Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-12-28

- phan lad whose father
was killed in a railroad
accident when jeffrey
was a tiny baby in his
!. !. !. !. !. J: !. !. !. 1. !.
E&4kSNa mothers arms. And the
2fNH mother had been made
ESSlI(ESf SO ill by the sudden
a& ] & death 81 little Jenrey's
~ father that she was no
h Ws'U longer able to care for
eEzSssT1s& her baby and few
months later she went to join The IA
Their and baby jeffrey was left all
alone in the world
Then friendly ncighbors who had
too many babies of their own to find
room for this little fatherless and
motherless boy had him taken TO an
orphan asylum and he grew up with
80 other boys and girls who had no
mother or father.
When Alice Lane came to the
home she was eight years old Her
mother and father had died within
a few weeks OF one another and it
was a sad-eyed little girl who crept
about the big rooms of the home.
Little jeffrey had a big heart and he
felt very sorry for Alice.
On the third day after her ar
rival he walked mp TO her and plant
ing himself in front Of her he said:
Alice Lane why do you cry SO
much? Why don't You play?"
He was such q funny. freckle-faced
little fellow that Alice smiled a faint
little smile. IL was the first one since
her mothers death Then the tears
came again and she sobbed:
i want mamma. Jeffrey. want
papa. too. aud my own home This ifs
big and lonesome and they don't love
you like mamma and napa"
From that time on Alice and jeffrey
were the best OF friends Tie was
such a cheerful little fellow and often
so dron that many times Alice
laughed I'm spite of herself.
But when Alice began 10 talk much
OF her home and her mamma and rsDa
he began 20 wish for one. too. The
wish grew and grew until az last he
felt that there was nothing I'm the
world that ne wanted except n moth
or and a father and a home When
Christmas time came and the chill
dren wrote their wishes on a piece OF
paper one OF the house mothers read
In Jenrey's. Pies. don't want
nothing but father and a mother
and home with flowers in the win
dow"
From time TO time children we're
taken from the orphans home by peo-
pie who had NO children OF their own
The house mother hoped so much
that little Jeacry would be chosen
and his wish granted. But the people
who came passed by the eager little
fellow who eyed each newcomer
hopefully.
SC Christmas day passed and Jen-
rey received swCotmeats and warm
clothing and an iron engine. but not
the father and mother and home.
He cried himself 20 sleep that night
and Alice had TO turn comforter for
the next few days.
Mamma always said New Years
was the lucky day and maybe you'll
get them then. And II you don't. then
you Will some other time, cause Moth
er Burns said she'd try"
On New Years morning jeffrey
was awake early, and his first thought
was:
Maybe the mothern come TO-DAY. -
few hours later a very pretty
woman dressed in velvet and furs fol.
lowed by tall man came to the home.
Little jeffrey looked up hopefully. But
the woman seemed not TO see the boys
for her eyes were scanning the faces
OF the little girls. When she same to
Alice she started:
That's the one. Jerome" she said
eagerly. The same gentle face and
blue eyes and golden hair. We must
have her. II will seem like having our
little Alice back again."
When she learned the name OF the
little girl she had chosen she was
still more interested.
You would like to go home with me.
dear. wouldn't your" she asked
Alice.
yes. ma'am." answered Alice. hut
1 couldn't so without jeffrey, cause
he's been my friend and he wants a
father and mother so bad"
"Ch, but ! don't want a little boy.
dear. / just want one little girl 10
make IL seem as though my own Alice
were living" answered the lady.
Then / can't come" said Alice. 'un-
less they make me go"
For few moments the man and
woman talked together and the man
seemed TO see ia little jeffrey all the
things that other people had missed.
He saw the honest blue eyes. the firm
mouth and the manly walk. and he
saw years ahead when the same little
boy might be- his partner in business.
Then he said TO jeffrey.
I'VE want a son. as well as a daugh-
tetr. So We Will take you home md
give you a happy New Year"
New Years is the lucky day, isn't
it?" answered Jeffrey, beaming into
the faces of his new parents. And
the smile won the lady's heart and
she took him as gladly as she did