Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-09
JACK.
BY BELLE MOSES.

BY BELLE MOSES.
Every one agreed that Evelyn Gregory
was queer child. "Of course, 1t Is natu-
raj that she should be queer" every one
said' for the poor little mortal to have
four parents is rather too much of a good
| thing
AND so 1t was, for papa and mamma
and grandpa and grandma each owned a
share of this "only child" and had wonder
full ideas about bringing her up.
She must be an exception to the ordinary
only child" declared the two generations
OF Gregorys. and they were SO afraid of
spelling her by contact with other children
not SO well behaved that until she was
quite big girl she had no companions of
her own age. That she should have been
Happy, Happy under these circumstances was
enough to prove that she was queer but
no one knew with what longing she looked
OUT upon the forbidden. glorious world of
romps and games-until Jack came.
HOW he got there no one ever knew
least of all Evelyn-but after a long and
lonesome rainy day, when nurse had tuck
60 her up snugly for the night and the
nrelight danced merrily all over the floor,
Evelyn thought she saw another crib close
beside hers and the dearest little baby boy
sitting up and staring about him with
round. sleepy eyes.
Jack, Jack!' she cried with delight.
ana, stretching out her arms, she snatched
him up and covered him with kisses.
II any one had peeped into the nursery
at that minute they would have seen only
an excited little girl standing straight up
IN bed, hugging herself very tight and
kissing her own chubby hands. But Eve
Ign knew better-it was Jack-her darling
little brother Jack, and he had come to
stay with her always.
She told mamma all about it the next
morning In her quaint, solemn fashion, and
was quite charmed when mamma gave her
permission to play with Jack whenever
she liked, so every night JACKS crib grew
up beside her own In the nursery and
every morning while she was being dressed
she dressed Jack very carefully, and all
day long she talked and played with him,
until Jack-the fanciful creation of a queer
child-began to occupy a real place in the
household. Evelyn never forgot him under
any circumstances; wherever she went,
whatever she did, Jack was there, and
whenever she walked in the street she
always held out her hand as If she were
holding Jacks and talked to him as earn
estly as If he were really trotting beside
her.
What did it matter IL other little girls
and boys had sisters and brothers. She
had brother-the dearest. sweetest thing,
and there were thrilling adventures now to
fill up each day.
An only child has to be dressed about
three times as often as three children, or
even a half dozen children, and when an
Olliy Ciliiu HdppoHS 10 nave long KOI0en
curls and very particular nurse those
are times Of suffering indeed; but Jacks
coming made a difference, because as
mamma said. she had to be very good and
patient for fear of being bad example for
Jack.
As she grew older and the curls were
gathered together In bright, thick plat,
she sorrowfully decided that Jacks hair
must be cut. That was an awful day. She
took him into the nursery and talked to him
very kindly about it, but poor Jack cried
and cried, and she cried. too, while she
shipped them of with her own hands. But
Ign told of the dreadful scene in the nursery
she was glad to hear her mama say that
short hair was very becoming to Jack and
maze him look so much more like a real
boy.
There came day at last when it was de-
cided to send Evelyn to school: she was
nearly eight years old, and could read and
write quite nicely; she had even taught
and they could both do difficult sums in
addition and subtraction.
Il wonder II Miss Murray takes boys"
she said. when she and her mother were
discussing the new school, I'D like Jack
to 60"
II never thought Of asking said Mrs.
Gregory with a smile. but 1 think you
and then they both laughed, for Jacks
bringing up was a quiet joke between them.
Evelyn was very shy at first; she and
JACK COWeTeu together On the same seat
and gripped hands very tightly under her
desk, but her new companions were very
nice children and did their best to put her
at her ease. so at the end of week she
began to feel quite at home.
1t is wonderful how fast this only child
fell into the ways Of the others. but, sad
to relate poor Jack was very much neg
lected. When one has dozen real little
girls to play with. it follows quite nat
urally that a "make-believe" brother Is not
so necessary as a companion.
After the first few days at school Evelyn
decided that 1t was better to leave him
at home, so every morning she settled him
comfortably in the nursery, surrounded by
all her picture books and toys, gave him
out him; but she was very particular about
his lessons when she came home going
over and over them with him, until he and
she knew them by heart. and when the
night came, and they were supposed to be
sound asleep she would tell him all the
days doings. chattering away as she had
always done.
The strangest part of it all was that she
never told her new friends about Jack.
They wouldn't understand she said to
herself, as she gave Jack an extra remorse-
full kiss and took him out for a walk.
Buff things grew worse and worse for poor
Jack. The nursery was invaded by these
strange little girls. and Evelyn had to shake
her head and make signs to him to keep
in the room. She was actually ashamed of
Jack, and she sometimes forgot to take him |
out for days together.
One Sunday morning-a very particular |
Sunday, for Evelyn was going to church |
with mama-she was unusually grave and |
quiet. not even the knowledge that under |
her long coat was dainty new dress and |
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