The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-09-29
Poor
Little
MeIitd
By Anna Hdyer!and

Melita was seven years old when,
her parents were divorced. They
agreed that the daughter should remain
with the mother and spend only her
vacations with her father, and the
child was told that the home was Civ
en- up because it was necessary for the
father to go on a long business jour
ney.
The little girl suffered a great deal
under the new arrangements. She was
always longing for her father. and
every day she asked: Isn't papa soon
coming back
| When the mother told her that papa
would never come back any more. lit
tie Melita was at first quite speech
less, then she cried: rs he dead. them
The mother blushed. NO, not dead"
she said. rather embarrassed.
IF he is not dead he surely can come
back 1 know. You arc only joking,
mamma. Are you not? He is COM
ing. soon, isn't he? But 'ell me then
mother" the little one cried
mo, it is really true, Melita," the
mother replied slowly.
But why don't we go to papa, then?
Why do we stay here? | am longing
so for papa. Do write him mama that
we want to go to him.
Il can't write that. darling
why not?' Melitta asked Surely
you can write anything to papa"
NO, l can't do that any more
II
without understanding anything why
can't you do it anymore she asked.
If I were to tell you, you would not
be able to understand it, darling
"Oh. yes, mama, / would
mo. dearie.'' the mother said sadly
''If you will not write to papa then
grandmother will do it, Melita cried
Grandmother will no more write 10
him than | will"
Then | will write myself mama II
can write letter that he can read. Tell
very plainly"
You must not do that, Melita After
while you can go to see your father.
when mama?''
"In the vacation
when is the vacation:'
soon
You very often say soon mama,
and still sometimes it lasts very long
before soon comes. am sure papa
is longing for us. I tell you that |
know that he wants us to come to him
eight away
IF you keep on like that l will not
allow you to go to him at ALL the
mother threatened impatiently. You
must be nice girl, you must not cry
or ask unnecessary questions, then I
will let you go TO see your papa, 9TH
erwise you stay here"
Il will stop crying" said Melita, and |
wiped the tears away. but no matter |
how hard she tried they came back all |
the time. Day and night she crie,l |
for her father. and the mother had TO
give in and send the child to her father
before vacation. Melita was delighted
to see her papa. but after she had been
with him a little while she began to
miss her mother.
Papa. dear. do write to mama. that
she shall come TO u.s. she cried and
night and day she spoke of her mother.
She did not find any rest in the
strange house. and the father had to
send her back home to her mother be-
lore the time was up.
He went with Melita and the nurse to
he station. The child thought her
papa was going along. and cried as If
Ter heart would break when he said
goodbye All attempts to make her
orget her sorrow were without result.
Nothing could deaden the pain of the
.hild's heart.
She was received with open arms by
Ter mother. who had bought new doll
md carriage for her. and who had set
he table with all the cakes that the
title girl loved but she did not even
ook at any of it. II
II don't want any doll. nor any
axes" she said. Il cannot be happy |
ere because papa is away" II
In a few days she quieted down
omewhat. but she kept on asking:
Mama. when am to go to see papa
gain?'- II
Next summer the mother replied.
nst to say something.
when is summer coming:" the child
sked II
I'm three months"
How much is three months:"
When you have said your morning |