The San Francisco call., 1908-10-17

Ne. beautiful? Why. no one
ever. ever said that before. I've
got q pug nose and straight hair and
everything"
But 1t IS beautiful. just beautiful,
70 have fat cheeks and feet that are
mates and hands that both work
get so mad at this hand of mine when
Il won't go that I could tear It to
pieces. Then the next minute I feel
so sorry for the poor. wabbly thing that
take it in my good hand and hold il
Ike 8 sick baby.
And when I think Of mothers I
get just crazy. Your mother is so
sweet and warm and clean: and mine
\ don't believe she is my mother.
mat awful dyed hair and dauby.
painted face God never could give
baby 70 such q womanl
Some day I'll find It all out. There's
something queer about il. Bessie.
But now it's hard-awful. awful
hard II my heart hadn't eched and
ached for years. I'd say I couldn't
stand it.
But have TO stand it. People
can't die Just when they want to- 1
wish could. Q. Bessie. Bessiel-'
Ny arms were pretty fat and not
very long. those days. but I did my
best I took my little friend to my
heart and cuddled her Up and tried to
comfort her. There was not much Of
her; she was very tiny and fraiL
had known her for ages. it seemed to
ne. II really was about three years.
Tae arst = noticed OF her was her
tLin face and wistful eyes watching
ule whenever I went out on the back
porch or down on the cistern top TO
play
This cistern was e large. round tank.
sunk In the ground. made to hold rain
water for washing. The top was level
with the surrounding gard and entirely
covered with heavy pisni1s In the
middle vas a raised portion. like
square box. with q iid. where the pail
av as lowered at the end OF long pole.
? This was my faEorite play place on
days when it was too chilly TO play
under the big elms at the other side
0f the yard The box IN the center
made an ideal table. and the clean.
round surface. evenly planked, was the
incest house in the world. capable of
endless divisions and variations.
day OF so after the new family
moved into the rickety old house next
door 10 US, I saw the little girl watch
-ng me. Her eyes fairly danced when
spread out my paper dolls on the
TOP OF my table" and went to work
with my sewing machine" which was
a pin run through the end OF slender
stick. making clothes for them.
She crept close up TO the picket fence
and asked me, in q sweet but feeble
voice. II I would mind If she stayed
there and -'peeped." She watched my
every movement and once in q while
she spoke. as II she could not help it.
She was an odd little thing. sickIy
looking and poorly dressed, with a
narrow pinched face and hands like the
claws OF bird could not resist 60
ing nearer the fence to show her a
y
the doIlies; and letting her take it into
her own hands.
At last she said: 20. do you think your
mother would let you move near the
fence and play? I'd love to play that
way. I'm so lonesome and the dolIies
are so pretty. Please go and ask her"
really hated 10 move for my house
just suited ne Near the fence was
only a strip Of rough ground; but I
liked her looks and was sorry for her,
so I went
Mother demurred at first. for we
never made friends with any OF the
families who moved into that house.
They were not desirable acquaintances
and seldom stayed long. Finally she
said I might play II I promised her
faithfully that. at the first wrong word
OF act on the part Of the little girl,
I would come right into the house.
Mother kept strict watch OF us
through the pantry window. knew
this. and OF course. Carrie did not; but
II the angels had been watching her,
as no doubt they were. they could not
have been displeased- She was so droll
and so merry, in spite OF her evident
iil health and poverty. and she played
with such earnestness and enthusiasm
that ] was charmed
We often played through the fence
after that she seemed like little
bird. 50 bright. so eager. so grateful
for kindness. Once or twice she was
allowed 10 come into our yard under
the shade OF the elms. but the woman
she called Nav" kept strict watch Of
her and seemed 70 be anxious to keep
her away from every one
Father finally began 10 notice the
poor little thing and to see that she
was neglected and uncared for. Meet
ing the woman one day. he asked her
how It was that her little girl did not
20 10 school; and said. quietly but
firmly. that he would see that IT was
looked into" The threat mad the de-