the matron.
Does she visit them often?
mo; she brought them and left them:
She lives way off in the country, SAID
Rosy. in a soft little voice, land kathy
says she's awful poor"
"She can't come, she's too poor, said
Maud, emphatically.
whats your full name. little giri?" in
quired the mamma, looking at Rosy
Rosy Lawrence, said Rosy.
We've got neighbor named Lawrence,
said the mamma, whose own name, by the
way, was Mrs. Burdetts; John Lawrence,
a rich old fellow who has quarreied with
every member Of his family, folks say he
isn't married and there's talk In the neigh
borhood lately that he's kind of sorry for
playing the ogre and Is thinking of adopt
ing niece l don't know how true it is"
The matron smiled politely. -
What is playing the ogreF' asked Maud,
too curious to keep silent.
He plays it all right said Mrs. Bur-
dette, laughing, but | don't know now
can explain. Enough for little girl to
know Is that the OLD gentleman Is al
ogre
@He's got piles and piles of money" con-
tinued the visitor, turning again to the
matron.
Morgan, with the air of one trying to ap-
pear interested. The next minute she was
interested. 1t was shame for that olo
Mr. Lawrence to have lots and lots OF
money more than he knew what to DO
with very likely, while these two pretty Mt
tie girls also named Lawrence. were in
need Of home. Indeed, it was expedient
that they leave the asylum whose FUNDS
were far from abundant.
(Which one of you little girls likes to
work." asked Mrs. Burdette, cheerfully.
Cook things and bake pies and sweep
and make beds?, inquired Rosy, 90.
to go to school, because once there was
professor in our family. He was our
grandpa
well, do hear the child" cried the big
mamma, laughing heartily. How old are
you. Rosy?"
Ten, and 1 oughtn't to be here. neither
ought Maud. Baltimore got enough to
do to take care Of little bits of children.
Kathy said so before she went away to
keep house for her father
Who's Kathy?" asked Mrs Burdette. II
didn't know you ever had them big enough
to keep house. Miss Morgan"
"Kathy was fourteen said the matron,
''and her father paid her expenses. We
had her from a baby and we miss her very
much. She was special friend OF Rosy
| and Maud
We'll" said Mrs. Burdette, II don't see
| how you are going to keep your contract
| and let these children grow up here with
out father to pay for them. 1t WASH t
| half fair in the aunt anyway, 1t seems to
| me, to get such promise out of you. You
ought to try to place them in families liv-
| ing near together maybe some one in our
neighborhood would take the one with
curis.'
The matron had never thought Of this
| way of fulfilling her promise.
| How far do you live from here, Mrs.
| Burdette?" she asked. You could let me
known" +'."t' .' 'z-
Il live too far to travel the distance again
| In a hurry" answered the big mamma,
| while Mauds blue eyes regarded her scrut-
! Rosy you'll have to let me carry her back
| with me tomorrow afternoon. can call
| at O'Clock on my way to the train.
You think it possible that some one In
| your neighborhood might adopt Maud?''
asked the matron.
IL can't answer for my nelghbors," said
| Mrs. Burdette, especially with a hundred
miles between us, but I'll say this some of
| the folks around there are mighty hard up
| for children and I'll do my best to place
| her in a good home where she'll be properly
| raised. OF course they'll have TO send you
| their references"
IF the two are in families near together
I really think that will be fulfilling the con-
| tract as far as Is possible" said Miss Nor
| be. Mrs. Burdette, for you to take Maud
| with you. We would pay her board, $40 a
| month, while you are kindly taking the
| trouble to find her home"
Mrs. Burdette seemed pleased, "Why
| that will do all right" she said. It'll be
| best for the folks to see her showed
| you my references" and she was diving
| vigorously into the pocket of her travelling
| cloak.
Il saw them" said Miss Morgan they
| are very satisfactory. We never let the
! least of our little ones go away without be-
| ing satisfied that 1t is for the best
| will Rosy have to work, Miss Morgan %
| asked Maud, lump in her throat
| Shell not hurt herself at my house." as
| sured the big mamma.
| II don't mind working said Rosy
| Then Mrs. Burdette looked at Maud
! laughed and said, You won't have to work
| for awhile, anyway. You'll be a boarder
| for awhile"
"What'n Rosy be?" asked Maud, suspic-
| iously. ~
She'll be the little girl help" said Mrs.
| Burdette.
Things were always settled promptly al
| the asylum. Rosy and Maud would be there
! for another night; at 3 o'clock on the NOR
| row they would go away, perhaps never to
| return. That was the way with almost all
| of the orphans.
II wish Kathy was here" said Maud
| Wed have to give her goodbye" said
Rosy, land I know she'd cry. I'm glad
| she's not here
| II want to ask her something" said
| Maud. Il want to know what a border is
and what's little girl help" but her lips
| trembied over the last words, showing that
| she had an idea of their meaning.
Miss Morgan talking to me-" said
| Rosy, land she says that often it is better
| to be poor in this world than rich. You
| don't get spoiled
| But Maud put her arms around her sister
| and Rugged her fiercely. unsatsfied with
| the dispensation Of providence, and whis-
| pered brokenly. II think God might have
sent the beautiful mamma"
= 81 ,J,a al - ~.