Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-16
BABY ELISE.

Baby Elise came to mamma in the regu-
lar fairy-story way. when Dolly and Nab
We're about three years old. She was really
found in basket at the front door, late
one night. when Bridget was locking up
the house. Such dear little mite of a
thing. all pink and white. with hair like
spun gold and eyes as blue as the sky-so
different from Dolly and Nab, who looked
twin ponies. with their brown locks and
bright black eyes. OF course. when they
heard the news next morning, there was
great excitement. and the twins were
| nearly wild with joy. Mamma herself took
| the baby straight to her heart. rejoicing
| when the weeks and months passed and nc
| one claimed it.
Meantime. Baby Elise grew prettier and
prettier. and she celebrated her first birth
day in great style; she had a party and
cake with one candle on top. and she
looked on with great good humor, though
Dolly and Nab ate up everything, for she
could only take milk. And right in the
center of the table, in honor of the occa-
sion was the very basket which Bridget
had brought into the library on that cold
night year ago but now it looked DIFF
ferent, for mamma had gilded it and tied
a big blue bow on the handle; she had
filled it. too. with white rosebuds-"For
my white rosebud nestled there once,
she often said.
And how did We Gomez" asked Dolly
and Nab in tones distinctly grieved. for
they admired the basket immensely.
On. a March wind blew you down and
I caught you before you FELL" answered
mamma with a laugh.
But this explanation did not sa tisfy the
twins.
I'VE must have come in something"
said Dolly to Nab.
Course said Nab to Dolly. and their
souls We're troubled.
Every year this question came up for
discussion and every year mamma had
the same answer ready for them. and
every year. too. Baby Elise had her cake
with extra candles. and the gilded basket,
and the blue bow, and the white rosebuds
As the twins neared their eighth birth
day they felt that something must be
done. They loved their little sister very
dearly and We're never tired Of hearing
story. too and felt that theirs was hidden
around somewhere. They said nothing to
mamma. but they resolved to hunt
through the house.
Upstairs and downstairs they peeped in
every nook and corner, but in vain--they
could find nothing. At last one day they
ventured into the cellar and before they
had gone very far they stumbled over
something which proved to be two small
peach baskets, one stuck fast to the
| other.
oh cried Dolly. pulling them apart.
| here they are-our baskets! 1 knew
wee find EN- somewhere.
The twins lugged them upstairs and hid
them away in the nursery closet, but they
looked very dirty and ugly. There was a
painter at work downstairs in the par
| Tor. Dolly and Nab consulted him, and
the result was that he carried the baskets
Off one evening when no one was about
and brought them back a week later
spick and span in their glossy white
paint. The twins were jubilant; they
made marvellous bows of pink and green
their favorite colors-and tied them On.
and then they waited. The eighth birth
day came around; they had a party-with
a big cake and eight double candles on
the top. and there at the head and foot
of the table stood the baskets. filled with
flowers-bought with the afternoon pen
MES they had saved up.
Mamma needed no explanation-she
laughed as they put the case before her.
but she looked grave a moment later.
No" she said, gently but firmly. those
never held my babies. though they are
very pretty and / will keep Them
But how" they questioned, still un-
satisfied.
God had his own way" said mamma,
and something like awe stole into the
solemn little faces.