The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-07-08
M-+l
HER ADOPTED SISTER.
Hca . Dear Li..Io Girl Proved Hsr
Love Of Companl onshIp.


Elsie w's an only child. and except
Tor this iact had everything In the
world to make her happy Toys with
out number, a.il q host OF grown-ups,
who We'd with each other in their Of
forts to make their little relative
happy. Despite this, Elsie longed
for companionsllp of her oan 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
thing but attractive, to say nothing OF
occasional sore 4. IS and suspicious
coughs.
Elsie's mother felt very sorry for
her little girl and did all she could to
make her feel less iorlorn. In the
neighborhood where Elsie lived there
was not child near her dge. which
made the little girl very loL oily in her
big, shady yard, just the place for
hide-and-seek. tag and house, II she
only had some children to pNy 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 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
that Mrs. shaw had ever seen Her
large, dark eyes and tangled hair told
her that Elsie's friend was some little
italian from a settlement OF foreign
crs down on the railroad tracks.
Elsie. however, was all smiles. and
her companion as follows:
See. mother isn't she nice little
girl? Her name Is Esfneralda. She
says her mamma won't care because
she had five other children She's
three and half. and I've decided to
keep her to play with me. She's
very unselflsh, mother. She let's me
have my way all the time. and Is not
4 bit disobeying when we play. Be
cough or the measles. for asked her,
md she's clean--as least she's clean
IN the outside
I'm glad she's such nice little
yirl. but what are you doing up here2"
inquired Mrs Shaw
Were hiding admitted Elsie. Il
vas afraid the policeman might be
lunting for her so thought I'd
ring her way up here"
But. dear" said Mrs. Shaw, you
COULDN'T keep the little girl. Her
mother and father want her, even IL
hey have five other children. | am
'ery much, afraid that my little girl
las deliberately stolen a playmate,
Not stolen. mother Don't people
yer adopt little children? Well,
hats what have done I've adopted
Mrs. Shaw had great trouble in
ncing both children to come with
or. Taking one by each hand she
I'd them through the village, where
he learned that EsmeraIda lived.
pr consolation, and took the little
allan girl home. much to Elsie's sor-
lw
Not long afterward a friend Of
Irs. Shaw's died. way out West,
aving . little girl about Elsie's age
nprovided for Mr. and Mrs. Shaw
ad long consultation as to what
ley should do. but remembering FL
els experience with Esmeralda. de-
rmined to take the little orphan.
And they did and two weeks later,
e dearest. chubbiest. rosiest-cheell-
J, cleanest. little girl arrived at FL
6 home. From that ime onward
Isle was bissfully happy. Toys be-
me doubly pleasant, games assum-
new meanings, and simple pleas
es multiplied themselves. all be-
use Elsie now had some one 10
are them with her-her dear little
OPTED sister.