The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-12-27

her baby and few
months later she went 20 join the ia
ther and baby jeffrey was left all
alone in the world
Then friendly neighbors 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
so other boys and girls who had no
/ mother or father.
When Alice Lane came 10 the
home she was eight years old. Her
mother and father had died within
few weeks Of one another and IL
was a sad-eyed little girl who crept
about the big rooms OF the home.
Little jeffrey had big heart and he
\ felt very sorry for Alice.
On the third day after her ar
rival he walked up 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 a funny. freckle-faced
I little fellow that Alice smiled a faint
little smile. 1t was the first one since
j
came again and she sobbed:
Il want mamma. jeffrey. want
papa. too, and my own home This il
big and lonesome and they don't love
you like mamma and papa"
From that time on Alice and jeffrey
were the best OF friends. He was
such a cheerful little fellow and often
so droll that many times Alice
laughed in spite of herself
But when Alice began TO talk much
OF her home and her mamma and papa
he began TO wish for one, too. The
wish grew and grew until at last he
felt that there was nothing in the
world that he wanted except a moth
er and 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 Jeffrey's: Piles, don't want
nothing but father and a mother
and home with flowers in the win
dow"
From time TO time children were
taken from the orphans home by peo-
pie who had no children Of their own
The house mother hoped so much
that little Jeffery 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 JEFF
rey received sweetmeats and warm
clothing and an iron engine. but not
the father and mother and home
He cried himself to 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 IL 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 mother'n come today
A 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
2 eagerly. The same gentle face and
r blue eyes and golden hair. We must
! have her. 1t will seem like having oul
3 little Alice back againl"
! When she learned the name CT the
. little girl she had chosen she was
still more interested.
l You would like to go home with me
s dear. wouldn't you?' she asked
; Alice.
I "Yes, ma'am," answered Alice. "bui
/. / couldn't go without Jeffrey. cause
he's been my friend and he wants 4
father and a mother so bad"
! "Ch. but don't want a little boy
dear. | just want one little girl e
: make II seem as though my own Alice
were living" answered the lady.
Then / can't come" said Alice, ''un
1 less they make me go
| For few moments the man anc
| woman talked together and the mar
| seemed to see in little jeffrey all the
4 lnlneS tndL clheE pcOpte hhu hiSStu
| He saw the honest blue eyes, the firm
| mouth and the manly walk. and hs
saw years ahead when the same little
boy might be his partner in business
r Then he said to jeffrey:
0 I'VE want son. as well as daugh
tetr. So we will take you home ,nt
o give you a happy New Year"
Q New Years is the lucky day, ism
. IT." answered jeffrey, beamlng int
the faces OF his new parents. Ant
the smile won the iady's heart ant
she took him as gladly as she did
o Alice.
I SO jeffrey found his father ant
X mother and home and sister all OF
. a happy New Years day.-Farmers
Review.